Wow, this is just insanity. Any judge looking at this suit should dismiss it based on how frivolous it is, and everyone involved should just grow up, and the lawyer suing the Oatmeal and Charities should start making an honest living.
He should be disbarred. Trying to sue the charities themselves, which aren't even involved in this squabble? Ridiculous. How anyone with a functioning brain could come to the conclusion that this is the best course of action baffles me.
It appears that he wants to sue the charity because of the following logic:
1. Indiegogo is incorporated in California.
2. It appears that under Californian state law that to collect money for a charity you must register to do so.
3. The charities were informed of the fundraising efforts, and as no paperwork had been filed they have the authority to shutdown the fundraising efforts.
4. The charities have refused to do so, therefore for some reason they are liable for the campaign.
The only thing that I can see that Carreon has got right is that The Oatmeal cannot sue for copyright infringement (however, they still hold copyright) as they didn't file with the copyright office. However, given that you don't have to file with the U.S. Copyright Office to gain copyright on your works, I can't see why Innman couldn't register his copyright and then sue for infringement. The copyright is not in any doubt, just the ability for him to file a lawsuit for infringement.
