As the world watches events in Zimbabwe in horror, Lost in Showbiz receives a legal warning which reminds us that sometimes, things are worth getting intimidated over.
It reads: "Solicitors for Northern and Shell PLC inform us that they have acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to coverage of the christening of Ruby Henson, daughter of Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson (including but not limited to interviews and photographs) - it will appear in issue 631 of OK! on 8 July 2008."
(Can you technically own the rights to a religious rite? If only Rowan Williams weren't so busy, we'd bother him at length on the subject.)
"N&S say they will view the reproduction of any copyright material," the warning continues, "including the front cover of OK! magazine as an infringement of their rights. They have also said that they will take action to prevent publication or distribution of any unauthorised coverage (including photographs) of the christening."
And that's good for the whole planet, kids, because let's not forget this is another WORLD! EXCLUSIVE!
Readers should be most mindful of that "not limited to interviews and photographs", because it presumably means you can't even THINK about little Ruby being accepted by Jesus without some ghastly Richard Desmond militiaman arriving at your door and pointing out that "your copy of next week's OK! is your bullet".
