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[NOTE: Jerry Falwell died in 2007.]
Jerry Falwell thought that homosexuals were going to hell. Christopher Lamparello disagreed.
Jerry Falwell operated a website with the URL falwell.com in which he published his views. Christopher Lamparello operated a website with the URL
"fallwell.com" [note the spelling] on which he expressed HIS views.
Brother Falwell just couldn't stand the competition. He sued Mr. Lamparello, claiming trademark infringement. He alleged that web surfers might become "confused."
The United States Supreme Court sided with Mr. Lamparello, stating that he obviously created his website only to provide a forum to criticize ideas [the kind of activity that's protected by the First Amendment], not to steal customers.
Perhaps Brother Falwell was able to come to a better understanding of the First Amendment.
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