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Opinions from around the country

Martha Stewart is having a Halloween trick played on her in the form of a ghastly subpoena.

Just when things seemed really bad for the domestic diva, out of the pumpkin patch comes a lawsuit.

According to CNN, the Denver-based Pumpkin Masters have filed a lawsuit claiming Stewart violated patent infringement laws.

Apparently, Stewart's Living Omnimedia Inc. sells a pretty mean replica of Pumpkin Master's pumpkin-carving kits.

The kits consist of patterns and carving tools used to carve jack-o'-lanterns. Talk about kicking a person while they are already down.

As if the IMCl9.6one insider-trading debacle wasn't enough.

This isn't the first time that Pumpkin Masters has flipped their gourds over companies allegedly copying their product.

In the past, the company filed suits against both Kmart Corp. and Kraft General Foods Inc. for lifting the trade secret Pumpkin Masters patented in 1987.

The unfortunate problem with U.S. patent laws is even the most rudimentary idea can be patented; i.e., the idea of using a small knife and patterns to carve a pumpkin.

The already-vilified Stewart can add this to her ever-bulging portfolio of things that make her look like a dishonest businesswoman.

Stewart is a ruthless businesswoman, but such is the way of American business.

As soon as a person can prove they are more successful than the next, in come the throngs of people ready to tear the person down, brick by brick.

If Stewart did maliciously copy Pumpkin Masters' idea, then sure, she should fork over a little bit of cash; but let's be reasonable, the idea of pumpkin carving kits is not like finding the idea to split the atom.

Stewart is not the Grinch who stole Halloween, or who stole the simplistic idea that Pumpkin Masters patented nearly 15 years ago.

This is a staff editorial from the Western Courier at Western Illinois University.
This editorial was distributed by U-Wire.