Who Owns History?

The Rage is Strong in me:

The Church of England is considering legal action against entertainment firm Sony for featuring Manchester Cathedral in a violent PlayStation video game (BBC NEWS | UK | England | Manchester | Cathedral row over video war game).

Ok, the subject of video game violence is a none starter for me, no comment there for now... What enrages me is the that anyone would need written permission to use any historical site in any creative work.

People ask me why I always write in a secondary world, THIS is why!  I do not want to be sued.  The idea that the fictional use of a historical setting requires the permission of its caretakers is ludicrous!

I admit that I am too angry to really make much of a logical argument here, but my way of thinking is simple:  Our History belongs to US!

I know the concept of the Public Domain and the Commons have been under assault for the last several years, but this is ridiculous.  We must retain the intellectual property rights to our own history and historical sites or our culture is doomed and beyond saving.

Hopefully, Sony will not capitulate to this insane demand.  I know, they won't.  Sure feels like Rome lately.  I think I hear the vandals and the Goths coming.