French president Sarkozy has failed to have the Nicolas Sarkozy voodoo doll banned. A French court threw out the ban attempt.

A judge ruled that the doll and how-to manual that explains how to put the evil eye on the president, falls within the boundaries of "free expression" and "right to humor."

Sarko's lawyer argued that the president owned the right to his own image, which was violated by the sale of the doll. So what about the liberties taken by creators of inventive cartoons and doctored photographs?

Unlike Sarkozy, his Socialist rival Ségolène Royal who has a similar voodoo doll circulating in her likeness, didn't sue. She praised the verdict as a victory for the freedom to "caricature the world's most powerful." Couldn't agree more. How about extending it to the right to "caricature the world's most obnoxious?" A Sarah Palin voodoo doll would sell like hotcakes.

It's unknown if Sarkozy will appeal.