Anti-vax activist Tom Barnett claims he owns the rights to Home and Away star Isabel Lucas’ name

A raw chicken-eating anti-vaxxer activist has bizarrely claimed he owns the copyright to actress Isabel Lucas’ name – and anyone who tries to use it owes him $500,000. 

Tom Barnett, known for his failed attempt to become the mayor of Byron Bay, said in an email to media outlets they now needs to ask him permission to use the ex-Home and Away star’s name.

‘If you wish to use the name, words, phrase or any ­derivative of and by any definition of, “Isabel Lucas”, you must first ask permission from the copyright holder Tom Barnett,’ the email read. 

He said those using “the name Isabel Lucas… agree to pay Tom Barnett AUD$500,000 per use”.’ 

Failed Byron Bay mayoral candidate Tom Barnett promotes eating raw chicken and at the start of the Covid pandemic last year claimed it was impossible to catch a virus in a bizarre viral video

Mr Barnett made headlines at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 when he claimed it was ‘impossible’ to catch the virus. 

Meanwhile Ms Lucas, 37, has spoken out against the Covid-19 jab – saying she is ‘pro-choice’ and opposed vaccine mandates.   

A legal expert said Mr Barnett’s attempt to claim copyright on the actress’ name was destined to fail, The Daily Telegraph reported.

University of Sydney Professor Kimberlee Weatherall said she believed Mr Barnett may have mixed up a copyright ownership with a trademark.

She said even if he had taken out a trademark, that wouldn’t give him the right to make a claim every time someone refers to her name. 

‘[It] does not give you a right to prevent descriptive use of the word, otherwise we could never talk about Coca-Cola,’ she said.

Mr Barnett has attempted to ‘copyright’ the name of former Home and Away star Isabel Lucas (pictured)

She said a trademark only covered goods and services.  

The email comes after Mr Barnett’s bid to become mayor of Byron Bay ended in November after he failed to register in time for the local election.

On November 1, he declared his intention to run for mayor of the famous NSW tourist town with the phrase ‘sack the status quo’ as his slogan.

Mr Barnett promotes eating raw chicken and at the start of the Covid pandemic last year claimed it was impossible to catch a virus in a bizarre viral video.

After missing out on the mayoralty, Mr Barnett earned the ire of parents in Byron Bay by promoting his anti-Covid vaccine views outside a local high school.

Luke Jolly, who sends two of his children to Byron Bay High, called out Mr Barnett online.

Tom Barnett’s ad in The Byron Shire Echo on Wednesday outlined his vision for the area

‘Leave the kids alone’ – yet there you are trying to influence them, isn’t that a tad hypocritical?’ he posted online in reference to one of Mr Barnett’s signs.

‘Schools are a safe zone, or sacred, it’s not the place to push a political agenda on to other people’s children.’  

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Barnett and Ms Lucas for comment.