Ananova:

Four enterprising prison inmates have been accused of trying to use copyright law to escape.

They allegedly copyrighted their own names and then demanded millions of dollars from jail officials for using them without permission, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Russell Dean Landers, Clayton Heath Albers, Carl Ervin Batts and Barry Dean Bischof sent demand notices for payment to the warden of the El Reno federal prison in Oklahoma City, according to prosecutors.

They allegedly filed claims against his property, then hired someone to seize his vehicles, freeze his bank accounts and change the locks on his house.

Believing the warden's property had been seized, the inmates allegedly said they would not return it unless they were released from prison, according to the indictment.

But the person supposedly hired by the four inmates turned out to be an undercover FBI agent, said prosecutors.

The four and another man, who allegedly assisted in their scheme, have been charged with conspiring to impede the duties of federal prison officials and with blackmail.

If convicted, they each face up to 16 more years in prison and a £250,000 fine.