Opinion

Tackling Elmo in Times Square

With Times Square now infested with legions of hucksters dressed as cartoon characters (and worse), the calls to regulate the money-grubbing Elmos and Super Marios and Cookie Monsters pestering tourist families have only increased.

In the meantime, a whole new front in this battle has opened up. It has to do with enforcing trademark rights.

On Monday, the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that owns the rights to “Sesame Street” characters, declared it “has not authorized the appearance of any Sesame Street costumed characters on public streets in any city. We care about our fans and the image of our brand, and . . . public safety on our streets.”

The Sesame Workshop is meeting with other groups, including other companies whose characters are also shaking down people in Times Square, about reining in some of the abuse.

Their characters are big money-makers for these companies. So Marvel Comics can’t enjoy a front-page headline such as “Spider-Man Hits Cop.”

Nor can Sesame Street appreciate Post stories about a costumed Elmo who screams “I hate Jews!” in Times Square.

While anyone can buy a costume, trademark holders have a great say on how their images can be used for commercial purposes. Certainly that includes working the streets for pay dressed as Elmo.

True, it may not do anything to rein in solo pests, such as the Naked Cowboy or the Naked Cowgirl. But it’s a good start.

And we’re all for private firms stepping in to protect their property rights along with our public streets.