Trademark Overkill... Where Does It End?

[arwalden]

So I was watching "To Wong Foo" for the dozenth time the other day and as the credits were scrolling on screen, I noticed something that had escaped my attention before.

"Maps used with permission of Rand McNally" or "Maps courtesy of Rand McNally" (or words to that effect).

WTF!? It was a freaking PROP!!

----

Today on Ellen Degeneres' new talk show, there was a fellow who could solve Rubik's cubes in 20 seconds... so they had him solve 100 in an hour. --- At the end of the show the credits reaffirmed that "Rubik's was a registered trademark of (whoever)"

WHEN DOES THIS ALL END?

If a guest mentions "Kleenex" or "Xerox"... will they have to bleep it out or put a "courtesy-of..." trademark verification in the closing credits?

Will every movie and TV show start running "courtesy-of" disclaimers for every automobile, piece of clothing, tire, light bulb, eyeglasses... WHATEVER... that appears on camera?

----

Someone posted a link the other day to a story about Wham-O suing the studio of the newest Dennis Spade movie (Dickie Something) because it showed his character having a slapstick accident on a "slip-n-slide".

Oh. My. God. This must stop.

-- Allen

P.S. I was quite surprised at Ellen's show. It's really fun... and funny. She's quick on her feet and she interacts very well with the guests and audience. I hope it lasts.

[ikojo]

1. Wham-O! (tm) is suing the makers of the new David

Spade movie because he was shown in the movie using the slip n slide and he is over the age of its intended users. He was also shown using the slide while dry and they considered that unsafe.

IT'S A FREAKIN' MOVIE!!!! Oy vey! Is this what far too many lawyers in the country has brought us to?

Regarding product placement in movies...I cannot remember who Spielberg contacted before he decided to use Reese's Pieces in ET, but I have a feeling it was M&M's (tm)but I may be wrong. Whomever it was backed out because there was mention of pot in the movie! HORRORS! Also ET got drunk so they did not want their product associated with that behavior.

Oy vey!

So, how is the US qualitatively different from any fundamentalist led regime?

[thermodynamic]

4. Freedom of speech and corporate america mix as well as oil & water do

And given the increasing amount of power corporate america has, the first amendment will soon become a relic. :-(

[LuLu550]

2. Hormel

Is trying to sue anybody who uses the word "Spam" to refer to .....ahhhh....errrr..spam.... :wtf:
like what other word would we use for all that crap in our inboxes???? Since it was invented, it has always been spam....
but Hormel doesn't want software companies to use phrases like "spam blocker" and the like.

[thermodynamic]

3. Watching a great episode of Red Dwarf the other day

Rimmer made a comment about what gets boiled down to as the amount of chicken in a Chicken McNugget and was comparing a skeleton to a McNugget, so the McNugget reference was somewhat indirect. The episode was "Kryten", series 2 opener.

McDonalds threw a fit and "Mc" was erased out of the quote for home video and DVD releases, though it's plainly obvious if you watch his lips move...

Which is sad, the comment as to how much chicken is in a McNugget is rather accurate.

It's just insane what little it takes for a corporation to go bonkers. WTF happened to FREEDOM OF SPEECH? I'm amazed "The Simpsons" never puts references to songs they use in the end credits and that other sitcoms can make mentions of products that don't get erased. I'm doubly amazed that a comedian can use corporate references at all anymore.

It's another blatant example of corporate fascism, and corporations just happen to run america. (& the rest of the world, too as this show isn't even American, it's British!...)

[arwalden]

6. Funny. --- That reminds me of something I saw on Barney Miller...

... reruns on Nick @ Nite.

There was some repeated reference to "Muzak" that they clipped out. It was difficult to read their lips, but even though it was clipped out, their lips forming M-sound was obvious. Also obvious was the "elevator music" reference (or something like that) which, when put in context, made it obvious that they were referring to Muzak.

Certainly Muzak already knows that it's trademark is synonymous with cheezy instrumental standards. What difference does it make at this late date?

- Allen

[ForrestGump]

5. It doesn't get much sadder than this:

"Elvis, Elvis Presley and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc."

He used to be a person. Now he's a trademark.

So if you name your kid Elvis, as more than a few have done, can his Estate sue you?

[mitchum]

7. When that goddamn Nike swoosh starts showing up on tombstones

[ForrestGump]

8. With "I just did it" underneath