Too Far? LeVar Burton Sued for Using His Reading Rainbow Catchphrase on His Podcast

[Kokolums]

Typical. They don't use the copyright anymore for any product or to make money but if anyone else dares to use it they can get fucked in court.

To be fair, sometimes the best use of an IP is to let it rest for a while and then roll it back out for a new generation so that its fresh. Star trek was rested in the 1970s and from 2005-2009.

[Jonnusthegreat]

That's a phrase in common parlance. Shouldn't be copywriteable or trademarkable as it isn't in any way unique.

What are your thoughts on "I'm Lovin' It?" Still common parlance?

[Mormolyce]

Sheesh. Leave the poor guy alone.

Wow, they must have a snitch watch his every move and report back to headquarters.

Big companies typically hire agencies to protect their IPs. Those agencies have one and only one reason for existing and that's zealously protecting their clients' IPs. It's how they justify their pay cheque.

So it's not always the company itself that is at fault in these kinds of cases. Just the way the industry works.

[Darth Belias]

all this legal copyrighting bullshit has gone way too far in the past 5 years. You get punished for playing 10 seconds of a song but now were moving on to catch phrases and words. Stupid.

[Noomz]

That's a phrase in common parlance. Shouldn't be copywriteable or trademarkable as it isn't in any way unique.

Yeah this is a bogus lawsuit. I doubt he'll lose it.