Posted on 02/17/2025 12:47:32 PM PST by Macho MAGA Man
According to The Guardian, the owners of the James Bond franchise are facing a copyright lawsuit barring the use of the titular name and codename "007." A Dubai-based property developer, Josef Kleindienst, has filed lawsuits in the UK and EU challenging the James Bond trademark, arguing that Danjaq and Eon have not commercially exploited it across various goods and services for over five years. The claims target multiple versions of the Bond name, including "James Bond 007" and "Bond, James Bond."
What The James Bond Lawsuit Means For The Franchise The Legal Battle That Could Reshape 007’s Future
The legal battle over the James Bond trademark is a significant challenge for the franchise's long-time guardians. Under UK and EU trademark laws, if a name is not actively used for commercial purposes, it can be challenged. Josef Kleindienst’s claims allege that James Bond branding has not been commercially exploited in various areas, including digital media, "models of vehicles," and "electronic publishing."
The name of the iconic spy—played by a variety of actors, including Craig, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, and David Niven in 25 James Bond movies—is being contested across various iterations: James Bond Special Agent 007, James Bond 007, James Bond, James Bond: World of Espionage and the famous "Bond, James Bond."
(Excerpt) Read more at screenrant.com ...
How can it be the ‘end’ when people want to name things after it?
David Niven was 007??? Who knew?
Runs neck and neck with roger moore for wimpiest Bond of all time.
The “titular” name?
(I know, I know)
When I go in for blood tests at the lab they always ask name? I always say “Bond. James Bond”. I wait a few seconds to get their reaction then tell them my name.
Wasn’t Goldfinger rated “PG”? (Pussy Galore)
That would have been fitting.
Leave it for a REAL scumbag to try to steal an icon on a technicality ..
No doubt! This guy must live a boring life.
Except, this shyster has found his gold mine, really exciting now !
(no doubt he had a clock ticking down to the minute to when he could spring his theft)
Some of the best BH episodes.
In the satire film “Casino Royale” (1967). It was a huge disappointment - not funny, not exciting.
Kevin McClory helped out with the short story/novella “Thunderball.” He was eventually awarded movie rights.
He made a deal with the regular Bond franchise.
Then he claimed that he invented SPECTRE and Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
“The Spy Who Loved Me” was going to feature Blofeld, but because of McCLory’s claims, the character’s name was changed to Stromberg.
A Blofeld-like character was presumably killed at the beginning of “For Your Eyes Only.”
McClory remade Thunderball as “Never Say Never Again” with Sean Connery.
He tried remaking it yet again as “Warhead 2000” or “Warhead 2001” and tried to get Timothy Dalton. That one never launched.
He finally died — I suppose his family sold Blofeld, SPECTRE, Thunderball, etc. to the Bond franchise.
Niven did serve in WWII. His acting style was more of the pre-war suave type.
I read elsewhere that Roger Moore was how Fleming envisioned Bond.
Either way, it apparently wasn't Sean Connery.
The Fleming Estate still owns the literary rights.
Fleming would probably not have known of a very young Roger Moore. I read that he though Hoagy Carmichael was close to how he imagined James Bond.
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