Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

UN agency gives 20th Century Fox web address to 'The Simpsons Movie'
Yahoo! Canada ^ | Jul 25, 2007

Posted on 07/25/2007 8:30:15 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer

Woo-hoo! "The Simpsons Movie" has won its name back on the Internet.

A UN agency has ruled that ownership of the domain name thesimpsonsmovie.com must be handed to News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox, which owns the rights to the film and the popular TV series.

Twentieth Century Fox complained to the World Intellectual Property Organization over the use of the film's name in the Internet address of a site registered by Keith Malley of New York.

Fox lawyers claimed Malley was using the address to divert Internet users to a website that included sexually explicit depictions of several characters from "The Simpsons" and, later, to his "Keith and the Girl" website. He was demanding a $50,000 fee from Twentieth Century Fox for the domain name, according to the July 22 ruling of the WIPO arbitration panel.

It found that Malley "has no rights or legitimate interests with respect to the domain name" and ordered its immediate return.

In an interview, Malley said that Fox lawyers never contacted him and that he learned about the case after the deadline had passed. He said his contact information was available on his website and through his lawyer, although he hadn't updated the official registration records for the domain name, which he bought in 1999.

"I found it bullying," Malley said, adding that he would speak with his lawyer about challenging the decision. Malley could appeal by filing a lawsuit in a court.

The arbitration system, which was set up in 1999, allows those who think they have the right to a domain to gain control of it without having to fight a costly legal battle or pay large sums of money. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Madonna are among the Hollywood stars who have previously won rulings against so-called "cybersquatters."

"The animated television series 'The Simpsons' debuted in 1989, and has become one of the longest-running network series in television history," the ruling said, noting that Friday's release of the film has generated huge public interest on the Internet.

WIPO said Malley's "aim in registering the disputed domain name was to profit from and exploit" Twentieth Century Fox's trademark to promote and sell his own products and merchandise.

Malley, 33, who produces an Internet radio show, said he obtained the domain name with intentions of creating a parody of "The Simpsons." He said the amount Fox offered for the domain name, $300, wouldn't cover time spent developing ideas for the site; he would not elaborate on those ideas.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; abuseofpower; doh; freespeech; internationallaw; internet; internetporn; mmmmdonuts; pornography; pr0n; sovereignty; thesimpsons; thirdsector; un
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 521-540541-560561-580581-583 next last
To: hedgetrimmer; Sloth

Speaking of Microsoft, when you (legally) purchase a computer running a Microsoft OS, can you copy the code to create “Sloth OS” without fear of retribution? If not, why not?


561 posted on 08/24/2007 3:25:34 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 556 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer

No. Do you think that was witty?


562 posted on 08/24/2007 3:26:33 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 558 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

Not at all.


563 posted on 08/24/2007 3:54:54 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 562 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

I wonder why Microsoft OS is only $3 a copy in China?


564 posted on 08/24/2007 3:55:59 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 561 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
Speaking of Microsoft, when you (legally) purchase a computer running a Microsoft OS, can you copy the code to create “Sloth OS” without fear of retribution?

Of course not.

If not, why not?

Because there are laws protecting Microsoft's copyright. Copyright legally exists; it's just not a legitimate PROPERTY right. We also have laws protecting endangered species, and you can't kill bald eagles without retribution, but that doesn't mean they're anyone's property.

565 posted on 08/24/2007 4:03:52 PM PDT by Sloth (You being wrong & me being closed-minded are not mutually exclusive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 561 | View Replies]

To: Sloth

How about 20th Century Fox’s copyright on its cartoon franchise?


566 posted on 08/24/2007 4:05:28 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 565 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
How about 20th Century Fox’s copyright on its cartoon franchise?

What about it? If some party attempted to independently market a cartoon that infringed on the existing copyright, then it'd be legitimately enforceable. Fox might have an argument in getting an injunction against this guy for publishing what the article calls "sexually explicit depictions of several characters from 'The Simpsons'"; I suspect there'd be some claimed defense of parody, etc. But in any case, that would be a cease-and-desist type of situation, with (at most) damages for the harm done to the copyrighted franchise. In no just system could Fox seize the guy's domain name just because it had the word "Simpson" in it.

ABC has a series called "Lost." Do they magically gain rights to every imaginable domain name with the sequence of letters L-O-S-T in it? Including some guy who has the domain 'LostMovie.com' for years before they ever consider making a movie?

567 posted on 08/24/2007 4:48:24 PM PDT by Sloth (You being wrong & me being closed-minded are not mutually exclusive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 566 | View Replies]

To: Sloth
ABC has a series called "Lost." Do they magically gain rights to every imaginable domain name with the sequence of letters L-O-S-T in it?

Of course not. It's what you do with the domain-name named L-O-S-T after you purchase it. That's what this case is about. Much like MS doesn't "own" the letters/numbers/whatever in whatever sequence in its code. But if you use the code for nefarious ends, you might stand to lose your computer.

The distinction that you fail to understand (and that others on this thread deliberately avoid) is not that I, 1rudeboy, could have filmed an indie film consisting of a montage of different individuals, all named Simpson, and properly registered the website in this case. But that I can't use Simpsons™ characters without permission from 20th Century Fox.

568 posted on 08/24/2007 5:22:43 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 567 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy; Sloth
Of course not. It's what you do with the domain-name named L-O-S-T after you purchase it.

In the anti-American internationalist view, property rights come in 'bundles'. They have worked diligently to destroy the concept of property rights and morphed ownership into the UN style viewpoint that you don't really own your property. They decide if you are 'worthy', and they decide how you should use it. So they decide which stick in the 'bundle' you get to keep. In their warped world view, this gives unprecendent power to international organizations(of course appointed by the internationalists themselves) over everything on earth.


569 posted on 08/25/2007 7:19:59 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 568 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer
I read your first sentence and could go no farther because I was laughing so hard.

The notion that property rights come in "bundles" is a common-law tradition that goes back to the Norman Conquest, or thereabouts.

570 posted on 08/25/2007 7:24:13 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 569 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer

Now that I think about it, this is essentially a trespass case . . . the technological version of my neighbor’s cow (through no fault of my own) eating my cabbages. And the fact that my neighbor legally purchased his cow has no bearing. And I’m entitled to damages, which in those days may have been the cow itself.


571 posted on 08/25/2007 7:29:37 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 569 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

Complete and exclusive control over private property comes from Roman private law.

You UN types hate that because it gives people the right to use their property as they see fit.

You and your corrupt views of private property are hurting this country and the people in it. There’s nothing funny about it.


572 posted on 08/25/2007 7:33:45 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 570 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer

So let’s return to my Microsoft OS example. When you legally purchase a computer with it installed, does that give you the right (under “Roman private law,” whatever that is) to copy it and sell it to someone else?


573 posted on 08/25/2007 7:41:54 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 572 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
So let’s return to my Microsoft OS example

Yes, let's do. Why does Microsoft OS only cost $3 a copy in China, and hundreds of dollars in the US?
574 posted on 08/25/2007 7:51:23 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 573 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer

Let me know when you get around to answering my question, and I’ll address the red herring.


575 posted on 08/25/2007 7:52:30 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 574 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer

By the way, wouldn’t “complete and exclusive” control of private property constitute a “bundle” of property rights?


576 posted on 08/25/2007 7:54:26 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 572 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

No red herring, sir. Microsoft OS is intellectual property, is it not? Why is it worth only $3 in China but hundreds of dollars in the US?


577 posted on 08/25/2007 7:54:54 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 575 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer
Answering a direct question with a question is an attempt to divert the discussion, in most cases. There is no way anyone who understands English can objectively look at #'s 573 & 574 and not come to the conclusion that you are ducking my question.

Imagine that the purchaser and seller are both located in the U.S. Duh.

578 posted on 08/25/2007 7:59:24 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 577 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
Answering a direct question with a question is an attempt to divert the discussion, in most cases.

No, not here.

I asked the question some time back, the answer is still wanting.

Imagine that the purchaser and seller are both located in the U.S

Clearly no need for an internationalist organization to make a decision about property rights for American citizens then. Duh.

But the discrepancy in price between the US and China for Microsoft OS is fascinating. I wonder why it's so huge?
579 posted on 08/25/2007 8:29:27 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer (I'm a billionaire! Thanks WTO and the "free trade" system!--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 578 | View Replies]

To: hedgetrimmer
But apart from being regulated by the dreaded ICANN (which is U.S.), the internet is international waters. I'll just simply assume, then, that you agree that Microsoft's (and in this case, 20th Century Fox's) rights were violated. Duh.

So we return (as your circular-reasoning continues). Have you come-up with any "workable" (I jest, of course) solution to the problem of 20th Century Fox's rights being violated apart from having it pre-register the domain name (and every permutation thereof) in every country on the face of the planet?

580 posted on 08/25/2007 8:40:42 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 579 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 521-540541-560561-580581-583 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson