The little web site that has Fox News fuming

Media Life ^ | 7.1.03 | Jim Jazwiecki

[MEGoody]

"Could the Fox people have done anything stupider?"

Leave it to the lawyers. LOL

[ewing]

Resistance is futile, make your time.

[tophat9000]

O'Reilly Youth" exploits the Holocaust

Na... no dif then "Hillary Youth"

This is dumb on Fox's part

[tdadams]

I wish I could divulge more about our present legal situation, but within the next five to six days you'll be seeing it in the national media. Fox thought they would spend 37 cents on a letter to some little company in Austin that would just roll over. Well, they're getting a very, very big surprise. I must admit, I've got quite a lot of personal satisfaction from not only being a thorn in their side but also from making a profit doing it.

Sounds like someone fancies himself a gadfly of much greater importance than he is. What a bore. If he wants to do battle with deep pockets the likes of Rupert Murdoch, I can only wish him good luck.

[Pro-Bush]

"Bushbot"

I despise that reference, what is wrong with portraying President Bush in a postive light?....Fox is the best we got for TV news. I suppose you like CNN.

[kevkrom]

The main problem seems to be one of trademark protection vs. protected speech (parody). I doubt Fox would win a lawsuit (of course, in front of a jury, anything is possible), but even a loss would show that they are attempting to vigorously defending their trademarks.

The image of the O'Reilly shirt, for example, uses a Fox News channel logo on the flag being waved. If Fox lawyers were to let this go unchallenged, it would open the door for anyone to use their trademarks without permission.

[exile]

you forgot the left's centerfold babe, Helen Thomas.

[Burkeman1]

Naw. CNN is equally unwatchable but at least they manage to control their sneers, rolling eyes, and facial expressions when presenting their biased drivel. MSNBC seems a happy medium these days. And it ain't the job of a "news network" to present anybody in a positive light. All news organiztions are going to have a bias whether they admit it or not. Fox barely makes an attempt to conceal theirs. Which is ok and actually more honest. But I have spent years being annoyed by liberal bias and I wince when I see conservative bias even more brazen.

[mtbopfuyn]

Extremely stupid move on Fox's part. However, the guy said he was about to close shop so how's he going to pay his attorney fees if he wants to "take it all the way", huh? I doubt this will be high profile enough for a publicity grubbing lawyer to want to do this pro bono and I doubt it would even get to court for any $$$ settlement as I (who doesn't play an attorney on tv much less one anywhere else) don't see that FOX has a leg to stand on.

Please folks, don't go over to the guy's site. He'll only see it as more free publicity.

[Notforprophet]

O'Reilly is an arrogant buffon...

Could you define "buffon" for us?

NFP

[mhking]

If Fox lawyers were to let this go unchallenged, it would open the door for anyone to use their trademarks without permission.

That's the biggie here. I'm sure Newscorp can take a joke as well as the next guy. But if these folks get away with it, how long before the next guy and the next and the next - and who's to say that the "next guy" isn't the one with deep enough pockets to truly fight this thing in a high-profile fashion?

No, you're right. FNC has to protect it's copyright. This doesn't fall under fair use.

[Cicero]

Good to see that several people have caught the fact that Fox HAS to sue to protect its most valuable trademarks, especially the Fox name. Otherwise they will go the way of aspirin.

[Dont Mention the War]

"I wish I could divulge more about our present legal situation, but within the next five to six days you'll be seeing it in the national media."

And not long after that, we'll be seeing you LOSE in the national media, penis-head. Your Faux News t-shirts are not "protected political speech," they're standard-issue trademark violations. You might win on the "O'Reilly Youth" shirt, though that's questionable as well since the FNC logo, UNALTERED, is so obvious on that shirt. But either way, in the end the damages on the first shirt alone will be so high that all your profits will be wiped out and you'll probably have to shut down.

[thoughtomator]

How many conservatives don't already know about Fox News? Fox doesn't need this kind of publicity, it's got an excellent reputation, and legal bullying of the little guy is not something that conservatives in general find to be attractive.

[Sabertooth]

no dif then "Hillary Youth"

Yeah, and that one's unsubtle and unfunny, too.

In any case, Fox is fumbling this.

[kevkrom]

No, you're right. FNC has to protect it's copyright. This doesn't fall under fair use.

Subtle but important: it's not the copyright, but the trademark that is being protected. Different sets of laws apply.

[Dont Mention the War]

Good to see that several people have caught the fact that Fox HAS to sue to protect its most valuable trademarks, especially the Fox name. Otherwise they will go the way of aspirin.

I'm glad you guys are posting now, but where were you all when I posted the original thread? The moronic "it's political speech, waaaah!" crowd handed me my head on a platter for posting that thread and pointing out that a) it's a clear-cut trademark-violation issue, and b) Fox legally has NO CHOICE but to initiate legal action.

[adam_az]

Could you define "buffon" for us?

I donut now, but that sounds vey series.

Sounds like a job for Krusgnet!

[talleyman]

Could you define "buffon" for us?

You know, it's a car waxing thing - "buffon, buffoff". I think he means O'Reilly arrogantly waxes his car (?)

[foreverfree]

bump