'Curious George' publisher may sue T-shirt vendor

[sabra]

Source: AP

MARIETTA, Ga.—The publisher of the popular children's book series "Curious George" is considering legal action against a Georgia bar owner for selling T-shirts that show the inquisitive monkey peeling a banana with "Obama in '08" printed beneath the image.
more stories like this

"Houghton Mifflin Harcourt did not nor would we ever authorize or approve this use of the Curious George character, which we find offensive and utterly out of keeping with the values Curious George represents," said Richard Blake, the company's spokesman.

Bar owner Mike Norman, who began selling the shirts in late April, has said they are not meant to be racist. He said he thinks the Illinois senator and the character "look so much alike."

Bill Nigut, southeast regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, said Norman is being disingenuous.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/05/16/curious_george_publisher_may_sue_t_shirt_vendor/

[Hugin]

1. I hope they do...

It really disturbed me seeing a children's image used in such a derogatory manner.

[zehnkatzen]

34. They need to screw this imbecile's backside to the bar he owns. k/r n/t

[slor]

2. Good...I hope he does...

it is a disgusting thing he is doing.

[Donnachaidh]

3. bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt doesn't play, either. Mike Norman is TOAST. :rofl:

[gateley]

4. I hope so --

nothing stings so bad as hitting someone in their wallet.

[UndertheOcean]

5. What a moran

==>.... has said they are not meant to be racist. He said he thinks the Illinois senator and the character "look so much alike."

[lligrd]

6. * Is The One Who Should Be Suing

In fact, he should be getting some residuals from the author for his biography.

[The Political Jerk]

7. It's not racist to think that a black man and a monkey look alike.

Oh wait, it totally is racist.


-The Political Jerk

[onehandle]

8. I'm sure that this has been great for his business.

Cobb County is full of like minded people who would wear sheets, but get tired of them getting stuck in the door of their W stickered Hummer.

He'll cease and desist and count his profits.

[sasquatch]

9. Sue his tits off

[GAtomboy]

10. If anything he resembles our decider

I live about 10 minutes from Marietta and this dumb hillbilly was on the local news trying to claim he thinks Obama is great. If you're ever in Georgia in the Marietta area... don't go to Mulligan's Bar & Grill. This isn't the first time he's been an ignorant redneck.

Notorious in Marietta as a provocateur, Norman has sparked protests before with the intemperate slogans he displays on signs in front of Mulligan's. "No habla Espanol — and never will," was one. "I wish Hillary had married O.J." was another

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/05/15/norman_0515.html

[RebelOne]

12. I work in Marietta about 3 miles from that place.

So, you can rest assured I will steer clear of it.

[TheDebbieDee]

11. The only way to get some people's attention is to threaten

to take their money away!

[Coexist]

13. kick

[Ian_rd]

14. This is the first thought I had when I saw that shirt. "Where the hell is the owner of Curious G?"

They should sue the shit out of them. I can imagine how pissed I'd be if I created a perfectly innocent character for children and it was used as a goddamn racist attack.

[GAtomboy]

15. What a loser

It would be perfect if they sued the pants off him and he had to shut down his nasty redneck bar. I'd drive over there with a big banner and celebrate!!

[RebelOne]

16. Let's hope he loses everything.

If he does, I'll join you with the big banner and celebration. My office is quite close to that place.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. I hope Curious George

unleashes a raft of curious little lawyers in yellow hats to sue this creep for his last dime.

[ronnykmarshall]

18. FANTASTIC!!!

:bounce:

And good work to all of you that e-mailed them about this!!

[Cronus Protagonist]

19. It's protected free speech

The man has a right to do it whether you like it or not.

[sabra]

20. he's allowed to use the curious george character with out permission?

[Cronus Protagonist]

22. Absolutely

Satire.

[bigworld]

24. This is a thin line re: satire

And I'd bet that Houghton Mifflin has way better lawyers that this fella.

[Virginia Dare]

25. Disney for one has very successfully sued people in these situations..

trademark rules.

[Cronus Protagonist]

28. Well, they can sue you not to take a crap and they would win

One simply cannot beat a forced attack from a major corporation, no matter whan the subject. That doesn't make it right.

[Virginia Dare]

37. I wasn't arguing that it was right..

I was arguing that it can and has been done.

[dipsydoodle]

30. Hmmm

Try using the Rolls Royce trademark for satire then - always been very heavily protected without any exceptions being made. You're wrong.

[Ian_rd]

21. Not if he's making money from it. (ie, selling t-shirts)

At least, I think that is one of those exceptions.

[Cronus Protagonist]

23. Not true

He can use the character as satire, and sell the shirts without paying compensation. Sorry, but that's how it will go down. I've been a satirist for 8 years. I've used everything from Wonder Woman to Curious George against Bush, and there's no reason for this guy's work to be any different.

[Ian_rd]

26. So when does it become copyright infringement?

Does the reproducer need to claim it as their own intellectual property for it to be infringement? Or maybe a "reasonable" person would have to confuse the original from the reproduced product?

[Cronus Protagonist]

27. It is copyright infringement when it is not satire

If it is sold as counterfit to the originals. When it's satire, it's satire, when it's not, it's infringement.

[Ian_rd]

29. Gotcha - sorry for making you argue the same point in 2 different mini-threads.

:toast:

[bigworld]

31. Who determines what is satire?

I'm uh, curious here. A judge? A jury?

[Cronus Protagonist]

35. Ultimately a judge at the supreme court

But you knew that.

[Dogtown]

38. BUT

they can break his back w/ defense fees.

You're right, it isn't fair.

But I just can't care.

[zehnkatzen]

32. If one more imbecile says "but I'm not racist" ...

...after doing something manifestly racist, swear to whatever's left of God, my frigg'n head's gonna asplode.

Aww, why bother? They're never gonna listen, anyway ...

No, why would I assume anyone comparing a chimpanzee to a man who's running for President who just happens to be black, when some idiot I recently talked to called them jungle monkeys and then said "now, I don't mean that racist."

Crimony. Let's just close it up and go home, folks. Battle's over. The stupid have won.

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## DON'T DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v4.1
==================



This week is our second quarter 2008 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
to cover our costs. Whatever you do, do not click the link below!

[Vinca]

36. Good - take the damn bar. nt

[katerinasmommy]

39. Not only is he a racist.....

he's too cowardly to own up to it. What a loser.