[mythtv-users] Zap2it Labs Shutting Down?

Brad DerManouelian myth at dermanouelian.com
Wed Jun 20 19:14:57 UTC 2007


On Jun 20, 2007, at 12:06 PM, Dan Ritter wrote:

> On Wed, Jun 20, 2007 at 11:26:33AM -0700, Chris Petersen wrote:
>> Dan Ritter wrote:
>>> You can't copyright a title of a creative work. You can apply
>>> for a trademark, but that doesn't restrict people from talking
>>> about it. (I bought a box of Kleenex tissues yesterday. Want to
>>> learn how to configure a cisco 2600?) And patents don't apply.
>>
>> Call it trademark, then.  Either way, *most* tv show names belong to
>> someone, and you can't legally publish information about them without
>> proper attribution.
>
> Nonsense. Not only do I not need proper attribution to tell you
> that my local CBS affiliate is re-running "Three's Company"
> episode #103 at 3PM this afternoon, I don't need anyone's
> permission.
>
> A trademark restricts commercial products or services that
> compete with the trademark holder's product or service. It means
> that you can't sell a beverage and call it Coca-Cola. It even
> means that you can't give away a brown, fizzy, sugary,
> caffeinated beverage and call it Coca-Cola -- but you can sell
> actual Coca-Cola and call it that.
>
>> TMS's descriptions do probably fall under "creative work", though.
>
> Arguably yes, arguably no. If there was criticism involved,
> definitely yes. A factual summary may not be protected.
>
> -dsr- not a lawyer, but I deal with them.

TMS has told me directly that the descriptions are their most  
valuable and best-protected asset. I imagine because it's the only  
piece they create and can claim ownership to.


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