[mythtv-users] Zap2it Labs Shutting Down?

[Michael Jones]

So I wonder if they would be willing to keep publishing the data  
without their "proprietary" descriptions?   This could definitely  
cause other issues, but it would be better than loosing the service  
completely..


On Jun 20, 2007, at 3:14 PM, Brad DerManouelian wrote:

> 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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