Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Copyright: Here's something to make sport of:
Fox News Network is suing humor writer Al Franken for trademark infringement over the phrase "fair and balanced" on the cover of his upcoming book, saying it has been "a signature slogan" of the network since 1996 . . .

The title of liberal satirist Franken's new book is "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." At the bottom of the planned cover is the tag line, "A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right."

No doubt we'll have to head to Eugene's site for the definitive answer, but I think it's an example of overuse, even misuse, of copyright litigation. (Imagine, for a more pungent example, that I took copyright on the phrase "new and improved.") Fox deserves to lose this one.

Update: Eugene thinks it's frivolous. He's so dreamy!

No comments: