Spike Lee gets an injunction

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

Spike Lee won a preliminary injunction this afternoon that could keep Viacom from naming its network Spike TV, as is scheduled for Monday.

 

Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub granted Lee's injunction, but ordered him to post a $500,000 bond. The judge said that if Lee doesn't win a permanent injunction barring the name change, he would have to pay Viacom's legal expenses and other costs.

 

"In addition to the name Spike, there are other indicia that defendants sought to exploit Mr. Lee's persona, most notably Mr. Lee's reputation for irreverence and aggressiveness," Tolub wrote in his ruling. A hearing on the case is scheduled for 6/23.

 

Tolub also wrote, "At first blush (Lee's lawsuit), to be an exercise in egocentricity, it's actually an earnest attempt by a prominent personality to limit what he regards as the commercial exploitation of his public persona."

 

Credit - WrestlingObserver.com

[Guest Human Fly]

TNN should just come out and say that the Spike in Spike TV really stands for dick.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

What TNN should do is have this as their new slogan:

 

Spike TV: We got (the) Game.

 

And then have a pic of HHH.

[Guest Zero_Cool]

Why don't they just call it..Moxy?

 

Since you'll need moxy to watch it anyway.

[Murmuring Beast 0]

TRIPLE H TELEVISION~

 

ok, that's bad.

 

Bad Beast, you internet geek, you *slaps wrist*

[Guest Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye]

Wrong Forum?

 

And beside that, why is it that he's really suing them I wonder. One thing I do know is that Spike Lee is not "prominent" enough to actually have a TV network based themselves on him.

[Guest Sakura]

So if he wins, will Joss Whedon get a bunch of money too? The TNN executive said Spike(the vampire) was also part of what inspired the name and vamp Spike has "irreverence and aggressivenes".

 

 

I don't see how this is hurting or exploitating Lee. "Irreverence and aggressiveness" is a pretty common thing...

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

One lawyer/media type said this lawsuit is either a publicity stunt, or Lee is delusional. I'm leaning towards delusional.

[Guest AndrewTS]

It's been a long fucking time since Spike Lee has been prominent in any way.

 

If they had a black guy who vaguely looks like him as the spokesperson, yeah.

 

Does this mean I can sue Andrew WK?

[Guest BifEverchad]

hmmm....

 

Since they're apparently building the new network around the WWE....

 

How 'bout....SLAM!tv?

[Guest Retro Rob]

Only in the USA does a suit like that not get immediately thrown out of the window.

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

I hear TNN execs wanted the new name to be Wang TV but were afraid of being sued by China.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

 

I think Amanda Stepto should sue as well, as it was her character "Spike" on Degrassi may have also inspired TNN in its name change as well as her "reputation for irreverence and aggressiveness"... she was a teenage mom.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

I can't believe the courts are actually taking this seriously. *Groan* Only in America...

[Guest Dangerous A]

I hope Spike Lee loses and has to pay the legal fees. Not because I like WWE a lot or nothing, but it's frivilous shit like this that puts a black eye on this nation and its legal system.

 

 

I can't believe a judge actually sided with Lee on this. Just shameful.

[cawthon777 0]

Wow ... Spike Lee is a moron if he actually thinks TNN got the idea from him. And if the judge doesn't rule in TNN's favor, he's a moron too.

 

Why doesn't Spike Lee just put an injunction on Spike Dudley? Or, as stated earlier, Spike from Buffy?

 

...Egomaniac. This guy is tailor-made to be managed by Teddy Long.

[Guest Lil Naitch]

What word do you think of when you hear America?

 

Litigation.

 

 

 

thank you, I'm here all week.

[Guest Sakura]

A TNN executive DID say that the name and channel were inspired by Lee and the Buffy spike.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

A TNN executive DID say that the name and channel were inspired by Lee and the Buffy spike.

D'oh!

 

 

 

BTW massive props for the Degrassi reference!

[Guest Army Eye]

Is it possible for both sides to lose, please? This is a disgraceful thing to sue over, but at the same time Spike TV is a horrible name, and this is a blessing in disguise for them. It is so sad, the stuff that the corporate stuffed-shirts at TNN put out that they think is 'hip'.

[Guest godthedog]

in the court of public opinion, i'm sure both sides will lose. nobody comes off as particularly smart or dignified.

[Guest deadbeater]

Sony the corporation sued a woman named Sony over her store name Sony. The corporation won.

 

and cawthon, Spike is no idiot; as Sakura said, a TNN exec admittied to such what Spike is disputing.

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

TNN is still pimpimg the name change. When will a decision be made?

[Guest BoboBrazil]

Guess who is Spike Lee's lawyer. Johnny Cochran! He never loses!

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

Guess who is Spike Lee's lawyer. Johnny Cochran! He never loses!

 

Well TNN better be coming up with a new name quick! I think they got about three days left.

[Guest Trivia247]

Im sure there was some genius in the early going of picking of a new name that came up with the "Boob Tube" as a Station name.

 

heh since its suppose to be a Guys channel. but I suppose cooler and more sophesticated heads prevailed and named it SPIKE!

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

When I first heard Spike TV, it sounded like a network for lesbians to me.

[Guest geniusMoment]

Why can't they just call TNN the network for men. If your product is good people will watch. A new name means nothing. At the end of the day does anyone really care about this?

[Guest Austin3164life]

In other news: Spike Lee is an idiot.

[Adam 0]

In other news: Spike Lee is an idiot.

Agreed.