MrRant Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Arrested Development is: A. What makes Ashton Kutcher (news) tick. B. An Atlanta-based hip-hop group. C. The title of a new Fox sitcom. And the answer isto be determined in court. Pioneering hip-hop ensemble Arrested Development has filed a trademark-infringement suit against Fox claiming ownership of the moniker, which the network is using for one of its new series. Filed October 16 in Georgia's DeKalb County Superior Court, the suit claims that use of the name by Fox is "not only confusing to the public but also has the potential to significantly dilute what thename means to our fans." In a statement, AD frontman Todd "Speech" Thomas added, "Fox has no more right to use Arrested Development for its show than a band would have to name itself after one of Fox's sitcoms." In its defense, the network invoked its First Amendment right to use the title that it calls "a commonplace expression as well as an established psychological condition that reflect the central theme of the series," said a statement released on Wednesday. Arrested Development "is wholly different from and has nothing whatsoever to do with the musicians using the same name," continued the statement. Both parties are on a fact-finding mission before they present their arguments at a preliminary relief hearing. Fox was involved in a similar source of litigation in the early '90s when the rock group Living Colour filed suit and ultimately settled its case against the network for use of their name for the show In Living Color. Arrested Development, the series, comes from the brain trust of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The critically embraced dysfunctional family sitcom, which airs Sunday nights, stars Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor and Portia de Rossi. The show debuted last week to 8 million viewers, making it Nielsens' 66th-ranked show. Also named in the suit are Howard and Grazer's shingle, Imagine Films Entertainment Inc., and New World Communications of Atlanta Inc. Arrested Development, the two-time Grammy winning collective, released the hugely successful debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life Of, in 1992 with such socially conscious hit singles "Tennessee," "People Everyday" and "Mr. Wendal." Follow-up albums failed to recapture the success of its first release and the group split up in 1995. Arrested Development reunited last year and is working on a new album, titled Among the Trees, scheduled for release in early 2004. Credit Yahoo Because it's so easy to get these two confused.
Youth N Asia Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Right...cause the group is soooo relivent these days
Nighthawk Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I find it hard to call them stupid, cause they used to be cool. But still...
Guest TheArchiteck Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Well, I've honestly though of the instant I've heard the name.
Cherry Blossom Viscount Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Well, let me just go and rip off the name Black Sabbath why not? The suit is bordering on gheyness, but who gives a fuck? If someone formed a rock band called Boston Public, I think Fox would be all over them. I mean, this IS the same company that almost sued themselves. I think turnabout is fair play.
HollywoodSpikeJenkins Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 The show is funny though.
Slayer Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I haven't watched the show yet, but man, has the group AD done anything since "Mr. Wendell"? This is up there with the Spike vs. Spike suit
kkktookmybabyaway Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Wonder if the group will be represented by a lawyer called "Mr. Wendell"? Well, suing then-TNN for its new network name seemed to pay off pretty well for Mr. Lee. I'm sure Arrested Development will get a few bucks from this, providing the show doesn't get canned in the near future...
Star Ocean 3 Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Well, let me just go and rip off the name Black Sabbath why not? The suit is bordering on gheyness, but who gives a fuck? If someone formed a rock band called Boston Public, I think Fox would be all over them. I mean, this IS the same company that almost sued themselves. I think turnabout is fair play. If the suing themselves part is about the Simpsons thing... that was a fake story Groening made up.
Corey_Lazarus Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Okay, some things... -Arrested Development, the rap group, I do believe is in the right here. I thought of the group when first hearing about the new show. -FBP, Black Sabbath's name was taken from a movie of the same name. -As for forming a band called "Boston Public," that's acceptable, as the very phrase "Boston Public" are used in several Boston public schools.
Guest JMA Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 If the suing themselves part is about the Simpsons thing... that was a fake story Groening made up. I don't think he made it up. He hasn't said that. And I don't really trust Fox News to tell the truth.
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