Rosa Parks to sue Outkast.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/12/08/scotus.p...s.ap/index.html

 

Uh... this is interesting. Does anyone know if there's ever been a public figure who has successfully sued a recording artist for referencing them in a song? Even more odd about this case is that Outkast DOESN'T EVEN USE HER NAME IN THE SONG.

 

But yeah, uh, comments?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I heard about this a while back. I guess since MLK's kin are greedy whores when it comes to King's image being used, Rosa can follow suit.

 

This passage creeped me out:

 

Parks claimed that OutKast violated her publicity and trademark rights and defamed her.

 

"Ah-ha, hush that fuss. Everybody move to the back of the bus."

 

Funny thing is I know I have a few rap albums with Parks references -- hope they got permission to say her name...

[Hoff 0]

Ridiculous. What is she even claiming here? Sure, they used her name in the title of the song, but it's not as though they marred her character. It strikes me as sad that such a prominent figure of the civil rights movement could abuse a court system in this way.

 

Of course, maybe she makes a better argument than CNN, but it seems pretty outlandish to me.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

This is really old news. I assumed it had been resolved by now.

[Zack Malibu 0]

I was going to say, that song was out a good 4-5 years ago, and it's only shedding the light of day now?

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

I probably wouldn't have known who she was if not for the Outkast song. Maybe I should testify...

[notJames 0]

Did MLK Jr's family ever sue U2 for referencing him in "Pride (In the Name of Love)"? Especially for getting the time of death wrong?

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

"Parks wants all references to her removed from future versions of the record."

 

The only direct reference to her is the song's title, which is never said in the song. Unless she finds the "everybody move to the back of the bus" line offensive, too.

[ant_7000 0]

Uh this lawsuit was years ago.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

So, wait...because Outkast was trying to honor her by writing a song about her, or just randomly chose her name for a song title and made one line of reference, she's in a frenzy?

 

I know she's a prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement, and that she's really old by now...but somebody smack her.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Thinking about it more and more, I'm starting to wonder how much of this is "her" and how much of it is her advisors/relatives.

 

She's 90. I sincerely doubt she cares.

[Hoff 0]

Very good point.

[ant_7000 0]

Oh, the supreme court gave her the ok to sue. I don't think she'll win but her lawsuit isn't too far fetched as it seems.

[lomasmoney 0]

Holy Shit, how could someone not know who Rosa Parks is

[razazteca 0]

Holy Shit, how could someone not know who Rosa Parks is

Chave is from the UK.

 

How long has this case, been in court?

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Did MLK Jr's family ever sue U2 for referencing him in "Pride (In the Name of Love)"? Especially for getting the time of death wrong?

Actually, I believe the story on the reference - which very well may be Bono covering his ass - is that he put the time as when it was in Ireland when MLK was shot. Which I believe works out to early morning.

 

Yeah, Bono covering his ass.

 

On Rosa and "Rosa": I think the only way she has a case is if she wants to talk about how the language and what-not on the album sullies her image. And I think Tyler's right: she's 90. She hasn't been active in anything for decades. It's her lawyers and family.

[LivingLegendGaryColeman 0]

No disrespect to Ms. Parks meant, but isn't it kinda funny that OutKast didn't get sued for this until they finally became the biggest they have been mainstream. I mean, I know they've had a couple popular songs in the past, but this went unnoticed so long until what seems like the peak of their popularity.

[Guest Choken One]

Did MLK Jr's family ever sue U2 for referencing him in "Pride (In the Name of Love)"? Especially for getting the time of death wrong? 

Actually, I believe the story on the reference - which very well may be Bono covering his ass - is that he put the time as when it was in Ireland when MLK was shot. Which I believe works out to early morning.

 

Yeah, Bono covering his ass.

 

On Rosa and "Rosa": I think the only way she has a case is if she wants to talk about how the language and what-not on the album sullies her image. And I think Tyler's right: she's 90. She hasn't been active in anything for decades. It's her lawyers and family.

How old could have Bono been? Couldn't be any older then 8.

[Guest The Upright Man]

How old could have Bono been? Couldn't be any older then 8.

 

If I was Bono, I would totally send the Edge to kick your ass.

[Nighthawk 0]

No disrespect to Ms. Parks meant, but isn't it kinda funny that OutKast didn't get sued for this until they finally became the biggest they have been mainstream. I mean, I know they've had a couple popular songs in the past, but this went unnoticed so long until what seems like the peak of their popularity.

Actually, this has apparently been going on for quite some time. The first time I heard about this was 5 or 6 years ago, whenever the song first came out. I guess you could call that their break out, but they weren't really big until later.

[SamoaRowe 0]

What's up with all of these suddne lawsuits over things that have been in place for a long time? That song came out quite a bit ago.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

She filed the original lawsuit in 1999. Basically, this is just the court saying that they won't dismiss the suit as frivolous - she's allowed to bring it to court if she likes.

[SamoaRowe 0]

Sounds pretty frivolous to me. It would be one thing if the song said stuff like "Rosa Parks was da ultimate bitch" or something of that nature...

 

... sheesh, she should be thanking Outkast for keeping her memory alive.

[lomasmoney 0]

Sounds pretty frivolous to me. It would be one thing if the song said stuff like "Rosa Parks was da ultimate bitch" or something of that nature...

 

... sheesh, she should be thanking Outkast for keeping her memory alive.

Yeah, because she has ever done ANYTHING that people would easily forget about

[SamoaRowe 0]

Sounds pretty frivolous to me. It would be one thing if the song said stuff like "Rosa Parks was da ultimate bitch" or something of that nature...

 

... sheesh, she should be thanking Outkast for keeping her memory alive.

Yeah, because she has ever done ANYTHING that people would easily forget about

You know what I mean! Most kids today are terribly ignorant to any sort of history or culture. I'll bet your average MTV viewer doesn't have a freaking clue who Rosa Parks is.

 

 

Hehe, but I guess if you were to ask them who she is, they'd say "An Outkast song!"

 

 

Maybe she does have a point...