MST3K Rightsholders Sue Over Theater Commentary

An anonymous reader writes "How can people who parody people sue people who parody them? Mr. Sinus is being sued by Best Brains Inc. the owners of the rights to Mystery Science Theatre 3000 because they are using a name/format that is too similar to their own. Here is the story." Evil thought: Apple should include a "three silhouettes yakking on merged soundtrack" mode in iMovie.

Comments

the obligatory

[ChipMonk]

First Post!

Silhouette #1: "Yeah, how pathetic. Slashdot loser."

Evil thought: Apple should include ...

[AzrealAO]

Evil thought: Apple should include a "three silhouettes yakking on merged soundtrack" mode in iMovie.

That would probably be fine, as long as they didn't call it "Merged Silhouettes Theatre 3000" or MST3K for short.

Re:Um, because.

[Anonymous Coward]

How can people who parody people sue people who parody them?

Can we parody people who sue us? It might be fun to get a group together and taunt lawyers in court. It would probably make jury duty more fun, too.

Re:Muppets From Space?

[NanoGator]

"Does this mean that Disney licensed the MST3K parody commentary bit for their DVD's commentary track on Muppets From Space?"

Doubtful. They're not calling it Miss Terry Sign Ass The Ater.

Re:Um, because.

[Anonymous Coward]

Now, can we get back to feeling sorry for people that steal music please?

I know what you mean! My cousin downloaded the mp3s for Metallica's latest album, and now nobody else can listen to it.

Bob & Dave should be doing the suing

[Anonymous Coward]

This Mr. Sinus sounds too much like Mr. Show if you know what I'm saying. Monsieur Sinus or perhaps Generalissimo Sinus might be acceptable, but Mr. Sinus is right out.

The Greater Good

[Ray Radlein]

When I first read the headline, "MST3K Rightsholders Sue Over Theater Commentary," I thought that perhaps Best Brains had decided to sue anyone who talked in the theater while a movie was being shown.

Kind of a shame, really -- they had the makings of a wonderful Class Action lawsuit against Obnoxious Yapping Assholes.

Re:The Greater Good

[geoffspear]

Sadly, while a class of plaintiffs can file a lawsuit against an individual or corporation, there's still no way to file a lawsuit against an entire class of defendents.

I think I see a new goal for Tort Reform. It would be wonderful to be able to sue entire groups of annoying people, then have lawyers track them all down to collect fines and bankrupt them all. Sure, the lawyers would end up with billions of dollars and the person filing the lawsuit would get a $5 rebate coupon, but it would be worth the satisfaction.

What about my pirate dvds?

[gadders]

They all have several heads in front of the screen. While I get sued?

Re:Um, because.

[Anonymous Coward]

My cousin downloaded the mp3s for Metallica's latest album, and now nobody else can listen to it.

Please thank your cousin on my behalf. The world is a better place because of him.

Re:Um, because.

[Lehk228]

never let the facts get in the way of a good "OMFG they are opressing us" article.

Re:Um, because.

[mccoma]

My cousin downloaded the mp3s for Metallica's latest album, and now nobody else can listen to it.

--Please thank your cousin on my behalf. The world is a better place because of him.

while your thanking your cousin, please tell him / her to download any song that has been played 50 times in a day on a Clear Channel radio station. It will be fun listening to them pick some new music.