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Chuck Norris Sues Publisher, Tears Don't Cure Cancer
Google85 writes "Chuck Norris sued publisher Penguin on Friday over a book he claims unfairly exploits his famous name, based on a satirical Internet list of "mythical facts" about him. The book capitalizes on "mythical facts" that have been circulating on the Internet since 2005 that poke fun at Norris' tough-guy image and super-human abilities, the suit said."
Right about the satire but he does have a valid case if you read the article. They are still using his name and likeness without his permission: even though the book is satirical and they can get out of a defamation suit there is still the matter of his image.
The names of famous people are trademarks. If I were to open a restaurant called Chuck Norris' Good Eats, I'd be infringing his trademark, not his copyright.
This even goes so far that someone else who was not famous, but happened to also be named Chuck Norris could not use his own name as a business name.
While IANAL, I heard about this on TV, so it must be true.
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I actually met and attended a seminar of one of those that did defeat him, Vic Moore (a seriously tough dude!). I was actually a student of John Jelks and George Davis, who were Vic Moore's second and first black belt students, respectively.
http://victormoore.org/
I also met Chuck Norris, as a child, at the USKA Grand Nationals back in the 1970's. He was a very nice guy. I don't understand the hatred for the guy. He's never bragged about himself in public the way that Steven Segal has, and he's lived up to everything he's about. He actually was a great champion during his competitive days, and thus struck a bond with Bruce Lee and was featured in one of his films as a result. What's to dislike about him?
Except he's not going after people who are having fun with his image. Indeed he's embracing it (whitness his mountain dew commercial). He's going after the large corporation who's stealing that work offered up freely for the entertainment of others, and trading on his image. You know what, corporations can pay to use someone elses trademark commercially. It's not Chuck Norris being a dick, it's Chuck Norris not letting a corporation take that which isn't there's for their private commercial interests. You think after the fad has passed, Penguin wouldn't try suing a website which put up some of the jokes collected in their book, which they themselves effectively infringed upon? Please. It's not like the publisher is only going to charge for the price of printing and bookbinding given that all the writing is done for them.