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LucasFilm Sues Jedi Mind Over 'Jedi'

Posted by timothy on from the but-it's-my-religion-man dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Apparently the force is strong with LucasFilm's legal department, as they've sued the company Jedi Mind for trademark infringement and breach of contract, among other things. While LucasFilm doesn't actually own a trademark on 'Jedi,' it claims that its related marks are close enough, and that Jedi Mind had agreed last year to phase out the use of 'Jedi' in its name and product names."

8 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. Settle, or settle not by Tar-Alcarin · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is no trial.

  2. Re:No brainer by shentino · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, the part where LucasFilm's 800-lb gorilla run legal department says "I have altered the situation, pray that I do not alter it further."

  3. Re:No brainer by magnus.ahlberg · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't trademarks needed to be registered to be enforced?

    Actually no they do not. There are (at least) two ways to gain a trademark:

    • Registration, which is the safest one, since you know whether you have a trademark or not. This is usually marked with the (R)-symbol
    • Usage/Establishment (the legal term in Sweden is "inarbetad", I actually don't know the english equivalent), by consequently using a brand name in a certain way to market a product, service etc. you may gain trademark rights if the brand becomes part of the public awareness. Usually the TM-symbol is used to show that a company intends to use this as a trademark but it is not registered.

    Trademark law varies a little from country to country and please consider this a simplified explanation. IANALBIHADIL (I Am Not a Lawyer But I Hold a Degree in Law, there must be a shorter one for this - any suggestions?)

  4. Re:Gotta give this one to LucasFilm by martin-boundary · · Score: 5, Funny
    Welcome®to® the® 21st® century,® where® using® words® as® a® trademark® is® just® like® owning® a® trademark,® only® cheaper®!

    Thanks®, Rogerborg®!

    P.S. Please pick a new /. login, it looks like someone registered yours.

  5. Re: There can be only one. by MRe_nl · · Score: 5, Funny

    These are not the trademarks you are looking for.
    There is no Jedi.
    The Jedi is a lie.

    --
    "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
  6. Re:Gotta give this one to LucasFilm by Sockatume · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Honestly common-law trademarks are a lot less draconian than registered ones, because you have to prove your own use and likelihood of confusion.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
  7. Lucas is easy to deal with by Roblimo · · Score: 5, Informative

    George Lucas reputedly loves all those fan films and Lego Star Wars characters. At the same time, the Lucas companies must sue trademark infringers now and then if they want to retain their trademarks.

    But, as I learned some years ago while defusing a DMCA complaint against a SourceForge project that had some Lucas IP in it, if you *ask Lucasfilm politely* for permission to use their trademarks, they'll probably give it to you -- and probably won't want any money if you're a small-timer.

  8. Re:No brainer by daveime · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So it would be perfectly okay for me to write a suite of novels entitled :-

    Angus Pigsnot and the Philosopher's Stone
    Angus Pigsnot and the Chamber of Secrets
    Angus Pigsnot and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    Angus Pigsnot and the Goblet of Fire
    Angus Pigsnot and the Order of the Phoenix
    Angus Pigsnot and the Half-Blood Prince
    Angus Pigsnot and the Deathly Hallows

    And J.K.Rowling cannot get even the slightest bit upset ? After all, the "main" trademark is not being abused.

    Now perhaps, you see how silly your argument sounds ?