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Tardis Wars: The BBC Strikes Back

Posted by timothy on from the when-monopolies-fight dept.

New submitter Elixon writes: Czech trademark monitoring service IP Defender reported that The British Broadcasting Corporation applied for a figurative trademark on the "POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX" for wide range of goods and services like cinematographic and photographic films, printed publications, key chains, textile goods, toys, telecommunications and more. The Metropolitan Police was defeated by the BBC in the past while trying to monopolize the London police box; now it's the BBC's turn.

15 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. is it just me by thaylin · · Score: 5, Informative

    or did this post confuse other people?

    --
    When you cant win, ad hominem.
    1. Re:is it just me by beschra · · Score: 2

      It's not just you.

      --
      It is unwise to ascribe motive
    2. Re:is it just me by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Informative

      The Metropolitan Police was defeated by the BBC in the past while trying to monopolize the London police box; now its the BBC's turn.

      I think it's supposed to mean that it's BBC's turn to try monopolizing the London police box and be defeated later on.

    3. Re:is it just me by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      What it means to say is that the Metropolitan Police tried to claim a trademark on the blue police box and block the BBC from using it in merchandising (they are dicks like that). This was back in 2002, before the "new" series even started. Anyway, 13 years later the BBC is now applying for a trademark on "POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX".

      The headline is utter bullshit, there appears to be no link between the Met's asshattery and the current BBC asshattery, other than that they both involve a blue box. The 13 years between these two actions suggests that one is not a reaction to the other, and there is no "strike back" as the Met was decisively slapped down and stopped pursuing its claim more than a decade ago.

      Anyway, shall we use this click-bait article to discuss the new series? I thought that the opening two-parter was pretty good. A bit too much desu-ex as usual, but Davros was portrayed well.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:is it just me by weszz · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Thanks, was trying to figure out just what was being said...

      I am not a big fan of the sonic sunglasses deal... Maybe it's just me. Other than that have been liking it. I thought this was going to be the end of Clara and she would stay as a Dalek until she crashed on the ship for an older episode and didn't know she was one till the end... but I may be mistaken but I thought she could say her name at that point. not a huge deal, but I found that sequence to be pretty funny.

    5. Re:is it just me by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Informative

      The summary is confusing, the second from last article is easier:

      In the 50's, there used to be police call boxes. Also in the 50's, the TARDIS was a police call box. The police have since stopped using those boxes.

      At one point the Met tried to assert trademark on the police call boxes. They got told that since other police departments used them, it wasn't a trademark of the Met, but more of a general thing.

      Now, the BBC is saying that the police public call box is now inextricably linked to the TARDIS and wish to have it declared as their trademark.

      And, since nobody else has been using the police call box for anything except as the TARDIS -- depending on who you ask, it is now an image uniquely associated with Dr. Who, and could therefore be a valid trademark.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    6. Re:is it just me by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Yeah, I'm not sure about the sunglasses either. Let's see I guess. For me they are somewhat symptomatic of the show's biggest weakness - an over-reliance on deus-ex machina. It happened multiple times in those episodes, like when the Daleks shot at the Doctor and Clara but the Tardis protected them while it was invisible for some reason. There is no real danger or suspense, and you aren't trying to guess how it will be resolved because the answer is invariably "the Doctor pulls something out of his arse".

      The Master was pretty good. Insane and always in control, very much the anti-Doctor.

      I think the end was a bit of a cop-out. The Doctor always seems to avoid moral ambiguity somehow.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    7. Re:is it just me by TWX · · Score: 2

      Biggest problem I see is that they created the idea of the TARDIS specifically as a derivative work (ie, back before Gallifrey, before they were called Timelords, there was a madman in a junkyard that built a time machine inside of an old MET Police Box), so I don't see them having a lot of room to prevent people from attempting to create their own MET Police Boxes.

      Only thing that I can see them having a handle on is the specifics of the design as they deviated from the original, mostly in the form of the number of inlaid panels between the rails on the sides and doors, but that even follows basic cabinet making techniques.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    8. Re:is it just me by richy+freeway · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There's one not far from me, recently installed.

      http://www.bournemouthecho.co....

  2. Wait, what? by tgibson · · Score: 2

    The BBC applied for a trademark. The BBC defeated the police in the past. Now it's BBC's turn. Me thinks the article description needs a sonic screwdriver.

  3. Now it can never be fixed by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Pretty Young Thing #137: Why does the TARDIS look like that?

    The Doctor: It has a chameleon circuit to blend into the local environment, but mine got stuck on a trademarked image from the year 2015-ish.

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    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  4. What's next, toilet plungers? by NotDrWho · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Is that a toilet plunger in that logo, mister?"

    "Yeah, we're a plumbing company"

    "Sorry, but that makes it look too much like a Dalek"

    "A what?"

    "ARREST THIS MAN!"

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  5. Re:Hmmm by OolimPhon · · Score: 2

    Most American corporations seem to think you can.

  6. So why doesnt the Doctor by rossdee · · Score: 3, Funny

    fix the chameleon circuit and turn it into a Port-a-Loo

    It would be less conspicuous on Earth at least.

    1. Re:So why doesnt the Doctor by GungaDan · · Score: 3, Funny

      A turd-is? Brilliant!

      --
      Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!