I got this email back in 1999. When I posted it to the lego newsgroup, it started an extensive ranting (most towards lego, some to me - check out google) and lego soon backed off. It's sad to see companies have to resort to this silliness when it's their own managerial shortcomings. A few months prior to this, I was also sued by Etch-a-Sketch for my Web-a-Sketch website. 1999 was the year my childhood memories turned against me.
X-POP3-Rcpt: alan@www
From: Henrik Faurbye Jensen
To: "'alan@digitalstuff.com'"
Subject: www.digitalstuff.com/brainchild/legodeath.html
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 10:09:54 +0100
Jour. no.: 263-00427/hfj
Dear Mr Allan Watts,
Our attention has been drawn to the above sub-homepage, which, as you know,
consists of a picture with the title "Legodeath". The picture incorporates
the head of a LEGO* mini figure with a blood-like substance oozing from it,
thus giving the impression that the LEGO mini figure has been beheaded. For
this reason we hereby contact you.
As you probably know, the registered LEGO trademark and the LEGO mini figure
product configuration are two of the most important assets of the LEGO Group
of companies. The LEGO mini figure is protected by copyrights, solely and
exclusively owned by the LEGO Group.
The LEGO Group of companies is very concerned about the morbid context in
which our LEGO mini figure is used. Please do not understand this as if we
wish to restrict what you want to publish on the Internet. However, we do
wish to protect the wholesome, child-oriented reputation of the LEGO
trademark and product configurations and to prevent that they are associated
with destruction and violence.
We hope that you understand our position and that you will consider removing
the "Legodeath" picture from the homepage.
Slashdot Mirror
I got this email back in 1999. When I posted it to the lego newsgroup, it started an extensive ranting (most towards lego, some to me - check out google) and lego soon backed off. It's sad to see companies have to resort to this silliness when it's their own managerial shortcomings. A few months prior to this, I was also sued by Etch-a-Sketch for my Web-a-Sketch website. 1999 was the year my childhood memories turned against me.
X-POP3-Rcpt: alan@www
From: Henrik Faurbye Jensen
To: "'alan@digitalstuff.com'"
Subject: www.digitalstuff.com/brainchild/legodeath.html
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 10:09:54 +0100
Jour. no.: 263-00427/hfj
Dear Mr Allan Watts,
Our attention has been drawn to the above sub-homepage, which, as you know,
consists of a picture with the title "Legodeath". The picture incorporates
the head of a LEGO* mini figure with a blood-like substance oozing from it,
thus giving the impression that the LEGO mini figure has been beheaded. For
this reason we hereby contact you.
As you probably know, the registered LEGO trademark and the LEGO mini figure
product configuration are two of the most important assets of the LEGO Group
of companies. The LEGO mini figure is protected by copyrights, solely and
exclusively owned by the LEGO Group.
The LEGO Group of companies is very concerned about the morbid context in
which our LEGO mini figure is used. Please do not understand this as if we
wish to restrict what you want to publish on the Internet. However, we do
wish to protect the wholesome, child-oriented reputation of the LEGO
trademark and product configurations and to prevent that they are associated
with destruction and violence.
We hope that you understand our position and that you will consider removing
the "Legodeath" picture from the homepage.
Yours sincerely
The LEGO Foundation
Henrik Faurbye Jensen
Legal Department