Filmmaker Allowed To Use The Name Rin Tin Tin To Describe Rin Tin Tin

from the only-after-a-fight dept

Looks like the courts got one right concerning a trademark claim involving famed movie dog Rin Tin Tin. It seems that some movie makers wanted to make a movie about Rin Tin Tin, which seemed reasonable enough. However, Rin Tin Tin Inc., a company that continues to breed "Rin Tin Tin dogs" for movies objected to the use of the name, saying that since they held the trademark on Rin Tin Tin, the movie was infringing. Thankfully, the judge disagreed, noting that the movie is about Rin Tin Tin, and thus was descriptive and a perfectly reasonable use of the name.
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Filed Under: rin tin tin, trademark


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  1. identicon
    so, 23 Nov 2009 @ 11:35pm

    i could

    call a movie RIAA.SUCKS if the movie was about the riaa sucking
    LOL
    YA BABY

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    Chargone (profile), 24 Nov 2009 @ 12:52am

    Re: i could

    of course, you could expect some lawyers to come calling if it wasn't heavily bias in their favour. you know they'd find Something to object about.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Enrico Suarve, 24 Nov 2009 @ 1:03am

    Hang on...

    Someone wants to make a movie about a dog, and the only way that a company who breed look-a-likes of that dog for movies could figure to monetize it was to sue?

    Exactly how low does your IQ have to be before you are allowed to set up business in Hollywood?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. icon
    Poddys (profile), 24 Nov 2009 @ 1:13am

    And What Audience Is This For...

    Ok if you are as old as me you might just remember Rin Tin Tin. Well I remember watching it when I was only knee high to a grasshopper, but other than it being US Cavalry and the Dog, I don't remember anything at all.

    So assuming that the audience is going to be in the 60 or over age group, it's really just another piece of Hollywood nostalgia. I would still like to see it though out of interest.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 24 Nov 2009 @ 1:38am

    Need a patent attorney

    Hey, on that note, does anyone know a good patent attorney? I need one that preferably is unfamiliar with the Muppets.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Jose Burgos, 24 Nov 2009 @ 11:18am

    Shouldn't Rin Tin Tin Inc. even thank the movie producers for the advertisement?

    link to this | view in thread ]


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