SPIKE SPIKED

James Joyner · Saturday, June 14, 2003 · 3 Comments

WaPo reports that a judge has actually issued an injunction against “The New TNN” changing its name to “Spike TV” Monday in response to a suit by filmmaker Shelton “Spike” Lee that the name “Spike” infringes on his nickname. I can’t decide what’s more idiotic:

The idea that a word in ordinary use can somehow be copyrighted because some yahoo adopts it as a nickname;

A judge who buys off on this idea; or

TNN trying to start “a network for men” by changing its name to one that has homosexual connotations.

FILED UNDER: Law and the Courts

None Found

About James Joyner
James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. Follow James on Twitter.

Comments

bryan says:

Saturday, June 14, 2003 at 15:48

You forgot to mention a guy named “Shelton” adopting the name “Spike,” especially as puny as Lee is.

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DANEgerus says:

Saturday, June 14, 2003 at 21:02

The NFL is next… no more ‘Spiking’ the ball without royalties to the king of the world

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PoliBlog says:

Saturday, June 14, 2003 at 15:39

The Best They Could Do?
James at OTB comments on the recent battle over the name “Spike” for the to-be-redubbed TNN. I concur with his list of issues and would add the general questions: “do guys care what a TV network is called as along…

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Helpful or Unhelpful: 0 0

SPIKE SPIKED

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