Glum news for "Glee" — Britain's High Court ruled Friday that the musical TV show must change its name because it breaches the trademark of a chain of comedy clubs.
A judge told Twentieth Century Fox that it had to re-name the series in Britain, though the order won't take effect until an appeal has been heard.
The studio was sued by Comic Enterprises, which operates a string of venues called The Glee Club.
Judge Roger Wyand ruled in favor of Comic Enterprises in February, saying there was a "likelihood of confusion" between the two brands.
Fox said it would appeal, and argued that ordering a name change would be unnecessary, unfair and disproportionate.
But the judge concluded Friday that "Glee" had to go.
"I find it hard to believe that the cost of the re-titling and publicizing of the new name would be so prohibitive compared to the value of the series," he said. "I was told many times during the course of the trial how this series is a 'blockbuster.'"
The judge said it was possible the Court of Appeal would take a different view, so he put the re-naming order on hold until appeal judges have analyzed the case.
Comic Enterprises is also seeking damages. The judge said the final amount would be determined later, but ordered Twentieth Century Fox to make an interim payment of 100,000 pounds ($170,000).
A judge told Twentieth Century Fox that it had to re-name the series in Britain, though the order won't take effect until an appeal has been heard.
The studio was sued by Comic Enterprises, which operates a string of venues called The Glee Club.
Judge Roger Wyand ruled in favor of Comic Enterprises in February, saying there was a "likelihood of confusion" between the two brands.
Fox said it would appeal, and argued that ordering a name change would be unnecessary, unfair and disproportionate.
But the judge concluded Friday that "Glee" had to go.
"I find it hard to believe that the cost of the re-titling and publicizing of the new name would be so prohibitive compared to the value of the series," he said. "I was told many times during the course of the trial how this series is a 'blockbuster.'"
The judge said it was possible the Court of Appeal would take a different view, so he put the re-naming order on hold until appeal judges have analyzed the case.
Comic Enterprises is also seeking damages. The judge said the final amount would be determined later, but ordered Twentieth Century Fox to make an interim payment of 100,000 pounds ($170,000).
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Right of course.
ReplyDeleteAnd people give the US justice system crap?
ReplyDeleteIs it a blockbuster? Is it?
ReplyDeleteThat seems absurd considering glee club is a common noun and the two products aren't competing against each other - it's a comedy club and a TV show. I don't understand the reasoning behind saying there would be "a likelihood of confusion" between them.
ReplyDeleteHuh?
ReplyDeleteI can't even. The show is heading into its final season. "Likelihood of confusion" What. The. Actual. Hell.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they can change it to "Gleee!".
ReplyDeleteOr "Abandoned Ryan Murphy Project".
It is worldwide whether US viewers agree or not
ReplyDeleteI'm rooting for the latter one :-)
ReplyDeleteA stupid decision. If anything Comic Enterprises should be sued for trying to leach off the shows' fame. They've now made money unfairly from this ruling that they previously wouldn't have as they were basically an unknown entity. Damages? They cant be serious?! The company owner and the lawyer behind this should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely stupid.
ReplyDeleteFine. Change the name to "Cancelled."
ReplyDeleteThis is a stupid ruling. I'm sure the studio will take it to Appeal, and I'm pretty sure it will be overturned then.
ReplyDeleteAfter what 5 seasons and they're just doing this now at the end?
ReplyDeleteNo, that's a terrible idea. I don't think I'll be able to tell it apart from the series finale of Nikita.
ReplyDeleteHa! Well done. I'd name it "Sing Dance Funtime Happy Bad Behavior Hour" but I'm sure some Japanese TV show would sue.
ReplyDeleteIf they really have to rename, then they should go with "Forever in High School". But then again, ABC might sue because people might mistake it for a spin-off of "Forever".
ReplyDeleteHow's about "Singing 30 year old teenagers?"
ReplyDeleteWell this is useless. The show only has one more season to go. Also, haven't DVD's with the 'Glee' name already been released in the UK? Are they going to take those of the shelves?
ReplyDeleteused to be.
ReplyDeleteWTF? Non sense.
ReplyDeleteThis may be too much, but it's nothing to the crap the US justice system has pulled. It deserves the anger it has riled up.
ReplyDeleteI go to the glee club and believe me the sort of people who regularly go to the glee club would not be watching glee! It's a comedy club with the best comedians in Britain performing all the time. The club filed this at the start but it has taken this long to go through the system. I don't think anybody is that stupid not to tell the difference I just think the company who have been running for many years before glee started doesn't want to be associated with that show. Childish?? Maybe but if it was a celebrity suing for the same reasons of copyright or even if it were the other way around....nobody would say anything.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the shows you're talking about, but I assume you are talking about all TV shows? To prove an infringement on a trademark, a company has to prove that there's a likelihood that consumers will confuse the two products. A big factor is whether they're the same type of product. We're talking about a TV show called Glee and a string of comedy clubs. It seems strange that a judge would think people would get them confused.
ReplyDeleteI'm too old for this s**t! jk about you not knowing about the "other" shows. Yes they are TV shows, The Man from Uncle (which is being re-made) was a tv show in the 60's about spies and Stingray was a children's tv puppet show about a submarine and it's crew who save peoples lives, but both loved by adults too. America just likes to avoid lawsuits cos they cost money. They didn't realise the impact Glee would have but Glee clubs have been around for years. There's a tv show over here and you can get it on youtube called QI. It's a general knowledge tv quiz show that will never see the light of day in America purely because all the pictures the show uses, America needs to know if there will be any copyright infringements etc. Because QI source their material online, it's not always easy for them to jot down who owns what and where. So it's never getting a showing in the US because of it.
ReplyDeleteoh please they just want publicity for their stupid club and now they got it because most people didn't know crap about them. Bye, girl, bye!
ReplyDeleteHahaha...getting so wound up over a tv sing along show! the British glee club needs no publicity believe me. Oh bless you Christian for your passion ;)
ReplyDelete