OT: Spike Lee sues Spike TV

[panerd]

Spike Lee sues Spike TV (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/04/spikelee.spiketv.ap/index.html)

You have got to be kidding me. Spike Lee's career has offically hit rock bottom. This is so moronic I am without words.

[KWhit]

What an idiot. Everybody wants an easy payday.


Sigh.

[ISiddiqui]

What a moron! He doesn't have a trademark of any use of the word 'Spike'!

[Ksyrup]

"Lee, whose given name is Shelton Jackson Lee, included in court papers affidavits from people including former Sen. Bill Bradley, and actors Ossie Davis and Ed Norton. The affidavits said the signers had thought of Lee when they heard about Spike TV and some said they believed he had become affiliated with the network. "


He should sue me, too, then. Everytime I see my dog Spike take a whiz or a dump, I think of Spike Lee as well.

I think his real problem is that he's paying tens of thousands of dollars for court-side seats to watch a crappy basketball team. A man's gotta take out his frustrations somewhere!

BTW, I wonder if Bill Bradley is going to run for President in 2004? He certainly appears to be trying to curry favor with someone influential in the black community by signing that stupid-ass affidavit.

[pjstp20]

Yeah this guys a piece of work. I remember in 2001 when I was going to FSU he was scheduduled to give a lecture on something, and he backed out at the last minute. His rationale was that he was afraid of contracting anthrax. If you remember the first incidence took place somewhere on the east coast of Florida. Anyway by this time several cases had broken out in his hometown of New York. So either this guy is a complete idiot, or he went to the same lame excuse school as Sammy Sosa.

[cuervo72]

Sheesh, if I thought it to be associated with Spike Lee, I wouldn't watch it. I mean, who would want a TV network based off of Spike Lee? Talk about a sense of self importance.

In other news, George Clooney is suing the ghost of JFK Jr. due to his contention that the failed magazine 'George' has had a detrimental effect on Clooney's career....

[PilotMan]

"The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious -- that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee," Lee said in court papers.

his ego must be so huge, to think that when someone says Spike, they automatically think of him. Imagine if he sued over the use of 'spike' in a volleyball game, or 'spiked punch' ment he had acually made the punch. The possibilities are endless.

[Craptacular]

He just wants publicity ... and he's getting it.

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by panerd
Spike Lee sues Spike TV (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/04/spikelee.spiketv.ap/index.html)

You have got to be kidding me. Spike Lee's career has offically hit rock bottom. This is so moronic I am without words.

Interesting that he hasn't legally gone after Spike Jonze (director of Being John Malkovich & Adaptation).

Of course, I don't know which moniker is lamer, Spike Lee or Spike TV.

Stu

[Thomkal]

Actually I think the one thing even more stupid than suing over this is TNN's decision to rename itself Spike TV. I mean that really gives me an image of high quality television right there.

[CAsterling]

Originally posted by Craptacular
He just wants publicity ... and he's getting it.

Also from another perspective, Spike Lee may be getting publicity but so is Spike TV. This is free publicity to them, and they will probaby settle with Spike Lee eventually for a fraction of the cost it would have been to get this level of publicity via the normal methods.

I don't know about anyone else, but I had forgotten about the name change until I read this story, so I guess it works both ways.

[KWhit]

Does anyone know:

If this does eventually go to court and TNN wins, does Spike Lee have to pay TNN's court costs and attorney's fees.

I always used to think the answer was yes, but I heard something on a radio talk show that leads me to believe this isn't the case. Does anyone with real legal experience know the answer to this?

[Taur]

Originally posted by Thomkal
Actually I think the one thing even more stupid than suing over this is TNN's decision to rename itself Spike TV. I mean that really gives me an image of high quality television right there.
LOL--Reminds me of that furniture store on the corner that has a "Going out of business" sale every 3 months.

This year: Spike TV
Last Year The National Network
Year Before That: The Nashiville Network

[KWhit]

Right after I graduated college I worked for this company who changed their name every year.

First it was Crown Services, then it was Royal Staffing, then they went to King something or other. I think they did it to screw the gov't out of some tax money or something, I'm not sure.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Everytime I see my dog Spike take a whiz or a dump, I think of Spike Lee as well.

What's the procedure for making a QotM nomination these days?

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by KWhit
Does anyone know:

If this does eventually go to court and TNN wins, does Spike Lee have to pay TNN's court costs and attorney's fees.

I always used to think the answer was yes, but I heard something on a radio talk show that leads me to believe this isn't the case. Does anyone with real legal experience know the answer to this?

The general American rule is no. In Europe, the rule is "loser pays." Not here, as the majority view has always been that that kind of rule has a chilling effect on people who have legit cases but can't afford to pay if they lose. There are certain statutory attorney's fees provisions (at least in Florida) that govern a variety of scenarios, and if a lawsuit is brought based on breach of contract, there might be a contractual provision which provides that the loser has to pay attorney's fees, but othewise, the general rule is no.

[RonnieDobbs]

The Smoking Gun's Coverage (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/spikelee1.html)

Man, Spike Lee must be one of the most arrogant people in the world. I particularly liked the affadavits his star witnesses provided of how well known the name Spike is, and how it immediately brings Spike Lee to the forefront of the mind, as well as his fearless creativity, principled determination, and moral strength. :rolleyes:

[Taur]

I particularly liked the affadavits his star witnesses provided of how well known the name Spike is, and how it immediately brings Spike Lee to the forefront of the mind[/B]

Actually, the first Spike that comes to mind is the dog from sylvester/tweety cartoons. I wonder if Spike Lee is name after this dog?

Anyone know how Spike Lee came up with his first name when he changed it? Surely he is not claiming to be the first Spike in media history.

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by Taur
Actually, the first Spike that comes to mind is the dog from sylvester/tweety cartoons. I wonder if Spike Lee is name after this dog?

Anyone know how Spike Lee came up with his first name when he changed it? Surely he is not claiming to be the first Spike in media history.

Hardly. As a matter of fact, I'm kind of hoping that the estates of Spike Jones (the comedic musician of the 40's), and Spike Milligan (founding member of the Goons, which were the inspiration for Monty Python) will sue Spike Lee for stealing the nickname and making a series of overhyped, self-indulgent films that bore that pants off of anybody but film critics.

[Abe Sargent]

Was there ever a resolution on this?

-Anxiety

[neofied]

I believe they settled this out of court and they are working on the name change. They already changed the programming I believe, under the TNN banner.