August 12, 2003

Fair and Balanced

Fox News is suing Al Franken because his latest book is called "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right". Fox says it trademarked the phrase "fair and balanced" years ago. In a related story, I'm going to check into whether I can trademark the phrase "traditional Christian values".

The always-fair and balanced Atrios has a list of who's added the phrase on their web site. If we dilute Fox's "trademark" enough, they may have to respond by actually providing some fair and balanced news.

Comments

Years ago, Warner Brothers Studio, who had produced the movie "Casablanca" sued the Marx Brothers when they were about to come out with their movie "A Night in Casablanca". As I understand it, Groucho thought that was ridiculous and decided to countersue Warner Brothers, since they were using the title "Brothers" and the Marx guys had been brothers long before the Warners. Warner Brothers wound up dropping the original suit. This Fox/Al Franken thing seems reminiscent of that.

Posted by: Vin at August 13, 2003 12:38 PM

Post a comment