Tour Companies Battle Over Trademarked Duck Noises 251
Tour company Ride the Ducks is suing rival tour company Bay Quackers, alleging that it holds trademark rights to the sound made by tourists using duck call devices, while on amphibious vehicle tours. San Francisco-based Ride the Ducks holds a 'sound mark' on the noise. Very few companies hold sound marks, but some of the more famous include: the NBC chimes and the MGM lion. The company holds US Trademark No. 2,484,276, which protects a mark consisting of 'a quacking noise made by tour guides and tour participants by use of duck call devices throughout various portions of [guided amphibious vehicle] tours.' Reading this makes my think that there is a room full of litigious monks somewhere, just waiting for someone to try clapping with one hand.
A likely story (Score:4, Funny)
I think the lawsuit is quackery, myself.
Apologies in advance (Score:2, Funny)
They'll be hoping they can duck the bill for the lawsuit, but it'll no doubt leave a foul taste in their mouths...
I am waiting for a lawsuit from ... (Score:3, Funny)
Almost makes sense... (Score:4, Funny)
The lawsuit alleges that Bay Quackers' use of the sound is infringing and is likely to confuse consumers.
Yeah, how will consumers know if they are on the duck tour run by litigious jackasses or not? This cannot be allowed to continue.
Re:A likely story (Score:5, Funny)
I was hoping we were going to be able to duck the obligatory puns with this one.
Re:I will copyright the ''boom'' noise (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, well I copyrighted "get offa my lawn" so you owe me like a million dollars.
They could just pay the lawsuit... (Score:5, Funny)
An MP3 of coins jingling should be adequate.
Re:A likely story (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Might sound nuts, but has a sound legal basis (Score:2, Funny)
This will not end well (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A likely story (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Might sound nuts, but has a sound legal basis (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A likely story (Score:5, Funny)
That's....fowl.
Re:I will copyright the ''boom'' noise (Score:3, Funny)
An easy solution (Score:5, Funny)
So 'Ride the Ducks' is trying to assert trademark over generic duck sounds, made by riders and tour guides on these duck tours? I've got a simple solution for bay quackers, just trademark the sound of sniffling, coughing, and whining children, then sue Ride the Ducks when their customers make those sounds. Then cross license and form a tour guide duopoly.
Re:A likely story (Score:1, Funny)
Re:A likely story (Score:4, Funny)
Re:A likely story (Score:3, Funny)
To be fair they also modded the GP troll, when the pun there was even more obvious. Mods today just want a totally serious discussion of trademarked duck noises without any puns.
Which... when you think about it, is pretty hilarious.
Re:Might sound nuts, but has a sound legal basis (Score:4, Funny)
Me, I'm trademarking tourists blowing dog whistles that are inaudible to humans.
And how would you enforce this? Send dogs to law school? They are already pretty good at chasing ambulances...
Re:Generic sounds, words can not be trademarked (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A likely story (Score:5, Funny)
Stupid FA is about a bunch of stupid people making stupid use of our legal system to settle something stupid. Does anyone take a duck tour because that particular quacking sound is the best one? These bunch of stupids should all be rounded up and send to stupid camp where they can sit in a stupid circle around a campfire clapping their stupid hands and hopefully find a new and creative way to burn themselves alive.
Re:A likely story (Score:3, Funny)
Did you hear about the duck (Score:2, Funny)
Did you hear about the duck that tried to fly upside down?
He quacked up.
Re:A likely story (Score:5, Funny)
Even if they win they will get poultry damages, and it may prove to be the attorney's swan song. The judge is unlikely to take drake-onian measures.
Re:I will copyright the ''boom'' noise (Score:3, Funny)
Doh!
(The preceding sound was delivered by Randy, aka "RJFerret", not by Homer Simpson, and in no way is meant to infringe on any soundmark or trademark or otherwise represent RJFerret as Homer Simpson.)
Re:A likely story (Score:5, Funny)
Your puns are all terrible!
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