Rupert Murdoch Claims To Own the 'Sky' In 'Skype' 186
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the mine-now-I-take-it dept.
from the mine-now-I-take-it dept.
Crudely_Indecent writes "Not content to own just news stories, Rupert Murdoch is now going after individual words! His BSkyB is fighting a legal battle with Skype, claiming that it owns the 'Sky' in 'Skype.' From the article: 'A spokesman for Sky confirmed that the company has been involved in a "five-year dispute with Skype" over trademark applications filed by the telecomms company. These are, the spokesman added: "including, but not limited to, television-related goods and services."'"
Re:He's crazy right? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:hey (Score:2, Informative)
You'd think that would solve things... but have you ever met his son?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8227915.stm [bbc.co.uk]
Same evil, just younger.
Re:take my love..... (Score:1, Informative)
What are you sorry about? This is Slashdot.
Re:More stupid lawsuits? (Score:3, Informative)
Isle of Skye (Score:1, Informative)
I hope Sky win, and then the Ilse of Skye can then sue Sky for all its worth (after all, the Isle of Skye was around first!)
Thats the only reason I got sky, i though I would get a share in the island!
mais oui! (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Sky channel (Score:2, Informative)
but noone says "Sky" anymore, especially after they started calling it BSkyB themselves.
They refer to themselves as Sky all the time, in their own advertising. Ask anybody in the UK or Ireland who BSkyB is and you'll probably get nothing but a blank stare from 3/4 of them. They're known as Sky to the general public, they're referred to as Sky in rival advertising (e.g. not available on Sky!).
Re:He's crazy right? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:The expansion of IP/Trademarks (Score:3, Informative)
There's an old Goon Show where they trademark the word 'Help!' and they go around pushing people into canals...
Re:mais oui! (Score:4, Informative)
No, it means "shit". Crottes is closer to "crap".
Re:More stupid lawsuits? (Score:3, Informative)
Infringing a Trademark - Passing your product off as someone elses, or connected to someone elses
Infringing Copyright - Copying a complete or partial work without the artists permission
Infringing Patent - Using a design for an invention without paying the patentor
Trademarks don't protect inventors they protect company image
Copyright doesn't protect inventors, it protects artists works ...
Re:Who cares what Murdoch thinks? (Score:4, Informative)
Sort of. Money is certainly an issue, but so is his conservative agenda. His "genius" is in turning a healthy profit by spreading his message, instead of *spending* money to do the same. Of course, that's not a completely new strategy; he just mastered it in the realm of television by hoisting a tabloid-style news channel under the banner of legitimate news. True, the FOX television network is (or was) known for its "racy" content relative to its competitors, but fun and games end where the news begins. The strategy of any network affiliate is to draw in viewers with the entertainment, then keep them around for the news. In the case of FOX, however, the local affiliates are more and more resembling syndicated broadcasters for the FOX News Channel. Outfoxed [outfoxed.org] has a fairly factual description, albeit presented in a rather hysterical fashion.
frivolous lawsuit (Score:1, Informative)
I think their point is to tie up resources, time and money by finding every way to make lawsuits.
Re:He's crazy right? (Score:4, Informative)
He also owns the company that sued Al Franken for "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right". It was laughed out of court because the title was obvious parody. I wonder if they don't have slightly different intentions. For example, I may lose the case, but you still have to pay legal fees, and devote time and resources to dealing both with the court battle and the public relations repercussions...OR...you can pay me to make this go away.