[Rumori] Fox News sues over its trademark "Fair and Balanced"

[Kembrew McLeod]

irony, sweet irony...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51420-2003Aug12?language=printer

washingtonpost.com

Franken Says He Doesn't Mind Fox Lawsuit

By HILLEL ITALIE
The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 12, 2003; 7:56 PM


NEW YORK - Al Franken, the humorist being sued by Fox News Channel 
for use of the phrase "fair and balanced," said Tuesday he doesn't 
mind the legal action.

But he does wish it hadn't happened during his vacation.

Fox sued the former "Saturday Night Live" performer and his 
publisher, the Penguin Group, to stop them from including "fair and 
balanced" in the title of his upcoming book.

Filed Monday in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, the trademark 
infringement lawsuit seeks to force Penguin to rename "Lies and the 
Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," 
scheduled for release next month. It also asks for unspecified 
damages.

Fox News registered "Fair & Balanced" as a trademark in 1995, the lawsuit said.

"I normally prefer not to be out of the country on vacation when I'm 
sued. However, from everything I know about law regarding satire, I'm 
not worried," Franken, who has not filed a response in court, said in 
a statement released Tuesday. He is vacationing in Italy.

In its court papers, Fox described the author and liberal commentator 
as "neither a journalist nor a television news personality. He is not 
a well-respected voice in American politics; rather, he appears to be 
shrill and unstable. His views lack any serious depth or insight."

Fox alleged that Franken was "either intoxicated or deranged" when he 
attacked the network and conservative host Bill O'Reilly at an April 
press correspondents dinner. The lawsuit also says that Franken has 
been described as "increasingly unfunny."

"As far as the personal attacks go," Franken responded, "when I read 
`intoxicated or deranged' and `shrill and unstable' in their 
complaint, I thought for a moment I was a Fox commentator.

"And by the way, a few months ago, I trademarked the word `funny.' So 
when Fox calls me `unfunny,' they're violating my trademark. I am 
seriously considering a countersuit."
© 2003 The Associated Press
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David Bowie, father figure: "Ola Hudson--who in fact was Guns N' 
Roses guitarist Slash's mum--she was my girlfriend, you see. I 
sometimes used to put him to bed at nights, little Slash. Who'd have 
guessed?"