"UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION

Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a ficticious science-fiction television series of the seventies starring Ed Bishopas Commander Straker."

Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of his TV series?

What if the Doctor said a similar thing about STAR TREK (which is a registered trade mark)? The reason I've brought up the subject is because David Tennant made a reference to Arthur Dent in one episode, no doubt as a tributeto Douglas Adams (who was at one time a DW script editor).

I'd be interested to hear what anyone has to say about this. Are there any legal experts out there?

All the Best,

BRIAN


     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Not meaning to pick nits, but UFO was a REAL science-fiction TV series.  If it was a ficticious science-fiction TV series, that would mean it had never been made.  : )
Just sayin'.

--- On Thu, 2/25/10, Brian Serridge <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Brian Serridge <[hidden email]>
Subject: [SHADO] "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION
To: [hidden email]
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 6:13 AM


 



Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a ficticious science-fiction  television series of the seventies starring Ed Bishop as Commander Straker."

Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of his TV series?

What if the Doctor said a similar thing about STAR TREK (which is a registered trade mark)? The reason I've brought up the subject is because David Tennant made a reference to Arthur Dent in one episode, no doubt as a tributeto Douglas Adams (who was at one time a DW script editor).

I'd be interested to hear what anyone has to say about this. Are there any legal experts out there?

All the Best,

BRIAN

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My bad.  I misunderstood the premise of the original question.  Sorry.
 
And it IS an interesting question.


--- On Thu, 2/25/10, Jeffrey Nelson <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Jeffrey Nelson <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [SHADO] "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION
To: [hidden email]
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 8:59 AM


 



Not meaning to pick nits, but UFO was a REAL science-fiction TV series.  If it was a ficticious science-fiction TV series, that would mean it had never been made.  : )
Just sayin'.

--- On Thu, 2/25/10, Brian Serridge <brianserridge@ yahoo.co. uk> wrote:

From: Brian Serridge <brianserridge@ yahoo.co. uk>
Subject: [SHADO] "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION
To: SHADO@yahoogroups. com
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 6:13 AM

 

Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a ficticious science-fiction  television series of the seventies starring Ed Bishop as Commander Straker."

Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of his TV series?

What if the Doctor said a similar thing about STAR TREK (which is a registered trade mark)? The reason I've brought up the subject is because David Tennant made a reference to Arthur Dent in one episode, no doubt as a tributeto Douglas Adams (who was at one time a DW script editor).

I'd be interested to hear what anyone has to say about this. Are there any legal experts out there?

All the Best,

BRIAN

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:13:37 -0800 (PST)
Brian Serridge <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a
> ficticious science-fiction television series of the seventies starring
> Ed Bishop as Commander Straker."
>
> Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry
> Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of
> his TV series?
>


How could that destroy the credibility of UFO? It's entirely true!
Clearly, the Doctor Who universe and the UFO universe are separate.
Fictional TV series must exist in both. Seriously, I'm curious to
know why the notion that UFO was a TV series is at odds with its
credibility.

James

It happens all the time in various shows.

Currently, there's a running gag in the US show "Psych" that keeps referencing "The Mentalist" as a mere television show.

Or when current shows refer back to "The X-Files" as being a television show. That has happened quite a bit over the past few years.




________________________________
From: James Gibbon <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 11:13:24 AM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION

 
On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:13:37 -0800 (PST)
Brian Serridge <brianserridge@ yahoo.co. uk> wrote:

> Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a
> ficticious science-fiction television series of the seventies starring
> Ed Bishop as Commander Straker."
>
> Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry
> Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of
> his TV series?
>

How could that destroy the credibility of UFO? It's entirely true!
Clearly, the Doctor Who universe and the UFO universe are separate.
Fictional TV series must exist in both. Seriously, I'm curious to
know why the notion that UFO was a TV series is at odds with its
credibility.

James


 


     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Boston Legal was full of meta references to Shatner’s space-faring past and to its own status as a television show.

 

 

 

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Clay
Sent: 27 February 2010 03:56
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION

 

 

It happens all the time in various shows.

Currently, there's a running gag in the US show "Psych" that keeps referencing "The Mentalist" as a mere television show.

Or when current shows refer back to "The X-Files" as being a television show. That has happened quite a bit over the past few years.

________________________________
From: James Gibbon <[hidden email] <mailto:jg%40jamesgibbon.com> >
To: [hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 11:13:24 AM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION

On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:13:37 -0800 (PST)
Brian Serridge <brianserridge@ yahoo.co. uk> wrote:

> Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a
> ficticious science-fiction television series of the seventies starring
> Ed Bishop as Commander Straker."
>
> Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry
> Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of
> his TV series?
>

How could that destroy the credibility of UFO? It's entirely true!
Clearly, the Doctor Who universe and the UFO universe are separate.
Fictional TV series must exist in both. Seriously, I'm curious to
know why the notion that UFO was a TV series is at odds with its
credibility.

James

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There's a Dr Who "Crossover" novel called "The Indestructible Man" in whichthe Second Doctor, the one from the late 60s, the Patrick Troughton one, encounters the characters (heavily disguised) from Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and UFO! I don't remember the author's name.

--- On Fri, 26/2/10, David Richards <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: David Richards <[hidden email]>
Subject: RE: [SHADO] Re: "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION
To: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, 26 February, 2010, 20:45


 



Boston Legal was full of meta references to Shatner’s space-faring past and to its own status as a television show.

From: SHADO@yahoogroups. com [mailto:SHADO@yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Clay
Sent: 27 February 2010 03:56
To: SHADO@yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION

It happens all the time in various shows.

Currently, there's a running gag in the US show "Psych" that keeps referencing "The Mentalist" as a mere television show.

Or when current shows refer back to "The X-Files" as being a television show. That has happened quite a bit over the past few years.

____________ _________ _________ __
From: James Gibbon <jg@jamesgibbon. com <mailto:jg%40jamesg ibbon.com> >
To: SHADO@yahoogroups. com <mailto:SHADO% 40yahoogroups. com>
Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 11:13:24 AM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: "UFO" HYPOTHETICAL LEGAL QUESTION

On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:13:37 -0800 (PST)
Brian Serridge <brianserridge@ yahoo.co. uk> wrote:

> Imagine if, in an episode of DOCTOR WHO, the Doctor says "UFO was a
> ficticious science-fiction television series of the seventies starring
> Ed Bishop as Commander Straker."
>
> Now, I know that UFO isn't a registered trade mark, but could Gerry
> Anderson in theory sue the BBC for destroying the 'credibility' of
> his TV series?
>

How could that destroy the credibility of UFO? It's entirely true!
Clearly, the Doctor Who universe and the UFO universe are separate.
Fictional TV series must exist in both. Seriously, I'm curious to
know why the notion that UFO was a TV series is at odds with its
credibility.

James

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]









     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 
> I'd be interested to hear what anyone has to say about this. Are there any legal experts out there?
>
> All the Best,
>
> BRIAN

Well I am no legal whizz, but I have had dealings with British copyright and intellectual property issues. American copyright is different, and idiotstry to TM anything: "Hamburger (TM)" yeah right.

Something like the term 'UFO' or 'Unidentified Flying Objects' is essentially a public domain term, so cannot be trade marked as such like for instance "Hoover" or "Vaseline" - However it can be attached to a particular product, in this case, a TV show. For example, I could have a cleaning product called "Magic Windows" which I could trademark AS a cleaner. However, if it was a software product, Microsoft could jump on you because the term is trademarked in relation to computer software.

So although the term 'UFO' is generic, I suspect if you tried to use the term for TV or film, you might get jumped on by Carlton, or whoever now owns the rights.

Note also the difference between (R) and (TM) - One is registered at companies house, the other is not. Essentially, you can't really stake claims on trademarks unless it is proved that someone is infringing your copyright, but that is a different law. If you created something, and you can prove it,it is yours. You do not have to register anything. That goes for instance,like the girls drawings on here. If someone else were to try selling them,(even if she sold them to that person), she retains the intellectual copyright, and must sign a written agreement to state that all rights have been transferred to the buyer before the buyer can then sell it on.

Hope this clarifies a few matters
Rob