(Spike TV will be the new name for TNN which shows Raw)

 

From BBC News:

 

Director Spike Lee has sued US media giant Viacom over plans to rename a cable channel Spike TV.

 

Viacom says it wants to make the name change in order to attract more male viewers.

 

Lee has asked for an injunction against Viacom's use of the name Spike, saying he had never given his consent for it to be used.

 

Viacom said it was confident that the court would reject Lee's legal claim to "the popular word and name Spike", to allow it to relaunch its TNN channel under the new name.

 

According to Lee, TNN president Albie Hecht has said the public associates the name Spike with Lee.

 

In court papers filed on Tuesday, the film-maker said: "The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious - that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee."

 

Lee - real name Shelton Jackson Lee - has included affidavits from actors Ed Norton and Ossie Davis and former senator Bill Bradley.

 

The signatories said they had thought of Lee when they heard about Spike TV and believed he had become affiliated with the network.

 

Viacom, which also owns broadcasters such as CBS, MTV, and VH1, has been directed by the judge to explain why it should not be barred from using the name.

If it's not his real name, and he has not copyrighted it, he should have no ground to stand on.

When i read the title of this thread i thought you were gonna say Spike Dudley was suing them :D

Originally posted by HSM

When i read the title of this thread i thought you were gonna say Spike Dudley was suing them :D

 

Same Here :lol

Spike Lee is black, that's all he needs for evidence

i wish the man a success in the case

Originally posted by Seabass

Spike Lee is black, that's all he needs for evidence

i wish the man a success in the case

 

Eh :?

Originally posted by Cactus Jack

Eh :?

 

it's a black man thing Cactus

Originally posted by Seabass

it's a black man thing Cactus

 

ie a racism thing. For some reason people don't think its possible for black people to be racist, its only white people who are. :roll

As in equality etc.?

lol The Vulcanized One, you have to get serious. i was messing around. i couldn't care if Spike Lee won or not, i was just doing an impression of teddy long

 

of course Black people can be racist, but that is for another thread for another time

In the real world this would never even get close to court, but sadly this is America we are talking about, so he will probably win and then a huge celebration in his honor before Vince jumps on the band wagon and has him join Teddy Long.

What a load of nonsense. In no way does Spike TV make youy think of Spike Lee. Hell it may as well be Spike Dudley, Spike Jonze or Spike the Dog from the Tom & Jerry cartoons that's complaining.

 

Clearly, Lee's after a bit of publicity - just watch as Ed Norton and Ossie Davis (who?) star in Lee's next movie.

re spike lee

 

would be cool seeing him turn up with teddy long! who on the subject i think is doing quality in his new role. bring back more classic manager type roles instead of just valets

Ossie Davis rules

From BBC News:

 

Director Lee halts Spike TV

 

Film-maker Spike Lee has won a temporary injunction preventing US media giant Viacom from renaming a cable channel Spike TV.

 

Lee had asked a Manhattan court to stop the company renaming its TNN network, saying he did not want his name associated with the male-orientated channel.

 

In granting the temporary injunction, pending a trial on the issue, the judge ordered Lee to post a $500,000 (£299,336) bond to cover Viacom's costs in case he loses.

 

Viacom planned to change the name on 16 June as it bids to become "the first network for men".

 

Among its schedules are repeats of the A-Team and Baywatch as well as a cartoon called Stripperella, voiced by Pamela Anderson.

 

Lee, who directed Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing, saw the name change as a deliberate attempt to cash in on his name and image.

 

Viacom argued that there was no law protecting a celebrity's first name and that spike is a word in the English language which has many meanings.

 

But State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub said: "Contrary to defendants' position, the court is of the opinion that in the age of mass communication, a celebrity can in fact establish a vested right in the use of only their first name or a surname.

 

"There are many celebrities that are so recognised, including Cher, Madonna, Sting and Liza."

 

Celebrity lawyer Johnnie Cochran, representing Lee, said: "We're obviously elated. We had a good judge who looked at the law and at the facts."

 

Viacom said it would immediately appeal the judge's decision and seek a stay of the injunction.

 

:roll

Absolutly pathetic.

whooooo Spike Lee won :D

will he be suing spike dudley and spike jonez next?