Man sees self in PJs cartoon, sues

[Joe Tully]

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0328CartoonSuit-ON.html

Now that's just plain silly. :p

Any comments/opinions on this article?

[Sandoz]

Uuugh, how sad. By that guy's logic, I should sue MTV for basing Daria off me (the similarities are striking! I have long brown hair, glasses....and I'm a girl! Shocking!) Don't people have anything better to do with their lives?

[Calhoun07]

That's it. I am suing Daniel Clowes for making Seymore like me in Ghost World. Where is my lawyer?

Well, this should make the PJs more popular than before!

[Joe Wagner]

Tis a sad day that a person sues a show for using their likeness - I mean he wasn't committing an atrocity on screen or anything. Geez if this gets out I would hate to see the amount of law suits coming in to the movie industry every time they take a shot of a crowded city.

"Hey wait, that's me! Standing directly behind the woman in black! Yea, I'm in row 48 and about 62 people in! I'm suing!" That or else all major sporting events will now have disclaimers that a person can not sue if they are featured while the game is being broadcast or during clips from the game!

-Joe!

[optimuslives]

What a number 1 top grade AAA loser!!!!

Just when you think you have heard or seen it all...some moron like this comes along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Calhoun07]

Think of what this could mean if this guy gets anywhere with this! What if a customer who got waited on by Kevin Smith when he was just a kid working in a video store thinks he sees himself in Clerks? This could bring on more lawsuits!

[Heehaw]

According to the article, it sounds like the physical traits of the character are strikingly similar to the plaintiff. If the PJ's character's likeness was indeed influenced by the videotape, then he has every right to sue. The old man's physical appearance sounds like it is rather unique, so there seem to be definite grounds. The fact that there are more people involved other than the old man seems to indicate that there was an intentional use of their images.

There are laws against this sort of thing, and if it can be proven, he will most certainly win. It doesn't matter how he was potrayed or if you think it is trivial, a person's likeness, with the possible exception of parody, can't be used in any medium, without permission. I doubt it falls within the realm of parody, and he may very well win the suit. I wish him luck if that is the case. If the videotape did not exist, then the lawsuit could definitely be in jeopardy since you couldn't prove anything.

[jimi5150]

I'd like to see a side-by-side comparison! Let the people decide!!!

[Mattashell]

Originally posted by jjwspider


That or else all major sporting events will now have disclaimers that a person can not sue if they are featured while the game is being broadcast or during clips from the game!

-Joe!

They do. It's among the fine print on the back of your ticket. ;)

[Lucky Bob]

I see the guy's point. In fact, I think I'm gonna sue. They modeled Kronk from "The Emperor's New Groove" right after me! I can prove it too!

[Joe Wagner]

Originally posted by Mattashell


They do. It's among the fine print on the back of your ticket. ;)

D'OH! I guess I should read the fine print more often, eh?

Kinda funny though in his suit - gee...I wonder how many other people in the US have a cane and talk with a voice box - I'm sure there can't be more than a few thousand.

Well it's obvious that I was the entire reason Spawn was created because I mean I've been known to wear a mask on Halloween and used to use a green light when I went out trick or treating. I have pictures of me in a costume from when I was younger. This obviously means that McFarlane saw me and created Spawn - I mean how else do you explain the fact Spawn has a mask, green light from his hands and the fact he walks and runs! I do both of those, I can even talk too - just like Spawn!

Arrgh....give me a break, this is just sad.....

-Joe!

[Ricochet]

My question is: Does it matter? If he was modeled after you, no one knew until you said so! :rolleyes:

[Heehaw]

That's how these cases get started, people noticing the similarities. It isn't going to pop up via fairy dust. Sometimes it is brought to the person's attention by someone else.

The videotape is supposedly in the hands of the people who created the characters, so if the tape didn't exist they wouldn't have been inspired to create that particular character; thus all the wisecracks fall flat in this case. In the old man's case, it comes down to more than a can and voice box. There are 9 different specific points, according to the article. This is more than mere coincidence, at least on the surface. The rest is for the judge/jury to decide. It would seem that they ripped both him and other's appearances for their show, which turns a profit. If so, they deserve the ripping they might have coming to them.