Mattel Toys in its ongoing campaign to silence those who make fun of its products succeeded in silencing another parody website this week - The Barbie Chronicles. Mattel, contrary to law and tradition, has chosen to use its corporate power to drive off the net anyone who dares poke fun of its products. Last week Mattel silenced another parody site - Barbe Hacker Dream Basement Apartment.
Dean Brown, founder of the hurmorous site Barbie Chronicles, wrote to us to tell us that "They (Mattel) blew the whistle and I pulled the plug, I don't have the time, inclination, nor resources (especially resources) to fight back. So I capitulated."
Case law on the issue of parody versus tradenames is clear. Mr Brown has every right to use the name in support of his humorous site. However, corporate bullies, such as Mattel, know that in a legal war of attrition they can afford far more legal resources than any humorist.
We suspect that they just want all of us to act just like Ken.
-- Tim Logan - Editor Weekly Web Watch News http://www.webwarei.com/webwatch.htm email TJL[_at_]Webwarei.ComReceived on Mon Oct 27 1997 - 07:26:28 GMT
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