Yes entirely skeevy. i think its a case of where being a big corporation will win out. i suspect that at some point WB may have taken out a copyright on the word - possibly because commerical merchandisers started using it. The history of the use of the term on merchandise can be found here.
You don't have to create something to copyright it - eg companies copyright particular colours or general words eg Apple) associated with their brands. It sucks of course, esp when there is no threat to the companies profit. And look at all the stuff on eBay that uses photos from the show on keyrings etc!
eta I remember years ago anteka had a claim from the WB agianst some stuff she had on Cafe press - i think it was a black silhouette of the car!!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-07-08 04:09 am (UTC)You don't have to create something to copyright it - eg companies copyright particular colours or general words eg Apple) associated with their brands. It sucks of course, esp when there is no threat to the companies profit. And look at all the stuff on eBay that uses photos from the show on keyrings etc!
eta I remember years ago