EFF Sues Barney Producers over Spoof Sites

PetManimal writes "The Electronic Frontier Foundation is suing the company that produces 'Barney and Friends' for harassing the creator of a Barney parody Web site. Barney producers Lyons Partnership has threatened lawsuits over the past few years against Stuart Frankel and his parody site, actions which the EFF says violates freedom of speech and fair use laws. The parody site contains doctored images of Barney, and claims the purple dinosaur is the Antichrist. From the article: 'Lyons Partnership has sent multiple cease-and-desist letters to Frankel for a Web page that includes a depiction of the fuzzy purple dinosaur as Satan. In an October letter, Lyons demands that Frankel immediately take down copyrighted images of Barney. The company threatens to take legal action or contact Frankel's Internet service provider if he doesn't comply.'"

Barney's got a brand new bag

[Red Flayer]

I sue you
They sue me
We're all part of a
Lawyer-enriching Copyright industry that contributes little to the public good.

Does that rhyme?

Barney...Isnt he dead?

[dontbflat]

I thought I killed that guy in HL2. Maybe I'll get him in HL3

One Line Of Legal Defense

[Steve B]

The parody site contains doctored images of Barney, and claims the purple dinosaur is the Antichrist.

I dunno about copyright infringement, but they should be safe from any defamation charge -- truth is an absolute defense.

Re:Barney's got a brand new bag

[Tackhead]

> I sue you
> They sue me
> We're all part of a
> Lawyer-enriching Copyright industry that contributes little to the public good.

To the Lyons partners,
Dewey Cheatem, Howe,
Up yours, Barney.
Pay Stu now.

Ean St Eane

[pottymouth]

I thought people would learn not to mess with Barney when he had Ean St Eane kneecapped.... Geez, I wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

Doctored Kerry photo.

[krell]

"during a poltical campaign, some photograph of Kerry giving a speech years ago is doctored. I think there is some precedent there"

I doctored it, and then I undoctored it.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

True Story

[StressGuy]

Years ago, I worked as a civilian contractor at an Army Guard base. One of the secretaries there was a bit heavyset and a bit "top-heavy" as well. One day, she comes in wearing a purple sweater and somebody makes an obligitory Barney reference, at which point, she flips him off

Would that be considered fair use?

Good 'ole Barny

[dubdays]

...claims the purple dinosaur is the Antichrist.

Well, I guess the truth hurts.

Re:Barney's got a brand new bag

[Goweropolis]

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'm just a big purple dinosaur. I fell on some ice and later got thawed out by some of your scientists. Your world frightens and confuses me! Sometimes the honking horns of your traffic make me want to get out of my BMW.. and run off into the hills, or wherever.. Sometimes when I get a message on my fax machine, I wonder: "Did little demons get inside and type it?" I don't know! My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts. But there is one thing I do know - when a man like the defendant makes fun of big purple rhyming dinosaurs, then he is entitled to no less than two million years in jail. Thank you.

R.I.P. Phil Hartman, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer [jt.org]

Re:Barney's got a brand new bag

[CODiNE]

No but this does.

I love sue
Sue happy
Litigatious family

With a great big team
Of lawyers just for you
Don't you say I'm Anti-foo!

Why isn't Satan suing?

[XenoPhage]

Perhaps the producers of Barney want the images removed because it's giving Satan a bad name? Hell, if I were Satan, I'd be suing Mr. Frankel for defamation of character.. Everyone know Barney is MUCH worse than Satan...

Well, now ...

[ScrewMaster]

Barney may be the Antichrist (and I'm not saying he isn't) but there are an awful lot of lawyers that definitely qualify as minions.