IPC recently obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of client Walter Williams of Dreamsite Productions, the creator and owner of the fictional character Mr. Bill in a recently filed federal lawsuit. The lawsuit, led by IPC attorney Richard Sahuc, asserted claims for copyright and trademark infringement against The Golf Channel and its parent, NBC Universal, based upon an unauthorized appearance made by Mr. Bill in an instructional video produced by The Golf Channel in which Mr. Bill’s head predictably doubled as a golf ball.
We're not the only ones who recognized the significance of the lawsuit. Mr. Bill's plight made local news in Walter William's hometown of New Orleans on WDSU, as well as national news on MSN.com. Intellectual property rights surrounding fictional characters can be complex. IPC has significant experience with intellectual property rights pertaining to fictional characters, having handled litigation involving Mr. Bill, the famous literary and film hero Zorro, and others. If you have questions about intellectual property rights involving fictional characters our professionals can help. Contact us at (504) 322-7166. |