Reading Rainbow sues LeVar Burton for using catchphrase on his podcast - Sensationalist Headlines

[quote]Eight years after LeVar Burton tweeted his intention to revive Reading Rainbow, he's now being personally sued for essentially hijacking the long-running PBS show that encourages people to read. On Friday, WNED (a public broadcaster in Buffalo, N.Y.) filed a wide-ranging lawsuit that demands among other things that Burton's company hand over administrative access to various websites and social media accounts. [b]The lawsuit also seeks to enjoin Burton from using the Reading Rainbow catchphrase, "But you don't have to take my word for it," on his podcast, LeVar Burton Reads.[/b] Although this is a new lawsuit, WNED and Burton's RRKidz have been in court with each other for more than a year over a 2011 licensing deal. WNED's interpretation of the agreement is that the 2011 deal represented a “divide and conquer” approach to the renaissance of Reading Rainbow whereby RRKidz would be allowed to take over digital distribution of the series while the broadcaster would focus on making new episodes. Profits were to be split. But then in 2014, Burton launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the show's revival and brought in $6.5 million. WNED was upset at the loss of control and further alleges that its own efforts to develop a new series were undermined when RRKidz along with The Jim Henson Co. began secretly negotiating with Netflix for a new Reading Rainbow series. In response to the allegation, RRKidz said the Netflix discussions pertained to an original concept and not Reading Rainbow. As the parties continue to wage war over the 2011 agreement, WNED has now filed a second lawsuit against Burton and his company. [b]The complaint goes on to address how the media has latched on to the phrase "Reading Rainbow for adults" as the de facto slogan for the podcast and how Burton told WNYC's Brian Lehrer, "People are calling it Reading Rainbow for adults, and I can't stop them from that."[/b][/quote] [url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/reading-rainbow-owner-accuses-levar-burton-theft-extortion-lawsuit-1027372]Source[/url] LeVar has done more for the Reading Rainbow brand than anyone and they're suing him for trying to do his own book podcast for adults. Big mistake imo.

"But you don't have to take my word for it" is a catchphrase?

"you don't have to take my word for it" "yes we do, we're suing you for that catchphrase"

Is Reading Rainbow even a thing anymore???? When was the last time they were on TV?

[QUOTE=Pascall;52555371]Is Reading Rainbow even a thing anymore???? When was the last time they were on TV?[/QUOTE] Reading Rainbow was revived by Burton through a Kickstarter that raised over $5 million (plus an extra $1 million from Seth MacFarlane). It has a big online and app presence that's dedicated to educating and teaching literacy to the youth.

[QUOTE=Flicky;52555380]Reading Rainbow was revived by Burton through a Kickstarter that raised over $5 million (plus an extra $1 million from Seth MacFarlane). It has a big online and app presence that's dedicated to educating and teaching literacy to the youth.[/QUOTE] That just makes it even sillier that they're suing him lol. They owe the entirety of their success to him.

geordi laforge is great lay off LeVar. whats up with america and lawsuits anyways its like on par with giving out candy there

[QUOTE=Dracon;52555358]"But you don't have to take my word for it" is a catchphrase?[/QUOTE] oh boy I hope your use of that trademarked catchphrase doesn't lead to another wok situation

[QUOTE=cccritical;52555464]oh boy I hope your use of that trademarked catchphrase doesn't lead to another wok situation[/QUOTE] It sure might [I]But you don't have to take my word for it[/I]

Fuck you you greedy pigs. LeVar seems to genuinely care about teaching people, and you assholes are just in it all for the money.

[QUOTE=cccritical;52555464]oh boy I hope your use of that trademarked catchphrase doesn't lead to another [B]wok situation[/B][/QUOTE] Remind me? What was that all about again

[QUOTE=dingusnin;52555477]It sure might [I]But you don't have to take my word for it[/I][/QUOTE] Someone sue garry please [editline]9th August 2017[/editline] we must stop this menace

[QUOTE=Darkwater124;52555623]Remind me? What was that all about again[/QUOTE] [URL="https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1370683"]Let's take a wok down memory lane.[/URL]

Should all read the whole article before passing judgment here. It seems like a pretty legitimate suit. They have a problem with him calling his podcasts "Reading Rainbow for Adults," using Reading Rainbow stuff to advertise his own sites, and deleting Reading Rainbow stuff before he has to transfer over sites and accounts, plus they argue he isn't licensed to use the Reading Rainbow brand due to a breach of contract years ago (There's apparently a 2014 lawsuit still going on for that too). I can't say whether or not they are in the right, but it's not as ridiculous as the title would make it seem.

[QUOTE=LeonS;52555447] whats up with america and lawsuits anyways its like on par with giving out candy there[/QUOTE] What are you talking about? I'll sue you for assuming that. See you in court! :class: But yeah, it seems like this stink with WNED and Reading Rainbow has been going on a while now, so there were bound to be petty lawsuits like this one.

[QUOTE=Darkwater124;52555623]Remind me? What was that all about again[/QUOTE] :wok:

from what it looks like it seems the reading rainbow LeVar used Kickstarter to create and the one PBS runs are different? I'm noticing they're referring to his as RRKids and PBS as Reading Rainbow. I mean the intent is good but doesn't that basically mean LeVar stole this use of the Reading Rainbow brand?

[QUOTE=LeonS;52555447]geordi laforge is great lay off LeVar. whats up with america and lawsuits anyways its like on par with giving out candy there[/QUOTE] Any way to make money in the USA. Money is the name of the game. If you have it, someone wants it