I've been a fan of the late Jack Wild since I was a young 'un.
H.R. Pufnstuf is still a joy to watch, although for completely different reasons than when I was a kid.
And I could never understand why the Kroffts didn't sue McDonalds for blatantly ripping off the Pufster for their Mayor McCheese character.
...After some research, I can see that they did indeed take them to court...
562 F.2d 1157 (1977)
SID & MARTY KROFFT TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, INC. and Sid & Marty Krofft Productions, Inc., Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
McDONALD'S CORPORATION and Needham, Harper & Steers, Inc., Defendants-Appellees.
SID & MARTY KROFFT TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, INC. and Sid & Marty Krofft Productions, Inc., Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
McDONALD'S CORPORATION and Needham, Harper & Steers, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.
Nos. 75-1203 and 75-1202.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
October 12, 1977.
Rehearing Denied November 17, 1977.
1158*1158 1159*1159 1160*1160 Anthony E. Liebig, Lillick, McHose & Charles, Los Angeles, Cal., argued for McDonald's Corp. et al.
Melville B. Nimmer, Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowitz & Selvin, Bayard F. Berman and James P. Tierney, Beverly Hills, Cal., argued for Sid & Marty Krofft Television.
Before CARTER, GOODWIN, and SNEED, Circuit Judges.
JAMES M. CARTER, Circuit Judge:
This is a copyright infringement action. Plaintiffs Sid and Marty Krofft Television Productions, Inc., and Sid and Marty Krofft Productions, Inc. were awarded $50,000.00 in their action against defendants McDonald's Corporation and Needham, Harper & Steers, Inc. Defendants were found to have infringed plaintiffs' "H. R. Pufnstuf" children's television show by the production of their "McDonaldland" television commercials.
Copyright infringement report
ReplyDeleteAs a fan of Sid and Marty Krofft and H.R. Pufnstuf, I felt that you should be made aware of an adult-oriented business in Little Rock, AR. that is benefiting from your name recognition, likely without your permission.
I cannot imagine that your firm would allow any business of this type to associate it's name with yours.
I have tremendous respect for businesses that cater to children. But, not if those businesses sell harmful substances.
Children's television programming is one thing. But, cigarettes, cigars and tattoos are another thing, entirely.
I can only hope that those children don't feel nostalgic when they buy cigarettes or other smoking substances from a store whose name reminds them of your show. That wouldn't be right, neither morally or otherwise.
Please tell me that you didn't authorize their clear and blatant use of a fictitious business name that could easily be mistaken for yours?!
A few links to their information follows, below:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Puffnstuff-3/156191547741704
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/corps/search_corps.php?DETAIL=306675&corp_type_id=&corp_name=Puffin+Stuff+Inc&agent_search=&agent_city=&agent_state=&filing_number=&cmd=
And, here's a link to another business that is also using a version of your name for their own benefit, likely without your permission.
Though, it's not an offensive business. So, I can see where their allowed use of your name might be welcomed by your copyright attorneys, as it extends your brand:
http://www.puffnstuffonlineshop.com/
P.S. Your email address kgraiwer@krofftpictures.com doesn't exist, even though that's the email address that is shown as the sender of the email I received when I subscribed to your website, as evidenced by the undeliverable message I received from Hotmail when I attempted to email you about the above matter, when replying to the subscription confirmation email that I received from your website. Thanks!