Ken Block Suing Co-Producer Of First Three Gymkhana Videos

[logic246]

http://jalopnik.com/5936183/ken-bloc...ymkhana-videos


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[DJ_Panda]

from what i'm gathering from the article Block trademarked "Gymkhana?" how is the even possible. That would be like a famous name in drifting trademarking the name drifting. Can you trademark something that's already been established as a sport?

[logic246]

What he is doing is not even gymkhana

[HiTempguy]

Originally Posted by DJ_Panda

drifting trademarking the name drifting.

I don't think you can trademark the word "drifting" as it is a verb. Gymkhana is a name, legitimately "trademark-etable". The word gymkhana isn't though.

The whole point of this is if I was to design a product (Gymkhana videos), and then have someone else BUILD said product for me, that doesn't give them any right to it in any fashion (advertising, likeness, etc). They were simply contracted to make it happen.

[EmanLives]

The way i see it is, should he even care? He's co-owner of DC is he not? Sooo that means.. these guys are making chicken **** compared to his millions.

[aerosaaber]

if he owns the trademark "gymkhana" I think legally he can compel them to give up the site.
especially if it was started after he had the trademark.

It's not about who had the idea or did it first anymore, it's about who holds the legal documentation.

[puggsley]

A guy I went to high school with had this same thing happen to him. Saint Louis University sued him for his site billikens.com; which gave updates, stats and general information regarding their sports teams. He still owns and manages the site today, 11-12 years later.

I can see wanting to own the site to promote his stuff, but come on Kenny B. Its not like these guys are selling bogus DC shoes stuff, they are actually promoting him and his brand.

[scby rex]

I hope someone in japan that coined the term counter sues Ken. This american mentality that you can just sue anyone because someone else "MIGHT" be making money that could have been only if, is a bunch of bs. Like Nike is going to sue anyone that says " just do it"

[Hotrodguru]

KB is a little bitch. I enjoy seeing him get pounded regularly by real drivers in WRC and was a treat when Seb did X-Games.

[Mike.J]

KB is running a risk that the video co-producer tells how they were made (freeze frame, camera speed tricks, repeated shots till he got it right, etc.). Based on his driving in competition, he ain’t that good of a driver.

[Furiousd1983]

Originally Posted by scby rex

I hope someone in japan that coined the term counter sues Ken. This american mentality that you can just sue anyone because someone else "MIGHT" be making money that could have been only if, is a bunch of bs. Like Nike is going to sue anyone that says " just do it"

Depends on the context in which they use the catchphrase... Just look at what the Susan G. Komen society has been doing for the last few years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1..._n_793176.html

[sureshot007]

If you don't protect your trademark/copyright, then you lose the rights to it. So you have to make an effort to stop others from using it, including suing sometimes, or else it sets precedent that you let others use it for free with no license.

I'm not saying that is what's happening in this specific case, but I'm saying there IS a reason so sue everyone over stupid things sometimes.

[Weasel Soup]

Originally Posted by Mike.J

KB is running a risk that the video co-producer tells how they were made (freeze frame, camera speed tricks, repeated shots till he got it right, etc.). Based on his driving in competition, he ain’t that good of a driver.

, yeah. Just by the tire tracks you can tell none of the tricks made it into the videos on the first pass.

Imagine if KB spent as much time practicing stage driving as he does being a tool/pr stunt/'hoon'...