WWE Legal Team Targeting Everyone
 

Source: Wrestlezone.com

WWE's legal team has been on a terror as of late by going after anyone and everyone they think might infringe on their copyrights and trademarks, most especially ones concerning ECW. Here are some of the people they have threatened with letters just recently.

Mark LoMonica is forbidden from using the names "Bubba", "Buh-Buh", "Bubba Ray Dudley" or "Buh-Buh Ray Dudley" on independent shows and appearances as they caught a company using the name "Bubba" on advertising for a recent New York indie show and then they sent him and the indy promotion cease and desist letters to stop him from using that name or any name similar to his old name for that matter. Devon Hughes cannot use the name "D-Von" or "D-Von Dudley", although they can't stop him from using the name "Devon" as that's his real name. And of course, they can't use or be referred to as "The Dudleys", "The Dudleyz", "The Dudley Boys", or "Dudley Boyz" period.

WWE is also claiming rights to their catchphrases and costumes. They can't wear camouflauge or wrestle wearing glasses. WWE is also not allowing the term "get the tables" be used in advertising for them as a press release was pulled with new phrasing as WWE wouldn't allow the NY indie group to use the term, "get the tables." There is also a possibility that WWE will claim the terms "3-D" and "D-Von, Get the tables", although they can't ban them from using the manuever. WWE is claiming broad rights to everything associated with The Dudley Boyz gimmick.

Hughes and LoMonica have talked about fighting WWE legally because they left ECW with the idea that they owned the rights to their names and gimmick, but it could end up being a costly fight which is why they might not challenge WWE in court. The former Dudleyz are currently brainstorming a new gimmick for the team and they will let TNA know what the gimmick is after they trademark it themselves.

The WWE legal team has sent a letter to BigVanVader.com, saying that Leon White (Vader) has given them the right to legal use the name. They want the site owner to transfer the domain to them, despite the fact that he runs it as a fan site and has done so at a financial loss, because it's now their property.

WWE have sent a cease and desist letter to Peter Polaco, aka Justin Credible. Apparently, he can no longer use the "Justin Credible" name on wrestling shows anymore.

Johnny Ace recently informed Pete Gruner (Billy Kidman) that he not use the name "Billy Kidman" or "Kidman" on the independent scene when his 90-day no-compete clause expires next month.

The WWE legal team informed the webmaster of Spike Dudley's official website, SpikeDudley.net, that they can no longer use photos of him taken during his WWE tenure on his site. The WWE legal team says it constitutes copyright infringement and threatened him with a $150,000 damage case per photo. Some official WWE photos are still up on the site as of this post, but I'd imagine they'll be taken down sooner rather than later.

Also, the WWE legal team is currently looking at the folks who put together the "Hardcore Homecoming" shows for any potential legal hole they can nail them with. There's nothing specific yet, but WWE is claiming that the shows were infringing on WWE's trademarks and intellectual properties.

And in one last bit of legal news, I have actually been contacted myself by the WWE legal department who have told me that I must remove any images on this website dealing with WWE. You would think they'd have better things to do but apparently not.

Holy fucking shit. This is insane. WWE is acting like a bunch of little bitches, overprotective of trademarks that AREN'T EVEN THEIRS TO BEGIN WITH!!!!

Seriously, this is fucked up.

Shit. What's going to happen to my wrestling themes web site? Motherfucker...

:wtf: That's fuckin gay

This sucks. But they do own them, and even though their morally in the wrong, legally their in the right. And that sucks.

Dammit, WWE never came up with the names of Billy Kidman, Justin Credible, The Dudley Boyz, Spike Dudley, and Vader. WWE is DEFINITELY not in the right, legally or otherwise, for going after the Hardcore Homecoming show. So now that they own everything WCW and ECW, they think they own the entire world and everything wrestling. Way to let your former talent make a living for themselves. Good thing people like Jindrak, Morgan, and a few others use their real names. Does Mero own the rights to Johnny B Badd or whatever, his old WCW gimmick? If so, they might as well go after Mero for using it in TNA, if he still does.

They may not of came up with them but they do OWN them.

That's just wrong!

Not only do they leave these guys with no job and no chance of a job for 90 days, they take away an identity that can earn them some money!

I think it's appalling that the WWE can do this to these people!

Quite simply it's BULLSHIT!

When your right your right.

They didn't come up with them, true. But they did purchase everything ECW including the rights to the names. Paul may have let the Dudleys continue using the name after they left ECW but apparently WWE is in no way going to be any bit as generous. Same goes for Billy Kidman and WCW. Like it or not they did trademark the names as soon as the wrestlers began working for them or they did purchase them from the former owners who had trademarked them.

In all honesty, if you're a wrestler and your name is your livlihood then you should trademark it as soon as possible. And if you ever start to work for WWE and your name is trademark they'll probably change your whole gimmick to something else. Once you're done with the company go back to using your original gimmick.

Lastly, I want to say I'm not defending what the WWE is doing. In fact I think its pretty shitty. I was just saying it was in their right to do so.

When YOU'RE right, yes YOU ARE (YOU'RE) right :D

But yeah, I know they OWN them, but it's still bullshit.

That's not fair, Crashnburn. I edited my post less than a MINUTE after I posted it. :p I know I misspoke (mistyped) in that original version of my post.

Wow.

Can't say it isn't a good business decision for WWE though. Everyone that they once had has to completely re-invent themselves before they can make the promotions they are working for any money whatsoever. And as proven in the past... re-inventing yourself for another promotion is not the easiest thing to do (ie: Billy Gunn)

... oops? :lol:

This is the kinda thing that happens when you're stuck right up your own arse.

WWE did this a few years ago, attacking fan web sites and the like for using WWE pictures. Then they eased up on it and let it go. I hope they don't come after us, the fans, again for fan sites and sites with downloads. :shifty:

Now that wrestling is in a bit of a slow period again, I wouldn't be surprised if Vince tries to get every penny he can get.

I don't feel sorry for them, they signed the contract and if they were dumb enough to think that the could use their ringnames and gimmicks when they left, then they deserve what they get.

It does get kind of ridiculous though when they say that they can't use every single variation of a name (ie: Bubbah, Bubba, Buh-Buh)

Meh.

Dudleys were promised their gimmicks by Paul E back in ECW.

What goes around comes around...

Think about it.

Remember when Triple A got a letter from the WWE about using copyrighted material?

A few years later WWF is forced to changed to WWE because they themselves were infringing on the world wildlife fund name.

Well do they have a trademark to the name?

"Promises" don't mean jack in court.

And besides, Paul E. doesn't own ECW anymore and the Dudley's signed with the WWE. And unless the Dudleys went and registered a trademark for any of their names and gimmicks, then they have no legal recourse to challenge this.

Sad truth. I couldn't imagine if someone told me I couldn't use my gimmick or name. Fucking sucks, its almost like somebody died. :'(

That's why you should copyright it as soon as you come up with it so no one can deny you the use of it.

Justin Credible still has PJ Walker as his name that he has been using a lot on the indy scene. Billy Kidman should just call himself "Torrie Wilson's Husband" and he'll be fine. Spike Dudley should just use his real name since he will probably end up working for Ring Of Honor. The Dudley Boyz get the worst of this in my opinion. I definitely believe someone should challenge the WWE in court.

The WWE are a bunch of assholes. I could understand enforcing names and gimmicks upon stuff that they actually created. But doing this will most certainly hurt all of these guys. It is not like these wrestlers will be making millions of dollars but their name value would help them make a little more money for thier families and make their lives better. Fuck you WWE.

They could just legally change their names. Challenging this in court is a waist of money, Vince and the WWE owns these things. I didn't create the vacuum cleaner but I own one, and If someone takes my vacuum, guess what, its stealing.
(I know horrible analogy)

So it's the WWE's fault that the Dudley's and all of these other guys signed a contract with them which basically gave the WWE to do whatever they want with their names and gimmicks?

And if they won't be making a lot of money with their gimmicks anyways, then what's the big deal?

Think about all the money the Dudleyz have already made with the company over the past 5-6 years using the name and gimmick. I find it hard to believe that they are on the brink of starvation right now. They'll be well off wherever they decide to go.

If not they will always have a job at Lowe's or Menard's selling lumber. :naughty:

Mark: DEEEEEEVOOOOON!
Devon: WHAT?
Mark: GET THE TAAAAABB...*a lawyer hands him a letter and Mark read it* DEEEEEVOOOON....GET THE WOOOOOODD!

its another move (in part) to make life hard for internet fans and protect ppvs and storylines. They are only doing this because they can.

Are you stupid?

How the fuck is this making it "hard" for internet fans?

omg r u sure??????/

TALKIN 2 COOL KING!

Any word on if The Rock has to use his legal name while acting now?
Or how about "The Ice Man" Steve Williams?

Marvel might have something to say about that.

Yeah, why do Rock and Steve Austin get away scot-free in this one? I say equal treatment for all. *marks out for Dwayne and Steven* ;)

Justin Sane...........haha, not bad.

I believe that the WWE still owns the rights to The Rock's name, but they basically just let him use it. I believe the deal is that Vince McMahon or the WWE is credited in the credits. They may have 'leased' it to him as well, I'm not 100% positive.

I do believe that both Rock and Austin own the rights to their names. Unless they sold them back or something.

It's business. If you don't want to give up your things, don't sign a contract saying you will.

Kidman should just call himself Sick Boy again, and be cool again.

How do you own words? And how does that not fall under Freedom of Speech. Does it make a difference whether its on camera or not? Dudleys and the kid who ran the website should fight this. Thats pretty bs on WWF's part.

Umm he wasn't Sick Boy.

Phrases can be copyrighted, along with creative names. Hence why the name "The Rock" can be copyrighted, but "Dwayne Johnson" can't.

Costumes? WTF!?

lol. I caught that too.

I believe he was just Kidman. However calling his finisher "The Seven Year Itch" again would fucking rule.

A): Vince is desperate, it shows in everything he does - and all this does is prove it. He isn't making the money off of the shows, so what better way to make up all of the difference than by suing everyone? Deceased guys better watch out, because it it says "Big John Studd" on your tombstone, Vince might say he owns the rights to your gravesite?

B): Why don't they all come together and sue as one unit? I'm sure there are certain lawyers who will take this type of case free of charge until the trial is over. Even if they don't win, it's publicity. I could think of several major ones down south that'd do it. Some of them may have a shot. Especially considering the fact that WWE kept them around just long enough to make WCW / ECW figures of them, and do the ECW PPV - and then dumped them. It's a technical abuse.

This Vader thing in itself is ridiculous. There should be no grounds.

Also, when they're discussing the pics on Spike's site, are these WWE.com caption pics or are they pics taken by fans during his stay in WWE?? If it's the fan pics, they can't do shit. The screencaps, then they'll just have to remove them.

all of this is bullshit

a.k.a: Ball Licks

Bubba will probably be called "BB-Ray" or "B-Ray" in TNA

yes the WWF had to change to the WWE because they threatened Triple A.

Imagine you can't say 'get the tables'. It's fucking pathetic. Fuck WWE.

Yeah fuck them.

Let's all watch some CZW where the REAL wrestling is at!

Yeah... I'm going to go watch a 25 minute epic of Petey Williams vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. M Dogg 20 vs. Teddy Hart, you go watch a 5 minute Carlito vs. John Cena 'main event'.

Legally, they own them. And they can get away with it, because who would challenge the WWE? They have money, which of these wrestlers can affort the challenge?

Well, WCW and ECW can't give trademarks where they didn't belong. As the Dudleyz and some other people were said to have left ECW WITH their trademarks, the WWE couldn't claim them as part of the package.

Plus, many of the "trademarks" are not actually registered trademarks...They can take out actual trademarks, but those would be easier to challenge.

Bubba and D-Von should just put on masks and call themselves.....

... "Pedro & Nacho, Los Hermanos De Dudley"!!!

And I beleive the story is 9 and someone in this thread mentioned it) is that Paul still owned a lot of the ECW guys trademarks and characters even after they left. Thats why he was bale to do things like produce a 'Best of the Dudleyz' DVD while they were in the WWE.

He gave them complete autonomy as far as working under the names with the WWE and Bubba has mentioned in numerous interviews that Paul promised that he would give or sell them the rights if he was ever bought out. But of course the WWE would basically insist that they get the rights to all the name ECW talent in any purchase. So that didn't happen.

Hence, they're screwed.

BG Ray.

Cena/Carlito > All of them

lol Cena/Carlito better than Sonjay Dutt and Teddy Hart? Shows how mch you know about wrestling.
WRESTLING does not equal WWE. Only little girls think that, real wrestling fans browse through the indies and discover that the wrestlers in WWE could learn a lot from these guys.
Dude i think there's a new JONH CENA chain for you to buy on shopzone.

Shut the fuck up, seriously. It's not about WWE vs everyone.

It's about Charisma vs Technical skills.

Fake technical skills don't mean shit without the entertainment value.

Entertainment value? Maybe Cena attempting to rap to his 'chain gang' entertains you, good matches entertain me.

Which is why TNA draws so heavily. :)

I mean, you can argue that you'd rather watch, but what people actually watch seems to be different.

LOL @ Sadistic again. jesus christ.

Look, I look at wrestling just as any other sport as far as major/minor leagues go.

If you make it to the WWE, you've "made it" and you are on top of the wrestling world. You're the cream of the crop and the WWE chooses these guys for a reason, even though these reasons may seem crazy to some of us. But, the WWE is the top company out there, therefore making WWE "stars" the best in the world.

It's simple as that.

I just look at it like this: Choreography's great, but without feuds, personas and the like that people give a shit about...

You're the type of fan that loves gimmicks and storylines. I couldn't care less who has custody of who, I turn on wrestling to see good matches.
You watched Eddie vs. Rey to see who would 'get' Dominic, I watched it to see a good ladder match.

Loose Cannon just because one is in WWE it doesn't make them one of the best wrestlers in the world. Actually, seeing as how WWE has banned so many moves, it takes MORE to be in any other promotion.

notice I didn't say best "wrestlers." I strayed away from that for a reason. I agree, most WWE stars aren't the best "wrestlers" in the world, but is WWE all about "wrestling?"

I think when talking about wrestling companies today, we have to stop using "wrestlers" when rating the stars and use "preformers." It's a beter term to judge by.

So Backyard Wrestling, hey, the way foward.

And wait Sadistic, no no no no no, the guys who put on top notch matches in the WWE with these restrictions, then this shows their class for doing what they do on a limited amount of moves.

Actually, I'm not. I'm putting forth an argument because you're retarded enough to make this "WWE vs everyone."

See, I'm less for arguing my own point of view than I am for arguing AGAINST stupidity.

Been a while since I've seen a 'top notch' match in WWE.

Absolutely. If you can put on a 5 star match with the 8 moves still allowed in the WWE...You're a wrestling GOD.

HBK/Benjamin
Angle/Benjamin
Angle/HBK
Benoit/Regal

Hmmmm someone is too ignorant to pay attention.

:rofl:
FOUR top notch match since Wrestlemania? FOUR top notch matches in half a year? And this is the Federation you're defending?

I expect 3 top notch matches every PPV and one every or every second Raw. Not 4 every 6 months.

Ummmm yeah.

Your standards are WAY too high.

You're the type of fan that causes a lot of these indy fed morons to do stupid shit like break light bulbs over their backs just to get a rise out of people like you.

You sad it'd been a while since you saw any. He pointed out four easily, and now you're backtracking.

You seem like a fan of wrestlers who fly around taking bumps for 15 minutes. And you act like it's "top notch" just because they can do corkscrew planchas and suicide dives over and over again. Yet, that whole match barely consisted of any psychology and decent story telling other than "HOLY SHIT HE DID A SHOOTING STAR PRESS INTO A 450 WHICH REVERESED INTO A DRAGON SUPLEX ONTO LIGHT BULBS!"

Of course. Luchadores=great matches, no matter what.

until CZW can draw more money for shows then the WWE can draw for hotdog buys each week, then maybe your opinions might be worth a dam.

He pointed out 4 easily because he couldn't think of anymore. It has been a while since I've seen one. I expect one every Raw.

I wish there were more fans like me. I'm the type of fan we all know and love that loves good wrestling matches. I'm the type of fan that changes channel when backstage soep opera storylines come on, when I want to see good wrestling I pop in an ECW tape, watch some CZW mid-card matches, some TNA and watch some old WWF.
I also like the occasional deathmatch but that is a whole other matter, that has nothing to do with my love of good wrestling.

Yeah and 90% of those hot dog sales came from Viscera.

Wait you said I thought of four easily, but because I couldn't think of anymore?

YEAH.

That makes NO sense.

Much like your little CZW matches.

JR: BAHGAWD HE JUST SHOVED A FLUOURESCENT LIGHT BULB UP AUSTIN'S ASS!!!
King: Now THIS is great wrestling, J.R.! Puppies!!
JR: BAHGAWD, BROKEN IN HALF!!!
King: Who, the wrestler, or the light bulb?
JR: ...
King: ... Ow. That'll need surgery...

No, he pointed out four because four was more than enough to prove you wrong. Then you raised the bar...Yet dare bring up CZW. Sick fucks like you bring on the death of wrestlers.

90% of CZW's attendence is also from Vis. They made him buy three seats. ;)

:rofl: Care to explain that?

Akio/London?

Care to explain how garbage wrestling is entertainment to anyone other than a perverse little miscreant?

People like you demand these wrestlers, who usually wrestle for very cheap, to perform all of these crazy stunts just for the 2 or 3 people in attendence at the show.

Crazy stunts = greater risk of injury

Injury = Pain killers = addiction = death

It's not hard math.

It even happens to people who don't perform stupid stunts, but when bloodlusting crowds demand stunts, it increases the chances.

I'll go ahead and answer for him since he will probably dance around it.

Sadistic: They are willing to put their bodies on the line for us in every single match. I mean how many times will you see Christian get backdropped onto 12 light bulbs? How many times will you see John Cena do a somersault, corkscrew plancha to the outside through 3 tables for the fans? Never. That's why the WWE sucks.

I like stunts, I like car crashes, I like carnage, I have copies of 'Worlds Wildest Street Fights', I love to watch Sports Disasters, I like police chases, I'm a sick twisted fucker that likes violence and I satisfy this blood lust by watching deathmatches. I don't watch them to see good wrestling matches. I don't EXPECT good wrestling. I, just like everyone else, only watches it for the sick spots. When I feel like seeing a jaw dropping spot I'll watch some deathmatch 'wrestling'. When I want to see some good wrestling, I won't watch deathmatch wrestling. Understand?

^ROFL

Wait a minute...is a somersault, corkscrew plancha actually humanily possible?

Either way I'm sure some indy fed moron has tried it to impress his white trash girlfriend sitting at ringside.

Combining downloads and sales haven't over a million people watched Bumfights? Deathmatches offer the same attraction.

lol what? what the fuck

Isn't Bumfights just another name for CZW?

So CZW's fanbase suddenly went from 3 to a million?