So I guess RVD owns the right to the name "Rob Van Dam"
 

So he won't have to be called some other name when/if he ends up going to TNA.

Discuss.

I'm pretty sure he does, if he doesnt he could pull a Test and legally change his name

Thank goodness.

TNA is horrible at ripping off a "new name" for WWE castoffs.

Why wouldn't be able to keep his name? He used it before ECW so in court he can prove it's not their copyright and thus WWE doesn't own it.

Where did you read this?

I'm not sure how this sort of stuff works, but I think the idea was that the WWE had purchased the rights to the name, or something.

I'm glad he can keep it, though. Without "R-V-D," the guy certainly loses a lot of his charm.

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Robert Von Doom

K, did I miss something here? Or is everyone just assuming KOOS is right?

THE FIVE-ASTERISK FROG SPLASH!

LOL

ROBERT VAN DOOM has a nice ring to it.

Random fact about the nickname KOOS, in arabic that means vagina lol no joke

They can only buy the name from him and he'd be the biggest fucking idiot in the world to sell that name to them.

And I don't think he is an idiot.

Why wouldn't he be right?

Rob does that mean Justin Creadible, The Dudleys, and whoever else has changed their name sold their name to WWE?

The Dudleys were made in ECW. Justin Credible was made in ECW. WWE owns all ECW copyrights. They could probably fight WWE in court and win for those names but is it worth over $100,000 in legal fees just so you can work once a week in front of 100 people as "Justin Credible"?

Rob Van Dam was known under this name before ECW.

If the WWE doesn't own the name, how can they legally copyright it? By Van Dam giving permission

And if Van Dam did sign over the rights (which he did, you can view the copyright information online) for the copyright length, wouldn't it mean that even if he leaves WWE still owns the copyright, at least until it expires?

They only own it for the length of his contract.

Did he sign over the copyrights, or did he just give them permission to use his copyright?

$20 says Stima is reading this thread, RIGHT NOW!

Robert Von Doom is an awesome name.

This GIF is NIFTY!

COME ON EVERYBODY...

Do you want me to Matt Boone it and link my post to some shitty website?

wait, even if WWE trademarked "Rob Van Dam" couldn't he just go by "Rob Van Damn"?

Did you look up the copyrights or did you read this off a "news"site?

I'm just assuming KOoS is stating something without confirming.

Much like Matt Boone.

Therefore, until proven otherwise, KingofOldSchool is Matt Boone.

It came from Meltzer's mouth and when it comes to legal shit like this, he's up on it.

or



R-V-D
O----- O -----O
B----- N -----O
E ------------M
R
T

Uh oh you unmasked me.

It's the Midnight Rider all over again.

<a href="http://www.prowrestlingscoops.com/tracker/track.cgi?clark"><b>SHOCKING Matt Boone REALLY KingofOldSchool PLUS Major TPWW Poster Ready To “Retire From Posting” Because Of KoOS/Boone!! **CLICK HERE**</b></a>

Man, Boone's really gone too far this time...

If they made him the offer while he was high they prolly could got the name off him for a couple of leftover DX glowsticks.

And a Pop Tart.

I hope he doesn't get to use "Rob Van Dam". I would mark the fuck out if he came out in TNA and said his name is "ROBERT...VON...DOOM!"

*spoiler alert*

I am that major poster.

You lied to me. TPWW will never be the same again. :'(

I'm officially defecting to Rajah.com

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

RVD signed on with the trademarking of his name.

Yes, he's a fucking idiot.

Yes, look it up on uspto.gov. It's legit.

He can cut promos where he shouts "NONE CAN CONTEND WITH THE WILL OF DOOM!" at the camera.

And then TNA can bring in Stevie Richards (WWE won't notice he is gone) to feud with Robert Von Doom. Cause then he could yell "RICHARDS!!" at the top of his lungs while shaking his fist in the air.

If WWE owns the name he could just be Rob Van Damme/Damn/Damm.

No that sort of thing is illegal too due to the likeness in names.

Otherwise the Dudley Boys could just be the Dudley Boyz or something like that.

And yes, I did read this topic to whoever mentioned it lol

Howabout Rhyno/Rhino and such?

Richard Vor Don

Brother Rob.

Ahh I don't really know then, I always thought that sort of thing could lead to a lawsuit? For some reason I thought remembered the bWo not getting in trouble since it was a parody of the nWo, but I thought if it wasn't parody then ECW could be a target for a lawsuit. Plus I thought WWF was gonna sue TNA when Billy Gunn debuted as The Outlaw so they changed his name

I am gonna look some more information on this type of thing now becuase I am bored as fuck anyway (so bored I am posting in the wrestling forum lol)

They were gonna sue over the Outlaw. I don't know if they would have won, though. Remember that Rey Mysterio/Misterio, Rhyno/Rhino, and Booker T/Booker Tee ( :shifty: ) are decent examples as to how it was gotten away with in a far more litigious time.

bWo would have been protected under parody rights, though, one way or another.

I just thought of something, maybe both spellings for the Dudley Boys/Dudley Boyz are copywrited by the WWE so that's why they can't use it?

Well, at first, the man now known as Kip James was referred to as "The New Age Outlaw", before it was dropped down to just The Outlaw. It's interesting to me how this type of thing was never a major issue until the 90s.

Exactly. They used both versions (s and z) I believe in WWE.

Also, as far as Kip James goes, TNA wasn't in any trouble from what I heard because WWE let the copyright on the name run out.

I heard that piece of information, but the person I heard it from reasoned it/"proved" it by saying, "There was really no reason for them to keep it." And THAT to me just sounds ridiculous.

Actually I'm pretty sure I checked it out and it had expired in like 2003 or something.

Rob Dam Van?

How about if he was a pirate? He could just be called Van Dam...which would then be followed by him proclaiming Arr VD









:shifty:

Pot Smokin' Robbie! He lives in a van down by the river!

Robert Von Doom and Argh May Tey are both copyrighted by me, Satan, and to a lesser extent, St. Jimmy.



:( Several of you should expect lawsuits forthwith. Also, you're going to Hell. I'm looking at you, James Steele.

Doesn't Marvel own the rights to the name "Rhino"?

I think copyrights tend to be a little more specific.

So Rhino would be copyrighted for it's use in wrestling. There's no brand confusion between a comic and a sports entertainment show, so there's no issue.

At least I think it works like that. Someone back me up?

If that's the case - why is/was there an issue with Marvel and the WWF over the name "Hulk Hogan".

Trademark, not copyright.

Anyway, a quick hop over to the US Trademark and Patent Office shows that there was never a trademark on the New Age Outlaws. Not by WWE. therés an autopart manufacturer.

As a super hero, yes. Well, Super Villain.

You mean, aside from the fact that the earliest incarnation of Hulk Hogan involved him coming out from under the ring in green paint? Or "Hulking up?"

There's using a name, and then there's using elements that might leave the average Joe to believe that you're endorsed by the trademark.

See, it's about market confusion, That's why you're more prone to see a suit in wrestling over another wrestler. Because it's within the general purview. It's less common amidst a broader stream of things.

Interesting.

Question - why couldn't the Dudley Boyz become - The Dudley Men?

"From that moment on, they were no longer Dudley Boyz. They were...Dudley Men. :'( "

LOL

The Dudleyz trademark seemed to be very comprehensive. Considering they were under suit at one point for wrestling in camo at some indy promotion.

CAMO!


The Dudleyz would probably have a case, actually. RVD was a willing participant and an idiot, but the Duly Boyz name was sold to WWE despite an ageement between Paul and his talent, no?

In ECW he was Rhino with an I. Before going into WWE he knew he could get screwed over name wise so he called himself Rhyno. He had previously copyrighted the "Rhino" and Vince copyrighted "Rhyno". Thats pretty much why he can use his name in TNA.

:rofl: @ the above quote and this thread :y:

A-DUH...

Sorry but wrong.

Rhino was using that name before he went to ECW. Worked under "Rhino Richards" for indys over Canada and the northern states. He can prove it's something he created. The Dudleys were a name created in ECW but not by Paul Heyman. That's where the agruement comes in on who owns the name. If it went to court, WWE thinks they own ECW copyrights but they only own what they can prove ECW created. They would have had the Raven gimmick had ECW not already given up that right when Raven went to WCW. Team 3D would probably win but it would cost more money in legal fees then they could get back working in the ring (over $100,000). They don't want the name back now either as WWE sends them regular royalty checks.

In WWE, Vince McMahon decides what you are called. Rhino/Rhyno doesn't decide it.

So why didn't Rhino have to go by Rhino Richards like Christian had to go by Christian Cage?

Assuming Christian actually HAD to...

By the way, thereis currently one and only one way for RVD to own his name. By which, of course, I mean "Rob Van Dam" Not Rob Ivanovich Lobochevski. Or however you spell it.

WWE owns the actual trademark, and if they were willing to have licensed it to him like they did (Or were planning to) with the Rock, then he could "own" his name in all but the most rigid of senses. But given there's no reason to, and RVD isn't going into movies or something similarly nonthreatening, I doubt they'd do ANYTHING to that extent.

WWE already called him "Rhyno". Can't have it both ways.

The Dudley Boys???

ah...guess I shoulda read both pages before I pointed the Dudleys out

There has been much speculation that Robert Szatowski (Rob Van Dam) had signed over his ring name to the WWE, but that’s not the case. So, if Szatowski was to sign with another company outside the WWE, he can choose to go by the alias Rob Van Dam without having any legal issues after leaving the company.

source: tnawrestlingnews.com

Sorry, but that's wrong. FACT.

RVD is on record with the WWE Trademark, rescinding all claims to usage. FACT.

I'd link you up, but The Trademark/Patent office requires a database search.

TNAWrestlingNews.com is infallible, you subversive Nazi Communist bastard. :mad:

How can you be a NAzi Communist? Pick one culture that's responsible for millions of deaths, dammit!

Because you're just that much of a bastard, that's how! :shifty:

Well, ya got me there.