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SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 at 7:41 PM
Posted by EUDAEMONIA
Source: Chart Attack
A canadian folk group, The Wyrd Sisters, is suing Warner Brothers
, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Radiohead's Phil Selway and Johnny Greenwood for trademark infringement on use of their band name in the upcoming film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
The all-female band was made aware of Warner Brothers' intent on using the name back in June when they were offered $5,000 (and later $50,000) for use of their name. Warner Brothers and representatives of the musicians have later reiterated that the name will not be used in the movie. However:
Baryluk's lawyer, Kimbery-Townley Smith, says ...the damage has already been done — people already associate The Wyrd Sisters with Harry Potter.
"If you go on the 'net now and put in Harry Potter and Wyrd Sisters you get 6,000 hits or something crazy like that. People know already and that's because up until recently Warner had them credited and the official word was that the name of the band was The Wyrd Sisters. They've already created an association between the name and the band and that's all you need."
Fans of the books, were already aware that the actual name of the group was in fact Weird Sisters.
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Head Girl
Points: 422
squishy_marshmallows says:
I don't know if it's just me but when i typed in 'wyrd sisters' the first item was a link to amazon....to buy a book by terry pratchett!!! and out of all the sites on my first page only two were links to the wyrd sisters, why aren't they suing the shop that makes unique gifts...could it be because they're goldiggers after WB's money and publicity!!!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 9:19 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2419
Gwenyth says:
People will do anything to get money or publicity. I think its stupid. The names are spelt differently anyways.
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 10:23 AM EST
Squib
Points: 107
Beater for Gryfindor says:
Well if the book was writen before that band then JKR should be sueing them shouldn't she?
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 10:27 AM EST
Half-Blooded Fooch
Points: 2447
fooch48 says:
Geez, they should be happy for all the publicity! Give me a break! Don't be money hungry!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 10:27 AM EST
Witch
Points: 606
Slytheprincess says:
Oh please, it is so LAME! Wyrd Sisters don't have anything to do so they just decided to sue, and for publicity too! LAME AGAIN!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 12:37 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 433
Maga Potter says:
This is silly. They should be pleased they're getting publicity.
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 2:51 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 75
DracoLover13 says:
Thats horrible! I cant stand people like that!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 5:01 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 454
Voldemort's Enemy says:
Oh come on .Its just name. In fact the spelling us differnt of Weird
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 5:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2682
hplovergurl says:
Duh that is such a dumb reason to sue someone! The name of the band in the books isn't spelt the same, so they shouldn't be having a cow about it! They just need to get over it! Geeze!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 5:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 558
Padfoot Returns says:
Jeeze, how can they be sueing WB???? It's just a name!!
They need to stop being so crazy!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 5:46 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1445
PotionMaster says:
We live in a sue happy world. Honestly, I highly doubt that JK knew that name was already in use when she wrote it. Even if she did know about the band, it's not like that band owns the name. People will do anything for easy money.
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 6:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 983
LuNaWaNaBe says:
Wow! That is so dumb. Its not even spelt that way in the book. And WB was offering them money and they still sued?!?
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 6:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 893
Divadancer4life says:
That is just silly that people are so wierd and frak out about a name millions of people have the name Jessica.
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 7:28 PM EST
The Dark Knight
Points: 5789
minister for magic says:
Well I never knew there was a Canadian fold group called the Wyrd Sisters.
They really shouldn't sue though.
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 9:11 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 415
minerva1021 says:
They are doing this all for publicity. The fact that no one has ever heard of them is why they are doing this. They need to get over themselves and realize that they cant own those two words, its stupid. Next think we know they are going to go after JK Rowling for making up that name in her books. Ah! How freakin frustrating!
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 9:39 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2133
orlandofan says:
Ok its the WEIRD sisters. And it was in the books. I think this is people just trying to get there five min of fame and some money, i mean honestly.
Posted Oct 2, 2005 at 11:02 PM EST
Cryptologist
Points: 3018
Veronica Smethley says:
I didn't know they were playing the Wierd sisters, anyway...
Accio November!
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 4:55 AM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5239
juliebug04 says:
Did they get any publicity before this?? I highly doubt it. Just say "Thanks for the publicity," and shut up already...
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 9:32 AM EST
The Last Herald-Mage
Points: 2621
darrrrkwind says:
That's really lame, if you ask me. You'd think that most bands would happy to be getting extra recognition even if it is through an association with something else. And why would Warner Bros. change the spelling of the band name? It seems like that might have caused all this trouble in the first place.
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 10:51 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1314
Lemon Drop says:
That is just silly, Trying to get money for nothing, the name is spelled different so it should not count. The movie is based off a book so couldn't JK Sue them if she has proof she thought of it first?
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 1:55 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2223
Pheonixflames says:
Its so crazy that theyre accusing them of taking their name! Its not even spelled the same way! They just want recognition that theyre not going to get, and besides, JKR already has The Wierd Sisters her books, now the question is, which has beed around the longest?
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 3:00 PM EST
Squib
Points: 129
H/HrShipper says:
What. The crap. Are. They doing. Suing HARRY POTTER! NOT ON MY WATCH! GAH!
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 9:40 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2231
Harry's Detour says:
The name are actually different...even if they sound the same. And Jo wrote about the Weird Sisters years ago...they just want to profit off of someone else's talent.
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 10:09 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1418
Wanta House Elf says:
They could have offered a little more and this wouldn't have happened. I'm sure the film will make a hefty profit anyway.
Posted Oct 3, 2005 at 11:58 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 45
CareBlair says:
I can guarantee that they were not even close to the first people to use the name weird sisters however they might spell it! Shakespeare, Gargoyles, Its in the book for heavens sake. Get a life.
Posted Oct 4, 2005 at 12:06 PM EST
Gutter Girl Fabulous
Points: 8712
SamhainWitch7 says:
Thats so stupid. It's spelled differently so I don't think there should be a problem. I wonder how long this "band" has been out anyway. Maybe they ripped off JKR for all we know. So stupid... honestly. Anyone in their right mind would have taken the money and just named their band something else. Especially after being offered 50,000$!
Posted Oct 4, 2005 at 2:20 PM EST
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