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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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Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1661
shivon says:
That's crazy. They shouldn't me upset. It's a name! It's like when Rosie O'Donald sued the radio station Roise 105 because she said they stole her name when really they had already been Rosie 105 for years.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:45 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1140
Bex-L-Snape says:
That really annoys me, all that band wants is publicity, which they're not going to get, they'll be forgotten in a week!! HA!!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:48 PM EST
Squib
Points: 199
GentleRose15 says:
WHOA!!! Now theres a load of jerks for you!!! Like WB knew that was their name!! whoa im first post?!?!?! COOL!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 578
*avada_sirius* says:
Oh my gosh! Sounds like they just want some money out of the whole thing! Thats ridiculous! And just like Shivan said....Its a name! for crying out loud!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:49 PM EST
Magical Owl Rising
Points: 4669
Hoots says:
Isn't it the Weird Sisters and it was a guy group, not girl??? I just don't know. This is silly.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:49 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 47
magic-lover101 says:
Some people can be so horrible sometimes!!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:49 PM EST
Vampire
Points: 2940
Dansgirl34 says:
The WB was paying them, and they are suing??
Its not even the same name! I don't think they are going to win this one, sorry guys, but you have no strong points!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:53 PM EST
Twilight Princess
Points: 2567
xXHpFreak4lifeXx says:
Thats pretty stupid...they didnt even spell it right. :-p I dont see why they are sueing...its just a name, and they probably just want some money too.
~Lauren~
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:56 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 518
thoughtsinsideadream says:
50,000 seems very generous. I took the opportunity to go to the bands web site and listen to a sample. $50,000 is more than they will make in their entire careers. I also searched "wyrd sisters" and they can't even claim to hold the copyright on that. There is a book by the same name and several other sites with the name which are not connected with the group.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:56 PM EST
Mage of Celestial Melody
Points: 3324
Telos says:
THose GITS!!!!!! Name people!!!!nothing more...God they just want money.....They must have guts thought, who in their right mind will sue Warner Bros.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 613
chrissytine says:
Why didn't Warner Brothers just use weird sisters as the band name???? it would have saved all this trouble and money!!!!! I don't get why they are going to sue they asked for permission and they offered money why not just take it and get publicity????
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 7:59 PM EST
Weasley Garden Faerie
Points: 4481
Tamlynn says:
I know hoots...it is a guy group and the spelling is different. I just think that they are trying to profit off of the HP success. They should be happy at least with all of this they are getting publicity. They should just change their name and get over it or just go with it.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:00 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 423
Mrs.HarryJamesPotter says:
That is so ridiculos, it's not even spelled the same and whoever heard of a canadian folk band named the wyrd sisters, I hope that these greedy girls are happy with their 15 min. of fame.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:01 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1519
Honeydukes says:
If anything, having their name in Harry Potter will give them more publicity and help their career! My goodness, they should be happy! All they want is maoney and attention!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:01 PM EST
Harry's Soul-Mate
Points: 3337
Lea says:
Oh, God, that's so UNBELIEVABLY STUPID........ -ignorant, illiterate morons.....?!?!?!?!?!
No, really, I can't believe this!!!!!!
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:01 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1668
Looooney says:
Oh give me a break!!! What a ridiculous ploy to get attention. No one was looking for the Wyrd Sisters on the net anyways!!! They were looking for the Weird Sisters from Harry Potter! If anything, it would bring them fans over taking them away. I sure had never heard of them before this, but I tell ya, I'm not going to make any attemp to listen after this pathetic attempt for money.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:06 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1493
Hedwig4eva says:
Geez...people will sue at the drop of a hat. If these people would read the books they would know that the name of the band has to be the Weird Sisters because that is what it is in the book. If they want to sue WB then they must want to sue Jo as well and I really doubt that will happen.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:06 PM EST
The Warrior Sorceress
Points: 3333
Devilish Katlyn says:
Oh, how lame! Please, it's just an attempt at free publicity by this group. They were offered a fee for the use of the name, for cryin' out loud.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 982
~Kathy~Evans~ says:
Obviously all they want is publicity... We all know that the band in the book is called the Weird Sisters... I think it's just unnecessary...
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:10 PM EST
Squib
Points: 198
Murtagh says:
Whilst they may have a leg to stand on when it comes to the patent rights to the name, looking at the website (which incidentally comes up at the top of my browser), i think its their very brief outing from canada.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:11 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 357
draco_ thomaslove says:
Thats crazy people sue for anything these days I guess.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:18 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 485
Hazzafan1 says:
THEY SHOULD BE PLEASED THEY'RE GETTING PUBLICITY!!! i mean how old is the band any way? i wonder if it was formed after 2000, cos' then warner can sue them... and beside the point its spelt WEIRD not WYRD so blah
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:27 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 496
Duran Vegrandis says:
Geez, do some research before you get sue-happy. Maybe you'll look a smidgen smarter.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:31 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2170
HogwartsWitch says:
It's obviously a stunt to get their name out there, but I don't understand why WB would have offered them any money - the name isn't spelled as it is in the book...?? Which is probably why they pulled the deal. Very odd.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:35 PM EST
I'm Daniel's Everything
Points: 4009
KissMeInTheRain says:
That ticks me off. They were getting paid for it and everything...what's the problem?? It's just a name, and maybe, just maybe, having their name in a big movie like this, might actually create some publicity!! Did they thing about that??? I bet not....
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:36 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 380
Lolita~Lanez says:
That's so stupid, people these will do anything for money. It's just a name.
Posted Sep 30, 2005 at 8:45 PM EST
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