Arguing With An Idiot: Glenn Beck's Lawsuit Against Parody Site Rejected

[cali]

by Wendy Davis, Friday, November 6, 2009, 7:24 PM


An arbitrator has rejected controversial talk show host Glenn Beck's contention that the domain name glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlin1990.com infringes his trademark. World Intellectual Property Organization arbitration panelist Frederick Abbott ruled Friday that the less-than-flattering domain name was protected by fair use principles because the URL, when combined with the site's content, constitutes protected speech.

Glenn Beck- Arguing With An IdiotAbbott wrote that the site's creator, Isaac Eiland-Hall, "can be said to be making a political statement," which is a "legitimate non-commercial use" of Beck's name.

Eiland-Hall had argued that the site parodied Beck by using the same rhetorical techniques that Beck uses on the air. In legal papers filed on his behalf by First Amendment lawyer Marc Randazza, he referenced a YouTube clip of Beck interviewing Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), a Muslim, during which Beck asked Ellison to prove that he was "not working with our enemies."

Eiland-Hall also argued that the site doesn't infringe on Beck's trademark because there's no likelihood that Web users wrongly think he's affiliated with it. "Only an abject imbecile could believe that the domain name would have any connection to the complainant," Randazza wrote.

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http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=116991

[trotsky]

1. LMAO

"Only an abject imbecile could believe that the domain name would have any connection to the complainant,"

The comedy just writes itself, doesn't it?

[SpiralHawk]

2. Typical republicon Chickenhawk: FAIL & Whine

FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine
FAIL & Whine

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Clown Blecch talks a good line about defending the Constitution

but displays his narcissistic streak by wanting to cast it aside for selfish purposes.

Listen up, Beckerheads: Your hero clearly can dish it out, but he sure as hell can't take it!

What now, Glennie? Couldn't bend the Constitution to your will, so will you return to the air and squirt a few Vicks Vapo Rub tears for your enraptured fans? Maybe wear - on air - that pseudo-Nazi uniform from your book cover? That might impress some of the more feeble-minded among your fanbase, but eveyone else will see you for the big ol' man-baby you truly are. Weak sauce, and not at all what I'd expect from such a 'heroic' figure.

[gwsuperfan]

6. The first amendment was wearing a chastity belt

so Glenn Beck couldn't rape and murder it.

[gwsuperfan]

4. The site is still up

at http://gb1990.com/

[KamaAina]

5. Only an abject imbecile would be listening to Beckkk in the first place

:P

[gwsuperfan]

7. So his target demographic might be confused

Fortunately, the "moron in a hurry" legal standard says that they can be confused, and it's still not infringement.

[Jim Lane]

8. After winning, the site owner relinquished the domain name to Beck

According to , Eiland-Hall gave Beck the username and password for the site, and it is currently dead.

As noted by Gwsuperfan above, the same material (with some added reportage about the WIPO decision against Beck) is still available at <http://gb1990.com/>.

[Confusious]

9. Well, that is becks' audience

"Only an abject imbecile could believe that the domain name would have any connection to the complainant," Randazza wrote.