Vitamin Water also has wallpaper you can download
Volvo has its What Edward drives contest
Archives for 2009
Copyright and Trademark Being Enforced
October 29, 2009
We’ve seen a number of commercial enterprises from tee shirt manufacturers to acting websites using things like the Cullen Crest, the Little Brown book cover images, or official PR photos of the actors to then represent or become a part of the product they sell. Typically, when the owner of the copyright/trademark (in this case Summit or Little Brown) discovers the unuathorized use of their intellectual property they issue a cease and desist (C&D) and the site/person generally speaking complies, everyone calls it a day and to quote Edward, “no blood, no foul.” Generally the party being handed the C & D has an inkling that what they were doing was either a gray area or actually over the line. They were just hoping not to get caught. So when the C & D lands in their lap they comply.
Summit has allowed individual creativity via CafePress, but there have been some stipulations. Certain products are off limits like calendars and journals. Certain images are off limits like photo stills from the movie, the Cullen Crest, book covers, etc. It’s an interesting approach, because many other movie studios are not that generous. The studio that holds the franchise of a certain boy wizard have been notoriously vigorous in defending their intellectual property.
Here’s an interesting side note. In summer 2008 (prior to the Summit arrangement) the Lexicon had to do battle with CafePress. CafePress claimed our signature image of Bella and Edward were infringing on Stephenie Meyer’s rights. They refused to let us put that image on any products until we could prove to them that we had obtianed permission back in 2006 to do so. It was an interesting 2 weeks to say the least.
Well now it seems that Zazzle has gotten itself into trouble. According to Courthouse News, “Summit says it has pending copyrights on images such as the “Twilight” logo, the Cullen family crest and the phrase “Team Edward.” Zazzle has been selling products using those and other images since June 2008, the lawsuit states… Zazzle.com allegedly ignored two cease-and-desist letters — one in November 2008 and another in August 2009.”
So what does this mean for you, the fan? Here’s our sideline, armchair view. This isn’t formal legal advice, just opinion based on observation. If you make something on CafePress that complies with the rules, you should be OK. If you make yourself, for personal use, a Team Edward tee shirt at home with an iron-on of Rob’s face surrounded by apples, parrot tulips, ribbons, and chess pieces for you to wear to a convention no one is looking to bust you. However, if you try to mass produce that and sell it on Ebay or Zazzle, expect the C & D.
TY to Amanda Bell the Twilight Examiner for pointing out the Zazzle story.
Underage Actors, Sexy Poses, Double Standard?
October 29, 2009
Yahoo raises an interesting question regarding under age actors and sexy modeling shoots.
“Remember the huge uproar in April 2008, when 15-year-old Miley Cyrus appeared in “Vanity Fair” wrapped in a sheet, with her right shoulder and the top of her back visible, implying that, under the sheet, she wasn’t wearing a shirt? That week, the cover of the New York Post read “Miley’s Shame,” the Christian Coalition called for the Hannah Montana star’s employer, Disney, to reprimand the teenager, and finally Miley was forced to apologize in a statement to People Magazine, saying: “I never intended for any of this to happen, and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone.” The pandemonium was so huge that critics ranging from the ladies of “The View”, to Bill O’Reilly, to Miley’s fellow Disney star Joe Jonas all expressed their disapproval over what they saw as the sexualization of a child to sell magazines.
Now, with the premiere of his movie, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” less than a month away, magazines, websites, and TV are blanketed with images of 17-year-old star Taylor Lautner, shirtless and showing off the body he trained for months to perfect for the role. And yet, none of the cultural critics who turned Miley’s photos into a full-blown “scandal” have said a word about the sexualization of Taylor, who, at 17, is just two years older than Miley was during her “scandal” and is also a minor. So, does Hollywood have a double standard? “
So what do you think: double standard or is there a difference between a sexy pose at 15 and a sexy pose at 17?
People Magazine Pet Costume Contest
October 28, 2009
This is one of the more unique things we’ve been sent. Check out this new contest by People Magazine:
“Is your pet an Edward Cullen on four paws? The best-looking doggy Dracula outside of Transylvania? Show us what you’ve got! Halloween is little more than a week away, and we’ve been seeing lots of pirates, witches and even a Yoda! Now we’re looking for vampires.
Send us your best photos of your pet(pet photo tips)— if they sparkle in the sun, even better — and your little garlicphobe could be featured in an upcoming gallery on PEOPLEPets.com.
Click here to join PeoplePets.com and upload a photo to our contest: https://www.peoplepets.com/login.
Let me know what you think! If you guys have pets, you should definitely do it, so fun!”
The Cullens Welcome the Volturi
October 28, 2009
MTV: Out of the new characters joining the franchise for “New Moon,” which is your favorite?
Jackson Rathbone: My favorite character in “New Moon” that wasn’t in “Twilight”? I guess my favorite character in “New Moon” is a collective — the Volturi. It’s one of those things that’s really nice to see, these decadent older vampires that run this vampire society, if you will. I think they’re an amazing group of actors that we were able to get for the film, and they are very scary and intimidating. They’re all perfect — I mean, Dakota Fanning is a terrifying Jane; absolutely terrifying.
Rachel Ray Wants A Twilight Movie Fan
October 28, 2009
According to Rachel Ray’s website:
“Do you get weak in the knees when you hear the name Edward Cullen? Reciting lines from the movie is normal to you, considering the fact that you’ve watched the movie 10 times…or even 15? Is the biggest feud in your life Edward vs. Jacob? Wish you lived in Forks, Washington? Will you be first in line at the movie theatre to see the next installment, “New Moon?” We want to hear what makes you the biggest Twilight movie fan, so tell us today!”
Then there is an online entry form to fill out where “you will have a chance to enter a special giveaway!” Beats us what the giveaway is. How about a pasta dinner with the wolf pack, or antipasto with the Volturi? Your guess is as good as ours, so what do you have to lose…just enter!
New Moon Soundtrack Rocks the Charts!
October 28, 2009
According to HitFix:
“Just as we surmised this weekend, the soundtrack to “Twilight Saga: New Moon” slides up 2-1 this week on The Billboard 200 new album sales chart, after going through its first full week of sales. Led by all-new tracks from Death Cab For Cutie, the Killers and Thom Yorke, “New Moon” sold 153,000 copies this week, a 33% increase.
It was beat out last week by Michael Buble’s “Crazy Love,” which falls to No. 3 this week on 102,000 sales.”
New Moon Cast’s Candy Cravings
October 28, 2009
Ulalume Premieres FRIDAY NITE on MTV – Hosted by Kat Von D
InStyle’s Twilight Quiz
October 28, 2009
“Have you read Twilight a thousand times over and studied Robert Pattinson’s every move in the film? If you think you’re practically part of the Cullen clan, put your knowledge to the test with our Twilight quiz.
A true Twi-hard would know the movie and the book inside out.”
It’s probably pretty easy for folks who are regular readers of our website, but what is notable is that obviously someone down there at InStyle has read the books. That doesn’t always happen. Frequently, quizzes like this have some pretty glaring errors in them, and we couldn’t find one. So, KUDOS too InStyle. They’ve also named us as one of their favorite Twilight sites, which we’re rather happy about.
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