Why in the world did author Clive Cussler copyright (or trademark or register or whatever) the name of his heroic character, Dirk Pitt?
Is he THAT worried that someone else might try to “steal” the name? I mean, ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Kay Scarpella (so)’ aren’t trademarked, are they? What’s so special about ‘Dirk Pitt?’
Thanks,
Stephen
Clive seems very protective about his books. Dirk Pitt is named after his son.
When he started writing he wanted to make a series, like James Bond. I don’t know when or why he had the name trademarked, but I’ll bet he’s glad he did.
Sly Stallone, George Clooney, Arnie and a lot of other folks in Hollywood have been wanting to be Dirk in a movie, but after they botched Raise The Titanic, Clive is being very careful about having control of it.
He named his son DIRK???
His son was Dirk before Dirk Pitt was Dirk.
It’s an awful name.
Hey, real people have had their names trademarked, too.
“Boris Karloff” is now a trademark, as well as “Jack Dempsey.” Don’t know the exact reason, but in neither case was it the actual name of the person who used it.
Also, he may not have wanted anyone to be able to write or publish Dirk Pitt novels.
I have been waiting forever for a good Dirk Pitt movie- I just can’t decide who I want to play the dashing hero. Of the actors dragongirl mentioned, only Clooney would fit the bill for me. He has the wry humor, the smirk, the self-assured style. Mmmmm…
How bout the green eyes, barrel chest, craggy face? Clooney wouldn’t fit…
You register a trademark on a name not so much to prevent someone from writing more Dirk Pitt novels as to prevent someone from writing some Kirk Bitt novels or some Turk Ditt novels.
If Johnny Cash had trademarked his name (like, say, Billy Joel did), we would have been spared Johnny Paycheck.
KneadToKnow said:
OK, then I guess my follow-up question would be: why don’t ALL authors trademark the names of their popular characters? As far as I can recall, when I’m in the bookstore the only time I see the little ‘trademark’ logo on a book cover is next to Dirk Pitt’s name.
They are making a new Dirk Pitt movie, out of the book Sahara, but they haven’t cast anyone yet.
You can read about it here
From dragongirl’s link:
"Crusader is now hoping they can persuade Tom Cruise to sign on to star as Dirk Pitt, presumably still filming this fall as scheduled, before he starts working on The Last Samurai. (10/21/02) According to this (unconfirmed) AICN report, Cruise might have indeed signed on. "
Oh, God, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Note : Bullied into editing this post so it didn’t scroll offscreen. 
- E.
Everyone in my family is a huge Cussler fan. This subject has been discussed at great length. While none of us can agree on any current actors as the stars, we have decided on these:
Dirk: Harrison Ford, 15 years ago.
Al: Charles Bronson, 20 years ago.
And after the abomination that was Raise The Titanic, I don’t blame Clive for not allowing anyone to make another movie. Man, did that movie suck!
Well, thanks. Dirk is my Dad’s name. I am so glad that you feel my Dad’s name is awful. I guess that, due to your opinion, I will never use Dirk as my sons middle name. I mean, hey, Dirk sucks right. I guess my Grandmother was nothing but a stupid woman since she named her son Dirk.
Fuck off dragongirl. Actually, take your opinion and jam it up your ass, sideways, but just put it up in your ass…all up in your ass.
Slee
I just think of Dirk Diggler from Boogie Nights…
My grandfather had awful first names: Cecil Valentine. So yes, my mother did avoid either name when choosing a middle name for my brother, and went for his great-grandfather instead.
The acceptability of names does change with generations and fashions. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.
I personally - as a British person - find “Dirk” a ridiculous name, in the same vein as “Hank” “Chuck” “Buck” etc. It doesn’t mean my opinion is more valid than yours, or that you shouldn’t call your son Dirk.
It does mean that dragongirl isn’t alone in her dislike of the name. If you seriously want to choose a potentially unpopular/controversial name for your child, then you have to think about the consquences of what that child might suffer at school. I am not saying that Dirk would be problematic as a name, though I think it would lead to teasing at a UK school.
Would you call your child Dick if that was his grandfather’s name? Or Fanny after a great aunt?
My father’s name is Roger, which is very unfortunately a slang word for fuck in English. (“Gave her a good rogering.”) So while he gets away with the name in his generation, someone in mine probably wouldn’t. One of my parents’ friends goes by the name of “Dick” (Richard). One of my friends certainly wouldn’t be able to use that nickname.
But it’s your child, so call it what you want.
O tempora, O mores, whatever.
The shameful truth is that his books have stunk the last couple of years. I really enjoyed them when they first started, but the writing quality has dropped so sharply, and the plots have become so unbelievable that I stopped reading them. Pity, as they early ones are great fun.
:mad:
I agree elf6c, the plots have dropped off. I read his book on Atlantis (forgive me I can’t remember the name) and although I loved the theme, the plot (nazi’s flood the world and rebuild it with their own race) and the resolution (Dirk comes in and fantastically saves the day- literally flying in and running through hundreds of armed trained gunners without so much as a scratch) were just too much to handle.
Don’t get bent out of shape Sleestak, I’m sure Dragongirl didn’t mean her comment as a personal affront. Hell, everyone hates one name or another and there’s nothing wrong with having an opinion.
“Dirk Pitt” always sounded like a man’s name with an overdose of testosterone. “Hi, I’m Dirk Pitt. I eat nails for breakfast.”
Hank Hill, Chuck Berry and I would like to have a word with you…
Just FYI. In Swedish pitt means dick, dong, cock or whatever (and yes, Brad Pitt knows this).
So that would make him Dirk Dick-ler?
