# Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191 "2008-11-17T22:28:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/1 "2008-11-17T22:28:45Z")
As a unabashed meat lover who thinks PETA is a bunch of nutjobs, I couldn’t help but be tickled by their new Thanksgiving themed promotion, a flash game called [Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals](http://www.peta.org/cooking-mama/index.asp?c=pcmgb08). Then again, maybe it’s because I don’t like turkey, anyway. Either way, this promotion is one of their least offensive to me- which is surprising, since it’s all about murdering turkeys. Both a parody and a protest of Majesco Sales’s popular _Cooking Mama_ video game series (which they say relies too much on animal-based recipes), your job is to help Mama slaughter the poor, defenseless turkey, cut its head off, remove its internal organs and stuff its arse with stuffing, etc. Who knew murdering animals for food could be so much fun? Of course, that’s not what they’re trying to say- they’re trying to point out how much turkeys suffer during Thanksgiving. If you do well, maybe Mama will have a change of heart and make a tofu turkey this Thanksgiving instead. I’m not trying to spread PETA’s message- just trying to show off a silly and fun Flash game for the Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone- whether or not you’re going to kill a turkey for it. (WARNING: game contains semi-comedic animated blood and violence and pro-vegetarian messages. Play at your own risk.) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/2 "2008-11-17T22:47:37Z")
I particularly like how blood drips out of the eggs when you crack them for the stuffing. And how you remove the head (by sawing it off with a kitchen knife) only AFTER you’ve stuffed the bird. I love realism in video games. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/3 "2008-11-17T22:50:26Z")
Anti-abortion groups should make a similar style game. You could choose from a whole variety of methods. Partial birth, vacuum, coat hanger, etc. Of course, the only way to win the game is to give birth to the kid, with extra points if there are severe health risks to the mother and if the child was the result of rape/incest. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/4 "2008-11-17T22:54:50Z")
Hurray! Now PETA will face a nice lawsuit for trademark infringement! Wow, they really are stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/5 "2008-11-17T23:06:06Z")
I was playing this with someone watching and we were laughing at how insane it was when we hit the “bonus level” where step one was making mashed tofu for the dinner. I said, “Potatoes aren’t animals you idiots!” My friend helpfully pointed out, “They have eyes.” ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/6 "2008-11-17T23:08:31Z")
> [@Just Some Guy](#): > > Hurray! Now PETA will face a nice lawsuit for trademark infringement! Wouldn’t this be considered satire or parody and thus free speech? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/7 "2008-11-17T23:16:26Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > Wouldn’t this be considered satire or parody and thus free speech? That’s copyright; this is trademark. They’re using a trademarked name, in a trademarked logo, with trademarked characters. There’s no protection for that. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/8 "2008-11-17T23:34:46Z")
Those poor soybeans - ground up and fermented and formed into unnatural shapes. I’ll never have tofu again! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/9 "2008-11-18T00:03:05Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > That’s copyright; this is trademark. They’re using a trademarked name, in a trademarked logo, with trademarked characters. There’s no protection for that. Their [Super Chick Sisters](http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/superchicksisters/index.asp) infringes on the trademarks of both Nintendo _and_ KFC, but no legal action has been taken as of yet. And if there’s no protection against trademark parody, how come shows like _Family Guy_ and _Robot Chicken_ are able to get away with it? Not to mention some of PETA’s other campaigns, Wacky Packages (which PETA used as a basis of a campaign protesting using animals to test cigarettes), etc. > [@Just Some Guy](#): > > I was playing this with someone watching and we were laughing at how insane it was when we hit the “bonus level” where step one was making mashed tofu for the dinner. I said, “Potatoes aren’t animals you idiots!” Neither is tofu, for that matter. Mama had a change of heart and is making a tofurkey instead. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/10 "2008-11-18T03:34:06Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > That’s copyright; this is trademark. They’re using a trademarked name, in a trademarked logo, with trademarked characters. There’s no protection for that. Well, there is a parody fair use defence in trademarks too. But having said that, you are right that this particular case probably woulodn’t pass all the elements required to demonstrate parody. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/11 "2008-11-18T04:22:50Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > But having said that, you are right that this particular case probably woulodn’t pass all the elements required to demonstrate parody. > [@United States Code](#): > > [T]he fair use of a copyrighted work…for purposes such as criticism [and] comment…is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include: > > 1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; > 2. the nature of the copyrighted work; > 3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and > 4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. Not that I’m a lawyer or anything, but looking at these factors related to this, in my opinion: 1. The purpose of the use is to criticize the original work for depicting recipes that involve animals. In addition, the use is by a non-profit organization. 2. The copyrighted work is a game. As such, it makes sense that the parody is also a game. 3. The phrase “Cooking Mama,” the Cooking Mama character herself, the Majesco brand name (albeit covered in blood as an apparent criticism), and the general feel of the Cooking Mama game is used in the parody. 4. The parody probably would not harm the potential market value of the original work- if anything, it may make people who haven’t heard of it be interested in it. To me, at least, the fact that a large portion of the original work is used for parody purposes is overshadowed by the fact that the parody is meant as a direct criticism of the original work that would not harm the sales of the original- although I’m sure others would disagree with me. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/12 "2008-11-18T04:40:37Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Not that I’m a lawyer or anything, but looking at these factors related to this, in my opinion: > > 1. The purpose of the use is to criticize the original work for depicting recipes that involve animals. In addition, the use is by a non-profit organization. I’d argue that the purpose of the use is to gross people out and convince them to sign a vegan pledge, and the use of this particular artwork was to further \*that \*end by using a popular (and controversial) game to draw attention to their cause; the purpose is not primarily literary criticism. But I’m not a lawyer, either. I’d just like to see someone waste PETA’s time and money the way they make others do. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/13 "2008-11-18T04:46:36Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Neither is tofu, for that matter. Mama had a change of heart and is making a tofurkey instead. Wouldn’t it be easier just to go on a 24-hour hunger strike? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/14 "2008-11-18T04:50:48Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Not that I’m a lawyer or anything, but looking at these factors related to this, in my opinion: > > 1. The purpose of the use is to criticize the original work for depicting recipes that involve animals. In addition, the use is by a non-profit organization. > 2. The copyrighted work is a game. As such, it makes sense that the parody is also a game. > 3. The phrase “Cooking Mama,” the Cooking Mama character herself, the Majesco brand name (albeit covered in blood as an apparent criticism), and the general feel of the Cooking Mama game is used in the parody. > 4. The parody probably would not harm the potential market value of the original work- if anything, it may make people who haven’t heard of it be interested in it. > > To me, at least, the fact that a large portion of the original work is used for parody purposes is overshadowed by the fact that the parody is meant as a direct criticism of the original work that would not harm the sales of the original- although I’m sure others would disagree with me. Well, people pay me for my TM opinions, so in light of the fact that I’m not getting paid here, I’ll keep it brief. 1. Basically it’s about 10 times more complicated than you can glean from just reading a statute. There are a lot of factors to consider, many of which require some seaching of TM databases, which is time consuming so I’m not going to do it. 2. It’s very hard to massage a parody defence to infringement of trademarks. Ask any TM lawyer. 3. They’re using exact copies of the TM(s) (That’s a BIG BAD THING because it increases the likelihood of confusion). 4. You’ve got other issues here too - tarnishment, for one. If I was retained by Cooking Momma, I’d be kicking peta around the schoolyard in no time. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/15 "2008-11-18T06:53:15Z")
I’m still curious as to why my cracked eggs were bleeding. WAG, but maybe PETA members hate meat consumption because they don’t get fresh ingredients? Regardless, now I am really jonesing for a turkey dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/16 "2008-11-18T07:11:32Z")
What **Isamu** said. Besides, I note that “COOKING MAMA” is a registered trade mark, at least in the UK and I presume in the US as well. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/17 "2008-11-18T16:22:54Z")
For those who have a mental catalog of Far Side cartoons, or a reference book handy (web links to online scans of them being quickly hunted down and eliminated), this one comes to mind: _In sudden disgust, the three lionesses realized they had killed a tofudebeest – one of the Serengeti’s obnoxious health antelopes._ ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/18 "2008-11-18T16:34:41Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Neither is tofu, for that matter. Mama had a change of heart and is making a tofurkey instead. My impression was she made tofu “mashed potatoes” because she couldn’t bear harming them along with a tofu-rkey (a crime punishable by death in seventy-one countries and eight states). ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals/473191/19 "2008-11-19T23:39:24Z")
Apparently, Majesco Sales has no intention of suing, just setting the record straight, based on a [recent press release](http://www.majescoentertainment.com/news/display_news.php?id=349): > [@Majesco Sales](#): > > “I would never put rat in my Ratatouille,” said a feisty Mama while beating some eggs. “Like any accomplished cook, I create my recipes to appeal to a broad range of tastes and preferences. My only goal is to ensure you leave the table well fed.” > > Cooking Mama World Kitchen includes more than 25 vegetarian-friendly recipes including delicious breakfast, dinner, dessert and snack options. And, while Mama is not a vegetarian, she fully supports the humane treatment of animals, particularly for her canine protégé Max who makes his doggie debut in World Kitchen.