# Do companies really need permission to use the Petco.com dog?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-really-need-permission-to-use-the-petco-com-dog/42458>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 23, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-really-need-permission-to-use-the-petco-com-dog/42458 "2000-11-23T16:45:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Drum\_the\_drum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Drum\_the\_drum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_the_drum)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-really-need-permission-to-use-the-petco-com-dog/42458/1 "2000-11-23T16:45:30Z")

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The “character” of the smart talking dog is for sale, at least until [Petco.com](http://Petco.com) dies permanently.  
So, when that happens wouldn’t the dog be up for grabs?  
How can a defunct company claim it’s damaged by your use of it?

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**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-really-need-permission-to-use-the-petco-com-dog/42458/2 "2000-11-23T22:20:43Z")

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The dog is for sale. Defending the rights becomes the responsibity of the new owner. The defunct company has the cash, has no rights, and couldn’t care less what happens.

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**Author:** ![Drum\_the\_drum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Drum\_the\_drum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_the_drum)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-really-need-permission-to-use-the-petco-com-dog/42458/3 "2000-11-24T01:56:20Z")

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At another news site I found that the dog was bid on for a children’s TV show.  
Also, there are actual dolls for sale at \*\* [http://www.fun-4-all.com/index.shtml](http://www.fun-4-all.com/index.shtml)

I guess that means there’s more companies with a financial tie to it. Even if [Petco.com](http://Petco.com) fails, the creditors would get the outstanding contracts.

I do have to wonder though how close it is to existing toys.  
There must have been dogs like that before.

Also, I found Conan O’Brian’s guest “The Insult Comic Dog” was already in a lawsuit with them. Couldn’t find out how that was esolved, however.

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**Author:** ![Drum\_the\_drum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Drum\_the\_drum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_the_drum)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-companies-really-need-permission-to-use-the-petco-com-dog/42458/4 "2000-11-24T02:25:11Z")

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:eek: It’s not [Petco.com](http://Petco.com) but **[Pets.com](http://Pets.com)**.