# I tattled on the WBC

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 1, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881 "2011-09-01T20:31:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881/21 "2011-09-02T15:37:04Z")

</div>

Couldn’t the pastor sue for libel? Assuming he doesn’t rape children.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881/22 "2011-09-02T16:12:33Z")

</div>

> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#):
>
> Just because they have the right to free speech doesn’t mean we should make it any easier for them than it has to be.

Frivolous lawsuits are bad no matter what the reason.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881/23 "2011-09-07T10:56:08Z")

</div>

They aren’t using it for parody. Just like the guy who ripped off “This Land is Your Land” for a political cartoon wasn’t. If you aren’t parodying the subject of the work, then you are not using it in fair use. Just like the guy wasn’t parodying the song, the concept of the song, or the lyrics, they aren’t parodying the mascot, the team, or even the concept of the team.

And, anyways, this is trademark abuse, not copyright infringement. Even parody can get you in trouble there.

There’s a reason the response said that they weren’t sponsoring this event, rather than just being upset about the use of their work without permission.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881/24 "2011-09-07T16:45:57Z")

</div>

> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Frivolous lawsuits are bad no matter what the reason.

A lawsuit that could prevent these people spreading hate propaganda against gays and lesbians is not frivolous.

If they tried to associate my name with any of their pronouncements, I would take every legal step required to ensure that they were not allowed to do that under any circumstances. Go, Notre Dame!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881/25 "2011-09-07T17:11:33Z")

</div>

As a lifelong ND fan (grew up Catholic in northern IN), thanks **Baker**. I’ll toss in a few extra bucks in your honor when I’m hit up during the annual fund drive this year. 🙂

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-tattled-on-the-wbc/594881.md?page=1)