HBO pokes at Trump over 'Game of Thrones'-themed post

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

HBO on Thursday pushed back on the use of imagery from its shows for political purposes after President Trump used a "Game of Thrones"-inspired meme to celebrate the findings of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.

The cable and satellite network issued a brief statement on Thursday afternoon that did not directly mention Trump's post but broadly requested that political groups not infringe on the channel's intellectual property.

“Though we can understand the enthusiasm for Game of Thrones now that the final season has arrived, we still prefer our intellectual property not be used for political purposes," HBO said in the statement.

The network pushed back hours after Trump posted an image to Twitter that showed himself surrounded by smoke overlaid with text that read “No collusion. No obstruction. For the haters and the radical left Democrats— Game Over,” in a font style similar to that used in promotional images for HBO's "Game of Thrones."

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/439555-hbo-knocks-trump-for-game-of-thrones-post

[jberryhill]

1. Yah, well,Lucasfilm didn't like people using "Star Wars" for the Strategic Defense Initiative either

...and they lost that one too.

LUCASFILM LTD. v. HIGH FRONTIER, 622 F.Supp. 931 (1985)

https://www.leagle.com/decision/19851553622fsupp93111385

Not so long ago, in a studio far, far away from the policymakers in Washington, D.C., George Lucas conceived of an imaginary galaxy where fantastic creatures and courageous knights battled an evil empire with spaceships, "blaster" guns and light sabers. Plaintiff Lucasfilms Ltd. marketed this imaginative fantasy in three enormously popular films, the first of which was entitled "STAR WARS." STAR WARS has since become a strong trademark owned by plaintiff and registered as a service mark under the Lanham Act. 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051-1127. Plaintiff has built on the national success of these movies and the goodwill associated with STAR WARS by using the STAR WARS mark to merchandise dolls, toys, comic books, cookies, paper cups, watches, candles and even bubble bath.

Meanwhile, in the real world of defense strategy and international politics, newspapers, politicians, scientists and spokesmen of allied and enemy nations have chosen to characterize the Reagan Administration's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) as its "star wars" program. SDI seeks to develop defenses against a nuclear attack with weapons based in space somewhat reminiscent of those depicted in the STAR WARS movies. Some see SDI as a brilliant proposal full of promise. Others fear the idea will simply escalate the risk of nuclear war and frustrate efforts toward disarmament. An intense political debate is under way and still raging. Through persistent and prolific use in newspapers and magazines and over television and radio the phrase star wars has become a popular synonym for the SDI proposal.