Judge to Dismiss Carol Burnett's Lawsuit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-26-2007, 03:52 PM

LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge said he will dismiss Carol Burnett's $2 million copyright infringement lawsuit over the use of her cleaning woman character in the animated series "Family Guy."

U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson said in a written tentative ruling Friday that he planned to dismiss the lawsuit against 20th Century Fox. He will issue a final ruling later.

The 74-year-old comedian sued the studio in March, contending that the Fox show didn't have her permission to include her Charwoman character in an April 2006 episode.

The episode portrayed the character as a cleaning woman in a sex shop and also used a version of the theme music to her old TV series without permission, the lawsuit claimed.

At the time, the studio said it was surprised by the lawsuit over what amounted to about an 18-second scene.

A call to 20th Century Fox Television spokesman Chris Alexander on Friday was not immediately returned.

Burnett's attorney, Robert Denton, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Ireneparalegal · 05-26-2007, 04:16 PM

Ooooo, I would love to read the judge's ruling.

It was ludicrous of her to do that.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-02-2007, 03:08 PM

I would love to also read The Judge Rulling

Dr. Thong · 06-02-2007, 09:32 PM

I'm glad the judge is dismissing the lawsuit. If Burnett had won, it would set a dangerous precedent for parodies & satires. If Burnett didn't want to be parodied, she shouldn't have become a public figure in the first place.

05-26-2007, 03:52 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Judge to Dismiss Carol Burnett's Lawsuit LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge said he will dismiss Carol Burnett's $2 million copyright infringement lawsuit over the use of her cleaning woman character in the animated series "Family Guy." U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson said in a written tentative ruling Friday that he planned to dismiss the lawsuit against 20th Century Fox. He will issue a final ruling later. The 74-year-old comedian sued the studio in March, contending that the Fox show didn't have her permission to include her Charwoman character in an April 2006 episode. The episode portrayed the character as a cleaning woman in a sex shop and also used a version of the theme music to her old TV series without permission, the lawsuit claimed. At the time, the studio said it was surprised by the lawsuit over what amounted to about an 18-second scene. A call to 20th Century Fox Television spokesman Chris Alexander on Friday was not immediately returned. Burnett's attorney, Robert Denton, could not immediately be reached for comment.
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05-26-2007, 04:16 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Ooooo, I would love to read the judge's ruling. It was ludicrous of her to do that.
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06-02-2007, 03:08 PM	#3
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I would love to also read The Judge Rulling
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06-02-2007, 09:32 PM	#4
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I'm glad the judge is dismissing the lawsuit. If Burnett had won, it would set a dangerous precedent for parodies & satires. If Burnett didn't want to be parodied, she shouldn't have become a public figure in the first place.
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