teentitan
06-19-2007, 11:18 PM
Guess someone screwed up his green eggs and ham and went all Mr. Grinch on Mickey...
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Sam I Am" is not - anymore.
The planned ABC fall comedy starring Christina Applegate has changed its name to "Samantha Be Good" after receiving a "cease-and-desist" letter from lawyers representing the rights-holder to Dr. Seuss characters, a lawyer said Tuesday.
The show "Sam I Am" stars Applegate as Samantha (Sam) Newly, a woman suffering amnesia who discovers she was not such a nice person.
Sam-I-Am is the main character in the children's book "Green Eggs and Ham," which the late Theodor Geisel wrote and illustrated. The book has delighted generations of children.
"We asserted a trademark infringement claim," in a May 17 letter to ABC, said Jonathan Sokol, a lawyer representing San Diego-based Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP.
"People worldwide associate those characters with Dr. Seuss books and...Dr. Seuss vigilantly protects its trademark rights," Sokol said.
The TV show's original title might have confused people as to whether the company was sponsoring or otherwise involved with the program, Sokol said.
There also was concern the trademark value might be diluted if people began to associate the name with a successful TV show instead of only the gleeful purveyor of colourful vittles.
A week after receiving the letter, ABC said it was changing the title, Sokol said.
"Obviously, we're pleased with the result," he said.
ABC Studios confirmed the name change Tuesday but declined to discuss reasons for it.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Sam I Am" is not - anymore.
The planned ABC fall comedy starring Christina Applegate has changed its name to "Samantha Be Good" after receiving a "cease-and-desist" letter from lawyers representing the rights-holder to Dr. Seuss characters, a lawyer said Tuesday.
The show "Sam I Am" stars Applegate as Samantha (Sam) Newly, a woman suffering amnesia who discovers she was not such a nice person.
Sam-I-Am is the main character in the children's book "Green Eggs and Ham," which the late Theodor Geisel wrote and illustrated. The book has delighted generations of children.
"We asserted a trademark infringement claim," in a May 17 letter to ABC, said Jonathan Sokol, a lawyer representing San Diego-based Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP.
"People worldwide associate those characters with Dr. Seuss books and...Dr. Seuss vigilantly protects its trademark rights," Sokol said.
The TV show's original title might have confused people as to whether the company was sponsoring or otherwise involved with the program, Sokol said.
There also was concern the trademark value might be diluted if people began to associate the name with a successful TV show instead of only the gleeful purveyor of colourful vittles.
A week after receiving the letter, ABC said it was changing the title, Sokol said.
"Obviously, we're pleased with the result," he said.
ABC Studios confirmed the name change Tuesday but declined to discuss reasons for it.