LABengalsFan09 Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I just came across this..."Well, looks like the Cincinnati Bengals are first in something. The fansided.com blog network is a collaboration of fan NFL blogs run by fans of the teams. Cincinnati has contacted our main office to threaten us with a lawsuit over using pictures (that are out in the public domain) that we gave copyright credit to the Bengals organization for. We have been forced into a redesign, as we cannot defend ourselves against Mike Brown’s deep pockets. Funny, we’ve been in touch with the Bengals (PR Director Jack Brennan) via email several times (me personally). I’ve invited him to browse the site, comment and make suggestions for our site to a benefit to the Bengals organization. Instead, we get a lawsuit threatened against us (why, Mr. Brennan, could you not just ask us to make changes?).The Bengals claim we used copyrighted photos and logos. However, we’ve been asking for access for months as a media outlet to be able to interview players, take our own photos, etc. We’ve been turned down, stating that the Bengals “do not issue credentials to non-traditional media”. They sure will sue non-traditional media though, won’t they?Odd, a fan site, ran by a fan who has been creative in getting access to players to do interviews, and has been less critical that the “traditional media” because I am a fan of the team, and yet Mike Brown wants to attack us. How come, Mr. Brown, are you not going after Channel 12, and Fox19 for using the big “B” logo in their graphics? Please, don’t insult me telling me the media is paying rights to use that logo.Well, as of today, I quit blogging anything positive on behalf of the Cincinnati Clowns. I’m sure this is what Geoff Hobson would want as well as Mike Brown. Hobson came from the Enquirer as a beat writer of the Bengals. Now he works directly for the team. He’s the only writer for their site, and if you disagree with his commentary, he’ll simply disparage you for it. He writes the same types of stories week end and week out, and if you email him a story suggestion, it goes unheeded, and most often, unresponsive. I don’t write the same types of articles he does, and I get solid readership for a one man blog site that isn’t paid isn’t supported by a multi-million privately held company funded by PUBLIC funds.As for Mike Brown, he probably doesn’t know Stripehype.com exists. Jack Brennan, Mr. PR, does know. The lawyers obviously know. The NFL knows (cause they emailed us about a day after the Bengals did with a threat because of the use of the NFL Draft Logo, of which they were given copyright credit for).This also means that I cannot give away the Utecht Jersey. My apologies for all of you who were commenting and posting in order to win it. A privately owned jersey, autographed by the player on his own time, and because I’m promoting it as “a Cincinnati Bengals Jersey” I have been accused of copyright infringement for using their trademarked name. So be warned Cincy fans (of which I am no longer), you better refer to your hometown NFL team as “those guys on the river that play football” or Mikey’s boys will come after you looking for more money. Doesn’t it seem like he’s gouged us all enough? Is Mike Brown related to Simon Leis somehow? Seems like the jack-booted Gestapo tactics that the Unpopular Hamilton County Sheriff uses has infiltrated the Bengals PR and Legal departments.Good luck Bengals fans. I won’t take the Bengals intimidation tactics lying down. For the record, I did not take down the logos/graphics or other material in question. The fansided senior editors did that on their own accord, prior to contacting me. I had no control, and would not have done it myself. As a former Army Ranger, I don’t get intimidated. The Bengals will soon learn that, even if I never change a thing. I will, however, expose them for the organization they truly are, not the organization they try to portray.Looks like the players aren’t the only ones associated with the Bengals in legal trouble. I’m not even associated with them, and I’m in trouble. Hmmm..maybe a symptom of the organization after all??GO BROWNS!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Good job morons. Way to embrace fan generated content. Why the hell wouldn't you want free publicity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregstephens Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Wow...I'm not quite sure what to say. Is there more to this story than the one side has portrayed, or do we need to be worried next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Wow...I'm not quite sure what to say. Is there more to this story than the one side has portrayed, or do we need to be worried next?My (non-legally-trained) guess? No. I don't see the logo anywhere except in photos. Where do the photos come from? If the site has permission from the people who took them, then it should be fine.The Bengals don't own the copyrights of any picture taken of Bengals players.My memory's fuzzy, didn't this site once display the Bengals' logo? Note it doesn't now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwillycuse Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Switched sides huh?Hard to do if you are really a fan. It would be impossible for me.Cincinnati Clowns? Never read the blog but that isn't very creative at all.Something must have raised their eyebows.Who Dey for better or for worse!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregstephens Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Wow...I'm not quite sure what to say. Is there more to this story than the one side has portrayed, or do we need to be worried next?My (non-legally-trained) guess? No. I don't see the logo anywhere except in photos. Where do the photos come from? If the site has permission from the people who took them, then it should be fine.The Bengals don't own the copyrights of any picture taken of Bengals players.My memory's fuzzy, didn't this site once display the Bengals' logo? Note it doesn't now.I have no idea about the origin of the photos, but on other sites, if I've had to borrow photos on the net say from AP sources, I've had to credit the photo being from AP. The origin of photos is interesting.Could our site be sued if a forum member uses Bengals logo in an avatar/signature? That happens, obviously, a lot. Any other ideas out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregstephens Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Switched sides huh?Hard to do if you are really a fan. It would be impossible for me.Cincinnati Clowns? Never read the blog but that isn't very creative at all.Something must have raised their eyebows.Who Dey for better or for worse!!!I had never heard of the site until this. I checked it out. Obviously it's different than what I suspect it was before. Interestingly, the main blogger and the owners are in a major pissing match. Very intriguing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Teams do this on occasion. Carolina forced a fan site to change its name from Panthers Huddle to Carolina Huddle. And of course the Bengals once went after mikebrownsucks.com and made them quit selling "Mike Brown Sucks" merchandise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defender Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 ...and made them quit selling "Mike Brown Sucks" merchandise...By the way, if anyone knows where I can get one of those t-shirts, PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wraith Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 The problems with the Bengals parallel the problems with the city of Cincinnati. Conservative, no action, mindset leading to no innovative thinking with lots of meeting were nothing is decided. Because nothing is worked with foresight the team/city is always working to fix problems that never would have occured if there was some foresight.How long as the property between PBS and GABP been sitting vacant? Meanwhile Northern KY is booming because someone overthere had some vision and had the cahones to act on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Teams do this on occasion. Carolina forced a fan site to change its name from Panthers Huddle to Carolina Huddle. And of course the Bengals once went after mikebrownsucks.com and made them quit selling "Mike Brown Sucks" merchandise...That's sort of interesting because Mikey absolutely would have lost that suit. His name isn't trademarked, and that's 1st Amendment rights. Kind of sad that you can shut somebody up with a lawsuit even when the law's on their side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregstephens Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Teams do this on occasion. Carolina forced a fan site to change its name from Panthers Huddle to Carolina Huddle. And of course the Bengals once went after mikebrownsucks.com and made them quit selling "Mike Brown Sucks" merchandise...That's sort of interesting because Mikey absolutely would have lost that suit. His name isn't trademarked, and that's 1st Amendment rights. Kind of sad that you can shut somebody up with a lawsuit even when the law's on their side.Deep pockets, bra'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreen_112 Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Its just business. Surely the OP understands this. Plus, there's another side to the story I'm sure... Go start a Browns site dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsbengalsbucks Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 The problems with the Bengals parallel the problems with the city of Cincinnati. Conservative, no action, mindset leading to no innovative thinking with lots of meeting were nothing is decided. Because nothing is worked with foresight the team/city is always working to fix problems that never would have occured if there was some foresight.How long as the property between PBS and GABP been sitting vacant? Meanwhile Northern KY is booming because someone overthere had some vision and had the cahones to act on it.Just from visiting both cities, Cinci has a serious leg up on liberal leaning Cleveland in most areas. Parts of Cleveland look as if they were bombed in the 70's and left to age ungracefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damiancasey Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 The problems with the Bengals parallel the problems with the city of Cincinnati. Conservative, no action, mindset leading to no innovative thinking with lots of meeting were nothing is decided. Because nothing is worked with foresight the team/city is always working to fix problems that never would have occured if there was some foresight.How long as the property between PBS and GABP been sitting vacant? Meanwhile Northern KY is booming because someone overthere had some vision and had the cahones to act on it.Just from visiting both cities, Cinci has a serious leg up on liberal leaning Cleveland in most areas. Parts of Cleveland look as if they were bombed in the 70's and left to age ungracefully.Totally agree - Cincinnati definitely has some things that make you want to beat your head against the wall - but relatively speaking we are light years ahead of most towns of similar size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 If i'm not mistaken was stripehype.com or something along those lines that is being sued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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