Custom Batmobiles are Subject to Copyright?

Custom Batmobiles are Subject to Copyright?

Judge in California has ruled that custom Batmobiles are subject to the copyright law. Looks like Justin Bieber may be headed for some trouble.

By ncreb - Feb 01, 2012 11:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: themarysue.com

If you remember a while back Justin Bieber had a custom car made for him, in what he calls a Batmobile. Well, I think us fans know better, but a California Judge thinks other wise.

"A judge in California has ruled that custom Batmobiles, like the ones made by Gotham Garage owner Mark Towles and owned by toddler pop music sensation Justin Bieber, are subject to copyright law because cars, apparently, do not fall under the “useful articles” exception..."

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"DC Comics sued Towles claiming that the cars he was making and selling through his business were in violation of copyright laws, and that the product was misleading customers into thinking that these cars were authorized by DC. In other words, they were made to seem like they were official Batmobiles. Towles’ response was that cars fall under the “useful articles” exception, which means that such items are not subject to copyright laws. This means that the design of the Batmobile itself — like the actual image and drawing of a Batmobile — is protected by copyright, but once it has been used for something with utilitarian purposes — like a functional automobile — the design is no longer protected..."


Poor Justin, that car belongs to DC.




For the full story check the source link.
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ThaMessenger07
ThaMessenger07 - 2/1/2012, 12:11 PM
lol DC gets an Award for the "Dick move of the Week!"....
TheJoker52
TheJoker52 - 2/1/2012, 12:51 PM
Please say the took the little girls toys away hahahahahahaha
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 2/1/2012, 12:59 PM
Too bad. I was going to modify my Mormon Assault Vehicle into a Batmobile.
DoctorSnide
DoctorSnide - 2/1/2012, 1:23 PM
Certain things need be left alone. Warner Bros and DC make enough already off the products they push. Things like Beibers Car or Custom Batmobiles are free advertising. How many times do you thing someone has seen Keaton or even Adam West batmobile replicas and though " Oh shit I wanna watch a Batman film"? I bet you tons over time. They need to chill. At the same time I agree with Gusto and deathmetalbrian.
EditNinja
EditNinja - 2/1/2012, 1:58 PM
Yeah, like DC Entertainment is gonna get into the 'tricked-out car bidnesss'!

Must be too much money being made that WB ain't gettin'.
alekesam
alekesam - 2/1/2012, 2:54 PM
The corporations...they won't be satisfied until they trademark air.
Warpath
Warpath - 2/1/2012, 4:12 PM
Beiber's car doesn't even look like the Batmobile!
TheOverlord
TheOverlord - 2/1/2012, 5:03 PM
Pretty cut and dry. Guy was clearly in the wrong. Fair use laws say you can do what you want to your own stuff, but selling someone else's trademark will get you in hot water fast.
LOL
LOL - 2/1/2012, 5:40 PM
interesting... there are TONS of functioning vehicle replicas out there lovingly made by fans alone for their own enjoyment: Doc Brown's BTTF DeLorean, Streethawks' Bike, Knight Rider's KITT and KARR, The General Lee, Starsky's Gran Torino "Striped Tomato", the infamous Love Bug Volks, A-Team van, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine.... people who do the work themselves FOR themselves are probably ticked off right about now if they suddenly say "hell no" to your own customizations that you DON'T sell.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 2/1/2012, 5:43 PM
I don't get it. If I were making "Batmobiles" the FIRST thing I'd do is get licensing from DC and pass it on to the customer with a snazzy little certificate. It's not like the guys who buy these things are on a budget...
BatSlam
BatSlam - 2/1/2012, 7:40 PM
yeah, he could be introuble if it actually looked like a batmobile. its just a black cadi with a couple of old school bat emblems on it.
nickh0801
nickh0801 - 2/2/2012, 7:42 AM
That's why when I build mine, I will all it a "Gotham Cruiser" :p
nickh0801
nickh0801 - 2/2/2012, 7:44 AM
http://gothamcruisers.com/cruiser89.htm
niknik
niknik - 2/2/2012, 9:34 AM
Copyright and trademark laws have gotten out of hand. It's getting so they want you to pay a dollar just for everytime you look at something of theirs. Way over the top. This $hit would never happen 20 years ago. I can't tell you how many times I saw a custom painted vehicle at a car show over the last 35 years that had some type of trademark logo on it, whether it be Superman's "S" or "Hot Wheels" design of some sort. Now all the big corps want everybody to pay for any reference at all.

If you decide you want to paint your muscle car Blue with Red and Yellow trim and put the "S" on the hood, go right ahead..........just don't try to ever sell that thing. DC will send their lawyers after you.
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