Harris Faulkner sues Hasbro over toy hamster

[josieposy]

I had no idea Hasbro was giving these things actual people names.

www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34133723





A Fox News anchor is suing a US toy company, Hasbro, for more than $5m (£3.3m) over a toy hamster that she says resembles her and shares her name.

Harris Faulkner said the company's portrayal of her as a plastic hamster "was demeaning and insulting".

She filed a legal case saying the toy resembled her traditional professional appearance, including complexion, eye shape and eye make-up design.

The toy is part of the company's popular Littlest Pet Shop collection.

It was first introduced in 2014, according to legal documents obtained by entertainment news website Deadline.

The legal case, which was filed at a district court in New Jersey on Monday, said Hasbro had "wilfully and wrongfully appropriated Faulkner's unique and valuable name and distinctive persona for its own financial gain".

It said Mrs Faulkner, who has been a Fox News anchor for 10 years, had never given the toy manufacturer permission to use her name or likeness and in January demanded they stop using the product.

But three weeks later, it said, the doll was still available on the Hasbro website.

Ms Faulkner said she did not want to be associated with a toy that is a "known choking hazard that risks harming small children".

However, Julie Duffy, a spokeswoman for the company, said the Littlest Pet Shop toys "meet and exceed all safety standards".

The company is behind other well-known toy brands, including Transformers and My Little Pony.

[ttt]

I wouldn't say the hamster actually resembles her, but that name is way too specific to be a coincidence. So weird that they would even do that in the first place.

[josieposy]

Sept 2, 2015 16:27:49 GMT -5 ttt said:

I wouldn't say the hamster actually resembles her, but that name is way too specific to be a coincidence. So weird that they would even do that in the first place.

Right?! I was curious so I googled the toy, and sure enough:



What the hell was Hasbro thinking?

[pixy0stix]

Someone got lazy on name day.

[Alyssa]

Wow...I'm shocked they would go with that name. You think they would at least try to change it to something slightly different, like Hammy Faulkner.

[Deleted]

Ok so I thought the hamster was named "Harris" or "Faulkner" but "Harris Faulkner"!? Come on, Hasbro.

[Deleted]

Also, this is totally some Hasbro employee who did not want to be there that day and that hamster came up and they were like, "I don't know. Name it after that news anchor. Let's go to happy hour."

[KateAggie]

She needs a sense of humor. No one is thinking, "damn her, that choker of children!!"

I mean, I get it. I do. But complain about the use of the name.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 2, 2015 16:53:17 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

She needs a sense of humor. No one is thinking, "damn her, that choker of children!!"

I mean, I get it. I do. But complain about the use of the name.

Yo. Basically everything is a choking hazard from children three and under.


I was legit surprised it had her full, actual name.

[jln]

Is Benson Detwyler also a real person?

[UMaineTeach]

Sept 2, 2015 16:59:49 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Sept 2, 2015 16:53:17 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

She needs a sense of humor. No one is thinking, "damn her, that choker of children!!"

I mean, I get it. I do. But complain about the use of the name.

Yo. Basically everything is a choking hazard from children three and under.


I was legit surprised it had her full, actual name.

her full name and they TMed it.
So, too bad, so sad she can't go by her name for profit now? tell me there are renidies to reverse a TM, or is it really just who ever gets the TM first gets it regardless of the history of use?

[LoveTrains]

It's a stretch to say it looks like her but clearly they got lazy on name day.

[ttt]

Sept 2, 2015 20:25:29 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Sept 2, 2015 16:59:49 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Yo. Basically everything is a choking hazard from children three and under.


I was legit surprised it had her full, actual name.

her full name and they TMed it.
So, too bad, so sad she can't go by her name for profit now? tell me there are renidies to reverse a TM, or is it really just who ever gets the TM first gets it regardless of the history of use?

Trademarks are specific to a particular type of product, so the TM that Hasbro has probably only applies to toys. She could TM her own name and use it for something else if she wanted. 

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I get it on the name, it must have been Lazy Day at Hasbroro, but really "She filed a legal case saying the toy resembled her traditional professional appearance, including complexion, eye shape and eye make-up design." The hamster has round eyes and black mascara.