re: BAMA Cuts Episodes

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You still trying to claim that people in a barber shop talking sports is LeBron's intellectual property? Come on man. Get real

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That's never what I claimed. I'm saying it is possible LeBron could have IP for a specific style, setup and execution of a barbershop setting sports talk show. That would be misappropriation, which is likely the claim


It's the fact that Bamas show is extremely close, bordering on copying in style, premise, music and even logo

If I read that article correctly James’ team hasn’t copyrighted or registered his show from an IP copywright perspective? If that is the case James may not have a leg to stand on. The question I would want to know is how did both sides come up with the idea?

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That's never what I claimed. I'm saying it is possible LeBron could have IP for a specific style, setup and execution of a barbershop setting sports talk show. That would be misappropriation, which is likely the claim

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Per ESPN:

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However, none of James' businesses have a copyright or trademark associated with "The Shop," which would make this an intellectual property claim. 

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Yeah and that is why Saban basically told him to pound sand. He has no copyright on that show so he has no standing to tell Bama to cease. Again if that is the case: but Nick is so insanely detailed focused I have to believe he and Bama know this.

Again I would be interested to hear how both parties came up with this.....someone pitched it to them and the two shows are just too similar.

Interesting. Thanks for posting

I come back to the issue as to how these ideas came to fruition on both sides.

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I come back to the issue as to how these ideas came to fruition on both sides.

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It would be incredibly unlikely that Alabama's marketing dept on their idea both developed the same idea independently + strikingly similar execution in terms of concept, style, film editing, music and logos


If the similarities ended at them in a barbershop talking sports, I think they'd be in the clear. The problem is the more unique qualities that are similar, the less solid Bama's position becomes as it then is copying expression of the idea

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ALABAMA FOOTBALL
Does LeBron James have a case against Alabama? Lawyer explains barbershop battle
Updated 6:11 PM; Posted 6:11 PM
Nick Saban said Tuesday Alabama wasn't stopping its web series "Shop Talk."
Nick Saban said Tuesday Alabama wasn't stopping its web series "Shop Talk."(Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com )

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By Michael Casagrande mcasagrande@al.com
First, there was the letter. Then Nick Saban weighed in on the dispute. Hours later, LeBron James offered his take.

So, what's the actual law involved in this whole barbershop video controversy? Does the NBA star have a case against Alabama?

Birmingham lawyer Michael J. Douglas specializes in intellectual property and business disputes. He helped explain how the law views situations like this.

"To me," the Auburn grad said, "it seems like a tough case."

This goes back to June when James and his production company UNINTERRUPTED released the 29-minute Episode 1 of "The Shop." Move ahead to last Wednesday when Alabama posted the nearly 18-minute "Shop Talk." Both shows featured unscripted conversations between athletes in a barbershop setting.

UNINTERRUPTED sent a letter to Alabama days after "Shop Talk" went online claiming there were copyright, trademark and intellectual property concerns with the video, ESPN reported.

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Saban on Tuesday said Alabama wouldn't stop the series which led James to say he'd "be damned if I allow someone to use our platform or try to do the same thing we're doing and just think it's OK."

Douglas, the attorney, said there are a few questions to ask in all of this.

First, does James have anything to protect? Are there registered copyrights? Common law copyrights are also possible.

"But, you can't copyright a generic idea or an unoriginal idea," Douglas said.

The attorney used late night television as an example. The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the Late Show "are all basically the same," Douglas said.

"They can't prevent each other from doing it because they're not original expressions of ideas. They're generic."

Second, if it is determined James has something to protect here, you would have to convince a jury there's a striking similarity between the two expressions. "And there's a lot of ambiguity with that."


Saban pointed out there have been more than a few different concepts out there where people sit around a barbershop chatting. Douglas said there must be original elements that could be protected.

The fact neither show appears to be scripted or follow any format makes the case more difficult for James.

Alabama's show was set in the new barbershop built in its football complex. James' series is set in a storefront barbershop. Alabama's featured former star players including Julio Jones while James had fellow NBA star Draymond Green and rapper 2Chainz among those in the barbershop.

In terms of trademarks, the logos for the two shows are similar. Both contain an open scissor. James would have to prove the similarities were potentially confusing along with a long list of other requirements.

"It's just a tough area of law when you're dealing with a show idea or an expression of that show when that type of concept has been done before," Douglas said. "Are there original elements that can be protected?"


Episode 2 of Alabama's "The Shop" was set to be released Wednesday. The first one came out in the evening last Wednesday.

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Al.com

Oh I woud’nt disagree with you at all. In fact they are too similar for coincidence. Which is why some discovery would be very interesting.

I suppose the broader issue would be is the “Barber Shop” concept is one that is owned? I come back to a point that sitcoms or or shows around a barbershop are not unique.

I draw the analogy in my mind between The Honeymooners and the King Of Queens. Big jolly blue collar guy in his little NYC crib with his put upon wife? The shows are literally 40 years apart but it’s the same show! Similarly there have been a lot of BarberShop concepts throughout the years. Bama seems like a rip off James’ show but is it enough for James to get a remedy?

Coach tellin' folks to kiss his arse.

BREAKING NEWS: LeBron sends letter to everyone using Barber Capes that are beige.