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May 30, 2007

An Adventurous Trademark Weekend: Mystery Science Theater 3000 v. Mr. Sinus Theater and Katie Holmes v. Katee Holmes

Over the Memorial Day weekend my husband and I went to Austin, Texas to visit his family and low and behold while we were there visions of intellectual property danced in my head. 

Other than being the home of the University of Texas Longhorns (a huge rival of my alma matter, the University of Oklahoma), Austin is a great town rich with arts and entertainment and outdoor recreation.  While in town we wanted to try and get tickets to see Mr. Sinus Theater.  Mr. Sinus Theater was a live comedic spin off of Mystery Science Theater 3000 mocking films such as Top Gun, The Terminator, and yes, even Britney Spear’s breakthrough film, Crossroads.  As you might have guessed, a quick search on the internet to find tickets revealed that Mr. Sinus Theater was sued in 2004 by the creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000 over trademark issues.  Apparently earlier in 2003, Mr. Sinus Theater contacted Best Brains Inc., owners and producers of Mystery Science Theater 3000, to license the mark but to no avail.  After deciding that Mr. Sinus’ adult-type humor went against the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Best Brains Inc. filed suit.

But don’t worry this was not the end of Mr. Sinus Theater.  Mr. Sinus Theater later changed its name to The Sinus Show.  Although the comedy group decided later to part ways, in January 2007 one of the original members formed Master Pancake Theater under the same movie-mockery premise.  You can see Master Pancake Theater at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX.  Currently they are showing The Breakfast Club, for show times click here. 

Also during my weekend, I woke up after a nap to a television blasting in the background, “Katie Holmes Threatening Legal Action Against Porn Star”.  What?!  Sure enough, a fashion student who is hoping to launch a career as a porn star recently changed her name to Katee Holmes.  Apparently, "Katee is using the name as a tribute to Katie, who has always portrayed in innocence in everything she's done, beginning with 'Dawson's Creek.' ". 

This could get interesting.

Posted by Emily Campbell at 04:07 PM.
Permalink: An Adventurous Trademark Weekend: Mystery Science Theater 3000 v. Mr. Sinus Theater and Katie Holmes v. Katee Holmes
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