A junior at Carnegie Mellon University had his Web site satire of Wal-Mart shut down after the $285 billion retailing behemoth sent a letter to his Internet service provider to close access to the site.
"We have to protect our company name, and that's what those copyrights hold for us," Kevin Thornton, a spokesman for the company in Bentonville, Ark., said Tuesday. "When you pretend to be someone that you're not, that could lead to a problem."
Daniel Papasian, 20, of West Hartford, Conn., launched the Web site on April 16 for an arts class he is taking on using the media for social and political commentary.
"I chose Wal-Mart because, as the world's largest retailer, there are countless labor, environmental and discrimination issues throughout Wal-Mart," the political science major said.
Happy ending? The irony that follows when corporations try to squash free speech protected comedy (e.g. Franken v. Fox):
Papasian said he received only 300 to 400 hits on his site in the first three or four days before it was shut down. In the two days since he relaunched it, the site has gotten 700 or 800 visitors.
Thousands now.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
kthodos wrote:
please, God, not another wal-mart
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Zutballs wrote:
just_b wrote:
kthodos wrote:
please, God, no more inflation
Quote:
I just wanted to capture that fine use of the "quote" button.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Wal-Mart In Court Fight Over 'Wal-ocaust' T-Shirts
POSTED: 11:55 am EST March 8, 2006
ATLANTA -- A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart in federal district court in Atlanta in a fight over his T-shirts that compare the retailer's business practices to the Holocaust.
Charles Smith has been marketing shirts that read, "I (heart) Wal-ocaust" T-shirts. Wal-Mart filed a cease-and-desist order in an attempt to make him stop printing the shirts.
The company said Smith is engaging in trademark infringement. It has threatened to sue Smith if he continues to display the logos on his Web site and to print them on his products.
The 48-year-old Smith is a computer repairman and said he has no deep connection to the company. But he claims using the logos is a free speech issue.
Smith said he came up with his anti-Wal-Mart logo after conversations with a customer and an employee who both had bad experiences with the retailer.
He designed his first logo in July. One shirt -- with "Wal-ocaust" printed above an eagle and a smiley face sold on Nov. 16 and netted Smith $5.10.
He said if the court sides with him, he will use any profits to pay his legal fees and for continued production of the products.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said Smith is infringing on the company's trademark and also "making an offensive association between Wal-Mart and one of the greatest tragedies of the past century."
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Athletic Supporter wrote:
Mitchell wrote:
i enjoy getting things from wal-mart at lower prices than other stores.
I'm gonna order a new cabinet from them today.
It's going to collapse on 3/10/08.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Athletic Supporter wrote:
B wrote:
Athletic Supporter wrote:
Mitchell wrote:
i enjoy getting things from wal-mart at lower prices than other stores.
I'm gonna order a new cabinet from them today.
It's going to collapse on 3/10/08.
Nonsense, I have a few of the same unit standing strong. I got one of them at superhipandOKtoshopat Target
Even Wal*Mart won't claim that they sell high quality stuff. And if you think anti-Walmart posts are an endorsement of Target, you're wrong.
If a 300 pound shark and a 10 pound baracuda were swimming towards you, which one are you going to watch more closely?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:59 am Posts: 18643 Location: Raleigh, NC Gender: Male
B wrote:
Athletic Supporter wrote:
B wrote:
Athletic Supporter wrote:
Mitchell wrote:
i enjoy getting things from wal-mart at lower prices than other stores.
I'm gonna order a new cabinet from them today.
It's going to collapse on 3/10/08.
Nonsense, I have a few of the same unit standing strong. I got one of them at superhipandOKtoshopat Target
Even Wal*Mart won't claim that they sell high quality stuff. And if you think anti-Walmart posts are an endorsement of Target, you're wrong.
If a 300 pound shark and a 10 pound baracuda were swimming towards you, which one are you going to watch more closely?
I just think the villification of one company and their practices is hilarious. I'd love to see people who spend this much time bitching about WalMart spend a quarter of that time digging up other retailers who are just as bad.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Athletic Supporter wrote:
I just think the villification of one company and their practices is hilarious. I'd love to see people who spend this much time bitching about WalMart spend a quarter of that time digging up other retailers who are just as bad.
I don't think that info's hard to find.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Tidbit from The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman:
Southwest Airlines is exactly the kind of brutal, unsympathetic competitor that Wal-Mart is, pushing prices ridiculously low and driving other airlines deeper into bankruptcy everywhere it opens a hub, but people love the fuck out of Southwest.
Why?
1) Style
2) Well-paid employees "The airline's business model, the low prices they offer customers, doesn't require our silent complicity in exploiting the very people who are taking care of us."
3) No hidden universe of squeezed suppliers
"Southwest Airlines isn't just cheep, it's fun. Wal-Mart isn't just cheap, it's joyless, when it's not downright vexing."
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:59 am Posts: 18643 Location: Raleigh, NC Gender: Male
I only fly southwest if I have to. I'll get stuff at WalMart if it's cheaper than it is somewhere else, it's not like people go there for quality or stylish merchandise.
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:14 pm Posts: 15317 Location: Concord, NC Gender: Male
B wrote:
http://www.walocaust.com/site/
Quote:
Wal-Mart In Court Fight Over 'Wal-ocaust' T-Shirts
POSTED: 11:55 am EST March 8, 2006
ATLANTA -- A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart in federal district court in Atlanta in a fight over his T-shirts that compare the retailer's business practices to the Holocaust.
Charles Smith has been marketing shirts that read, "I (heart) Wal-ocaust" T-shirts. Wal-Mart filed a cease-and-desist order in an attempt to make him stop printing the shirts.
The company said Smith is engaging in trademark infringement. It has threatened to sue Smith if he continues to display the logos on his Web site and to print them on his products.
The 48-year-old Smith is a computer repairman and said he has no deep connection to the company. But he claims using the logos is a free speech issue.
Smith said he came up with his anti-Wal-Mart logo after conversations with a customer and an employee who both had bad experiences with the retailer.
He designed his first logo in July. One shirt -- with "Wal-ocaust" printed above an eagle and a smiley face sold on Nov. 16 and netted Smith $5.10.
He said if the court sides with him, he will use any profits to pay his legal fees and for continued production of the products.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said Smith is infringing on the company's trademark and also "making an offensive association between Wal-Mart and one of the greatest tragedies of the past century."
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