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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHeadline of the day: Chubby Checker sues HP over penis size app
Chubby Checker, the musician best known for his 1960 hit recording of "The Twist," is suing HP over a novelty app for Palm OS of the same name that claims to check the size of your "chubby." The sum sought is a mind-boggling half a billion dollars.
The rock-and-roll star, whose real name is Ernest Evans, filed the suit this week in a Florida federal court, simultaneously releasing a statement describing the reasoning behind the suit. Willie Gary, an attorney who has already chalked up a number of large-sum legal wins, says that the app has caused "irreparable damage" to Evans' reputation and legacy.
"Chubby Checker" was a $0.99 app originally made for Palm OS (which was abandoned in 2009 in favor of Palm's WebOS). It allowed users to input the size of a male subject's feet and receive, in return, an estimation of the size of that guy's genitalia. For entertainment purposes only, of course.
Such novelty apps are now commonplace, naturally, as is the understanding that such apps are developed by companies or developers totally independent of the larger corporations that offer them in App Stores, such as Apple or Google. Takedown requests for apps that abuse copyrights or trademarks are also commonplace, although going after damages is uncommon and damages of this scale are unheard-of.
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/chubby-checker-sues-hp-over-penis-size-app-1C8383682
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)reducing men to their penises.
sad
MADem
(135,425 posts)That said, I don't think Chubby has a case. I don't think anyone is thinking of him when they use that term in the context of an engorged member.
Otherwise, every Bill, Dick or Johnson would be suing the makers of naughty movies and ribald novels for improper use of their names as well...
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)You do know we'd be guilty of the "No sex threads" admonition over at DU2 for this bit of snark-n-silliness!
Bake
(21,977 posts)I actually think he has a case, although maybe not 500 million bucks. They used his NAME, fer cryin' out loud, which I would imagine he has copyrighted. Do you think they would call their app Chubby Checker if there had never been a singer named Chubby Checker?
Of course they wouldn't have.
Bake
MADem
(135,425 posts)Hell, if he had a sense of humor, he could really make some money!
I can just see the commercials....
Initech
(100,081 posts)arely staircase
(12,482 posts)and now can't stop
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)A boner and or fat. Chubby Checkers should get over himself. Unless the song The Twist is played, kids today have NO idea who he is. I didn't even know if he was still alive. Yes I've heard of him, I'm 52.
Bake
(21,977 posts)I think he has a legitimate case (see my comment above).
Bake
MADem
(135,425 posts)(only she pronounced it BONER) a "dick."
I almost fell off the couch!
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)famous name, the name he made worth money. That's the only reason that app uses that name.
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)That's why you register a trademark.
PB
NoGOPZone
(2,971 posts)I thought he was disappointed in the performance of the app, or perhaps the performance of something else. Kind of anti climatic to learn it's a copyright case.
0rganism
(23,957 posts)quite a "handy" gadget to have in the right circumstances.