Chuck Norris doesn't sue, he...no wait, he sues

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Link

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tough-guy actor and martial arts expert Chuck Norris sued publisher Penguin on Friday over a book he claims unfairly exploits his famous name, based on a satirical Internet list of "mythical facts" about him.

Penguin published "The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World's Greatest Human" in November. Author Ian Spector and two Web sites he runs to promote the book, including www.truthaboutchuck.com, are also named in the suit.

The book capitalizes on "mythical facts" that have been circulating on the Internet since 2005 that poke fun at Norris' tough-guy image and super-human abilities, the suit said.

It includes such humorous "facts" as "Chuck Norris's tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried" and "Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits," the suit said, as well as "Chuck Norris can charge a cell phone by rubbing it against his beard."

"Some of the 'facts' in the book are racist, lewd or portray Mr. Norris as engaged in illegal activities," the lawsuit alleges.

Norris, who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as the star of such films as "The Delta Force" and "Missing in Action," says the book's title would mislead readers into thinking the facts were true.

"Defendants have misappropriated and exploited Mr. Norris's name and likeness without authorization for their own commercial profit," said the lawsuit.

The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks unspecified monetary damages for trademark infringement, unjust enrichment and privacy rights.

Norris, whose real name is Carlos Ray Norris, claims in the suit he is protective of what his name is associated with. He has recently made U.S. headlines for backing Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

A spokesman for Penguin, owned by Britain's Pearson, was not immediately available for comment.

C'mon Chuck. Your resurgence in popularity is, in part, because of these 'facts'. Roll with it man.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
I'm with Chuck on this one. The "author" of this book is not only using Chuck's name without his permission or compensating him, he filled the book with jokes that were written by other people. I don't think the guy deserves to make any money off this book.
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
Originally posted by: Queasy
It includes such humorous "facts" as "Chuck Norris's tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried" and "Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits," the suit said, as well as "Chuck Norris can charge a cell phone by rubbing it against his beard."
LOL...
 

soonerproud

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2007
1,874
0
0
Originally posted by: Modeps
I agree with Chuck. Its definitely not the facts that are pissing him off, its the fact someone is making money off of them.

:thumbsup:

Priscilla Presley sued a number of people making millions off of Elvis's image and name at the time his estate was going broke. The courts ruled in the favor of Elvis's estate and made it clear that people do not have the right to make money off of someones name and image without permission or paying royalties.

Chuck deserves to get paid from the profits of that book.
 

SirStev0

Lifer
Nov 13, 2003
10,449
6
81
That guy should be put into stocks... How can you write a book which is just jacked jokes from the Bill Brasky bit on snl and a compilation of lame internet puns and such... wtf? Chuck should rip his soul out.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Sounds like it might be an interesting case... I wonder if the lawyers will use the defense that it's a parody of Chuck's persona in movies and on television shows. Parodies are allowed, IIRC.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Chuck Norris was in town last Saturday..didn't get to say hi, though.
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
4,868
1
0
Chuck Norris does'nt have to write books, he has other's do it for him and takes the money!
 

LikeLinus

Lifer
Jul 25, 2001
11,518
670
126
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Sounds like it might be an interesting case... I wonder if the lawyers will use the defense that it's a parody of Chuck's persona in movies and on television shows. Parodies are allowed, IIRC.

""The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World's Greatest Human""

The parody should use the name of the character from the Movie/TV show, NOT his real name. That'd be a pretty crappy defense.
 

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,442
27
91
Originally posted by: SirStev0
More importantly... his real name is carlos????

Not surprising. Lots of actors change their names to fit an image.

The man's man of all time, John Wayne, was in reality Marion Morrison. Not that I think anyone was badass enough to make fun of his name, tho! ;)