SmallMediumLarge
Holy Turkish Litigation, Batman! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lex Walker   
Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.usNevermind the Penguin, it seems Turkey is Batman's newest foe. While Batman's role in law enforcement has always been questionable, in Turkey The Dark Knight's officially been identified as a lawbreaker. Not for anything that may have happened in the film - well, sorta - but because our hero's name is Batman.

Huh?

Batman, Turkey is suing Warner Brothers and Christopher Nolan for their portrayal of "their city" in a major blockbuster film. Y'know, we all laughed when Kazakhstan tried to sue Mr. Cohen for his piece as Borat, their supposed ambassador to the USA - but this is just ridiculous. Huseyin Kalkan, the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party mayor of Batman (the city - not the hero), apparently believes that films need the permission of city's to use their name in films. Nevermind the fact that they're in no way using the city's name but the name of a fictional character, oh no, that's not important. And nevermind, also, that the somewhat well-known comic book has existed for decades without any hint of the city's wrath.

Besides suing WB and Christopher Nolan for confusing the world about who the true Batman is, their going all Judge Judy and claiming a rather ridiculous set of related litigation. Did you know that, supposedly, since the release of The Dark Knight there have been a few unsolved murders and suicides by different women thanks to "the effect of the film on the city's inhabitants"?

Sweet Jesus Preachin' Bumper Sticker Batman!

Not only that, but there has apparently been a difficulty for Batman based business in getting international licenses for their businesses abroad. Ok, that's understandable. If I saw Batman, Oregon on an applicant's form I'd laugh them out of the office as well. Nevermind Batman, Turkey...that's just funny all over. Ha. Ha. Ha?

So now the pressure is on the Mayor of Gotha- err...Batman to produce conclusive evidence that their city predates the Batman legacy. Ok, that probably won't be difficult but at the same time, and I can't stress this enough: IT DOESN'T MATTER. Even with proof of the city's existence before the Bat, let us look at the long list of titles featuring city names:

Tombstone

Chicago

Paris

London

Hong Kong

That's just off the top of my head. Guess what: you can't sue a movie for using the name of your city (especially when the context proves you to be a raving, attention seeking lunatic).

Bid for tourism, much?

Set as favorite
Email This
Share This
Trackback(0)
Comments (6)add comment

November 11, 2008, What Foolishness said:

0
 Nice. The mayor is only suing Nolan and WB because it made a ton of money on the last 2 movies. What about DC Comics or tim Burton?

The Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics book #27 in 1939 and gained his own comic book in 1940. This city was founded in 1955. I think DC Comics should sue this town for using it's character's name without permission.
 

Votes: -1

November 11, 2008, Tyler Barlass said:

68
 Why would someone call their town "Batman" anyway?
 

Votes: +0

November 11, 2008, Arya Ponto said:

77
Why would someone call their town "Batman" anyway?


Because it's awesome?
 

Votes: +2

November 11, 2008, Matt Medlock said:

167
Why would someone call their town "Batman" anyway?


Probably because they thought that naming their town "Robin" might come off a little gay.
 

Votes: +2

November 11, 2008, armando ( living in turkey said:

0
 they started to name their city ( its near here where i live ) BATMAN
since 1400 years ago !!!!

smilies/wink.gif
 

Votes: +0

November 11, 2008, Lex Walker said:

72
 Hmm and while that's fair, in ALL fairness the name of the city is abbreviated from "Batı Raman Mountains". So to attempt a legal argument that the hero Batman is infringing on the rights of a city named Batman will never fly. Now, if there was no proof that Batman as a hero took his name from the animal and was just randomly titled, then the city could file for something.

Right now they're just desperate.
 

Votes: +0

Write comment

busy
< Older Article   Newer Article >