In India, "puttar" means son and "Hari" is a popular name. So the new Indian children's comedy "Hari Puttar," about a 10-year old Indian boy who moves to England, is pretty innocent, isn't it?
Not so fast, says the WB. They've filed a lawsuit against the makers of the film -- wanting it banned for its similarity (at least in name) to "Harry Potter."
Of course, the name "Harry Potter" first turned up in the 1986 supernatural movie "Troll" -- but who's keeping track?
I think any confusion would be cleared up once the first Bollywood song and dance routine started.
ReplyDeleteBOO WB! We need us some Hari Puttar to fill in the gap that they left by pushing the next Potter film back to next summer. Give us Hari Puttar!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about Trademarks. There was no "Harry Potter" trademark in "Troll"
ReplyDeleteTrademark law means you've got to defend against every possibility, or you lose it. And it doesn't matter if the trademark has been recycyled from somewhere else. Just look at Alfred E. Neuman.
ReplyDeleteomigosh...what'll happen now to my movie about two brothers who Warn people? I was thinking about calling it the WARNER BROTHERS :P
ReplyDeleteAnd now I feel less bad about Watchmen not coming out. If anything this would get more Indians to read Harry Potter I'd think.
ReplyDelete