Washington Post: Fox Loses Suit
Mocking, not copying
Media giant Fox News was slammed by U.S. District Judge Denny Chin for attempting to block the sale of satirist Al Franken's new book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." The Fox suit, which claimed the book's title violated the TV station's trademark of the phrase "Fair and Balanced," had set Internet media discussion groups aflame, as satirists and liberals expressed worry that the mere threat of lawsuit could lead to self-censorship.
"There are hard cases and there are easy cases. This is an easy case," said Chin. He dismissed the litigation, telling Fox that they misunderstood Franken's intent. He said Franken was not imitating Fox, but rather "clearly mocking Fox."
