Please Don’t Call It a G-Rated Dispute:
The Motion Picture Association of America’s ratings code — G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 — is so familiar that the initials are used in everyday conversation about subjects that have nothing to do with movies. But that doesn’t mean that the association wants just anybody to use them. Recently the association sent e-mail messages and letters to people who write online fan fiction, demanding that they stop tagging stories with the ratings.
Fan fiction, which uses characters from popular TV shows, movies and novels in original stories, has used movie ratings for years as a way to help adults find stories with mature content and to steer children away from it. Too many children looking for Harry Potter stories were stumbling onto new and unexpected uses for wands.
“We have a right to go after people who use our trademarks without permission, big or small, whenever we find out about them,” said John Feehery, executive vice president for the association. “Our ratings are not supposed to be ripped off.”
How many days until someone puts t-shirts for sale over at CafePress with the various ratings on paraphernalia? More on IP.
