MovieChat Forums > Mystic Pizza (1988) Discussion > copyrighted name?

copyrighted name?

posted 20 years ago by bootlegcopy
11 replies | jump to latest

Hello, I've written a script (horror comedy) and I've decided to name it Mystick Pizza. It has nothing to do with the pizza restaurant of the same name (different spelling) and is kind of a parody of. Filming is set to begin this summer. I was wondering if it were a different spelling and really has nothing to do with the pizza place or this movie (it's about a midget who delivers a pizza that turns a group of friends into killer zombies) if I could be sued for copyright infringment. I doubt it will ever garner any real attention, I'm only shopping it to smaller film festivals and smaller local screenings. Any help would be awesome. Thanks.

[–] thomas729 20 years ago

In a word, yes you could get sued because the names are close enough to create confusion. If on the other hand you'd name it something like "Midget Zombies and the Mystery of the Mystic Pizza" or something, then you'd be free to use it.

[–] qubanitalinda606 20 years ago

I have to disagree with Thomas on this..if u look up names of certain movies there are a lot of movies that have the same or almost the same name but are totally differnt and they have both been released. Maybe by adding "The" you can toss it up a bit more but I doubt you'll have a problem.

[–] bigworm72_99 20 years ago

Pizza Mystiq or Mystique Pizza

[–] gplechuckIII 20 years ago

From my understanding (which is quite limited so I probably shouldn't be talking) as long as it's very obvious that this movie is a parody then you should be ok. Parody is now considered an Art form and as long as you make it distinguishing enough so that someone paying attention wouldn't confuse the two, your fine.

[–] gabefan 20 years ago

I think it shouldn't be a problem. The movie isn't such a big box office hit that they would care in my opinion. It's funny because I was just watching some show on television and there was a film called Cast Away Girls or something and the studio that did the movie Cast Away (with Tom Hanks) was suing. So the guy had to name it something else (still with cast away in the title though, kinda like the suggestion someone posted above).

"When I dream at night, I dream of you...dreaming of me...dreaming of you"

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[–] jimhocsea 19 years ago

If my memory serves correctly, you can't copyright a movie title. Don't know why or how it happened 'and it may have changed in this "right's management" enviroment we currently have' but that is why so many movies can have the exact same title and no one gets upset about it.
I could be wrong but look it up. I found this with a quick google search

Question: Is it clearly illegal for a studio to use a title from a copyrighted screenplay for its own work? I copyrighted "Ruby Ridge: An "American Tragedy" as the title of my screenplay many months before CBS decided to produce their miniseries, which is not based on my screenplay. Nobody from CBS ever contacted me, and I have not been compensated.

Answer: Titles are not copyrightable. They can sometimes be protected under trademark laws and laws of unfair competition. In order for a title to be protected, it has to be associated with a series of work and distinguish them from other sources of manufacture than yourself. Another way to protect a title is to register the title with the MPAA, the Motion Picture Association of America, and the Title Registration Bureau, which is binding by virtue of a contract that all the participants and the signatory service sign.

[–] pamelajoon2 17 years ago

I was about to say "that's pretty funny that you came up with that, since the town used to be spelled Mystick, but I looked it up and it was Mistick."

[–] gsxrrules 13 years ago

Hilarious how someone who goes by the username "bootleg copy" is concerned about, and posting a question about copyright infringement.