Port Authority Claims Ownership of NY Skyline

Ketzel · Aug 1, 2014

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has issued a cease and desist letter to a housewares company for using the NYC skyline as a pattern on a line of china.

I cannot imagine how the lawyers involved reached the conclusion that the skyline was intellectual property owned by the Authority. But I wait eagerly for the actual lawsuit where they will have to spell it out.

regdog · Aug 1, 2014

That is a rather stupid assertion. They may own a building or two but the skyline is more than that.

Ketzel · Aug 1, 2014

Ah, the plot thickens. Apparently in 1998, the owners of the Chrysler Building also sued this company for using an image of the building.
Looks like that was one of a number of attempts to establish a trademark in a building façade, but it doesn't appear as if it was terribly successful. And I can't imagine how one trademarks an entire skyline.

What have these people got against china patterns??

backslashbaby · Aug 2, 2014

"What have these people got against china patterns?" :ROFL:

That is a crazy story. You'd think you couldn't trademark what is, essentially, the horizon.

My city has a newish tall building that locals refer to as 'the penis building' that mars our skyline, so I don't think we'll ever make it to any china patterns ourselves

Ours started out with the actual model for the Empire State Building (including the holiday lights, but we didn't do Eid like NYC, darnit), so it was pretty cool before.

Port Authority Claims Ownership of NY Skyline

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

regdog

The Scavengers

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

backslashbaby

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Port Authority Claims Ownership of NY Skyline

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

regdog

The Scavengers

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

backslashbaby

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