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Lawsuits

This is so stupid! I won’t use my Slip ‘N Slide until Wham-O admits just how stupid this is.

Toymaker Sues Paramount Over ‘Dickie Roberts’
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Wham-O Inc.’s famous outdoor water toy, Slip ‘N Slide, figures prominently in Paramount Pictures’ newly released film comedy starring David Spade, but the toy maker is not amused.
Wham-O filed suit against the Viacom Inc.-owned studio in federal court on Monday, claiming its trademarked yellow water slide was used in the movie, “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” without the company’s permission.
The suit also names as a defendant the Happy Madison production company owned by Spade’s former “Saturday Night Live” co-star Adam Sandler.
“Dickie Roberts,” which opened as the No. 1 film at the U.S. box office over the weekend, stars David Spade as a former child actor-turned-parking valet who tries to rekindle his career by reliving his youth. He goes so far as to pay a suburban family to take him and teach him the ropes of being a “normal kid.”
In one key scene that appears in Paramount’s trailers for the PG-13 film, Spade’s character launches himself belly first across a dry Slip ‘N Slide — not realizing it’s supposed to be wet first — then rolls over with red welts on his chest, crying “Oooooh, it stings.” In another scene, Spade lubricates the toy with vegetable oil, then slides into a fence.
“Wham-O is concerned about the depicted misuse of its product in the film and its advertising, particularly the potential for injury to children and even adults who, after viewing the scene, might use the product in the same reckless manner,” said Peter Sgromo, marketing director of Wham-O’s toy division.
He said the movie “violates all safety guidelines that are clearly marked on the product and the packaging.” Those guidelines limit the slide’s use to children aged 5 to 12, weighing less than 110 pounds and under 5 feet tall. In addition, the product must be inflated, wet and connected to a hose before being used.
The suit goes on to say that advertising for the film may leave the public with the false impression that Wham-O in some way authorized or sponsored the Slip ‘N Slide scenes.
Paramount’s vice chairman and chief operating officer defended the film in a brief statement, dismissing Wham-O’s claims as “entirely without legal merit.”
The trademark infringement suit seeks a court order requiring Paramount to remove the Slip ‘N Slide scenes from the film and its trailers. Barring that, Wham-O, whose brands also include the Frisbee and Hula Hoop, wants the film to carry a “don’t-try-this-at-home” disclaimer.