Google Handset Name Irritates Dick Estate
ADOTAS – Did you remember that the androids in Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” — which was made into the classic film “Blade Runner,” duh — were “Nexus-6″ models? I completely forgot about that, and here I was trying to pass myself off as an uber-nerd.
So Nexus One, Google’s new handset, is an homage to science fiction great Dick (and not “Star Trek Generations”), which I think is pretty awesome but the author’s daughter, Isa Dick Hackett, is not so amused.
As the executive for Electric Shepherd Production, the film adaption arm of the Dick estate (are there any Dick stories/books that haven’t been made into movies?), she’s threatening to sue Google for infringement of intellectual property rights.
Noting the correlation between the Android operating system and Nexus name, she told the Wall Street Journal: “It’s not lost on the people who are somewhat familiar with this novel.”
WSJ quotes some trademark attorneys who think the Dick estate’s case isn’t clear cut. Let me answer for you — there is no case. Instead of delighting in the hat tip to her dad, Hackett is making a mockery of his memory by trying to get a slice of Google pie, a la George Lucas getting a paycheck from Verizon for the name Droid (which was equally pathetic). It’s called an homage, it’s a tribute — you don’t have to make a frackin’ buck off it.
However, if Google paid off Dick’s estate so they would stop selling the rights to Dick short stories that get turned into crap films like “Paycheck” and “Next,” I would be very pleased.
Reader Comments.
As far as “Droid” is concerned.. The movie “Silent Running” should have gotten the money.
Huey, Dewy and Lewy were droids and were referred to as such in the film.
Jerks
Whoops.. Those were “Drones”.. not Droids.
Dumb that George Lucas won.. I hope that some day “Droids” will just be like “PC Computer”.
Instead.. we will have some mishmash like Syfy Channel.
Jerks
Leave a Comment
Article Sponsor
More News
-
Loading ...
Latest News
- Funding in Brief: $10M for Spongecell, $8M for Prolexic February 9th 2012 ADOTAS – Rich media ad company Spongecell has raised $10 million [...] more »
- Google AdMob Axes Minimum Bids, Targeting Fees February 9th 2012 ADOTAS - As of Feb. 15, Google will change its [...] more »
- Infographic: HootSuite Analyses Social Media Impact of Super Bowl Ads February 7th 2012 ADOTAS - So, it’s the Tuesday after the Super Bowl, [...] more »
- Facebook to Serve Mobile Ads in Coming Weeks February 6th 2012 ADOTAS – According to a Financial Times report, Facebook will [...] more »
- Survey: 39 Percent of Mobile Users Responded to Super Bowl Ads Via Mobile February 6th 2012 ADOTAS - During the Super Bowl yesterday, mobile ad network [...] more »
- Sponsormob Leads the Way Into RTB for Mobile February 3rd 2012 ADOTAS – For more than half a decade, Berlin-based tech [...] more »
- Weird Study: Mobile Purchasing While in the Bathroom on the Rise February 3rd 2012 DM CONFIDENTIAL - According to 11mark, three-quarters of Americans with mobile [...] more »
Features
- Attribution Online: Introducers and Influencers and Closers… Oh My! February 9th 2012
- With gTLDs, Global Branding Starts with a Name February 9th 2012
- Rethinking the Online Advertising Ecosystem, Part One: Independent Publishers February 8th 2012
- Case Study: Social Ad Effectiveness February 8th 2012
- Video: “Build an SEO Foundation” Excerpt February 8th 2012
Spotlight
Sponsormob Leads the Way Into RTB for MobileADOTAS – For more than half a decade, Berlin-based tech firm Sponsormob has remained relevant in an industry characterized by [...] more...
Reader Favorites
Classifieds
- PS Technical Writer - SEO Data Analyst
- Interactive Project Manager
- Media Buyer
- PHP Software Engineer (Facebook Platform/Social AP
- SEO/Marketing Internship at Green Education Startu
Recent Comments
- News about Google Adwords issue #412: [...] ads for AdWords to adCenter and align with industry standards, adCenter has chang
- VB: What exactly makes an ad "high quality"?
- Survey: 39 Percent of Mobile Users Responded to Super Bowl Ads Via Mobile - ADOTAS | Mobile2 | Scoop.it: [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; }
- Mobile Marketing News: [...] Survey: 39 Percent of Mobile Users Responded to Super Bowl Ads Via Mobile Meanwhile,
