'Austin Powers 3' trailer pulled over dispute
By JAM! Movies
Austin Powers may have his "Goldmember" cut off.
Variety reports New Line Cinema has taken down its online promos for "Austin Powers: Goldmember" after the Motion Picture Association Of America deemed the film's title "inadmissable."
The decision was taken after MGM and United Artists objected to the title's parody of the James Bond film "Goldfinger." New Line plans to appeal the decision, Variety said.
It's a curious decision, because the second Austin Powers film, "The Spy Who Shagged Me," was similarly a parody of the Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me," and New Line was allowed to use the title, despite protestations from keepers of the Bond franchise.
New Line officials told Variety the rejection of the film's title was in fact a "procedural infraction" between the studio and the MPAA, and added "We find it unproductive and will not tolerate any deliberate attempts to manipulate the facts in the press to further aggravate this matter."
MGM officials told Variety that the studio and producers Danjaq have a "zero tolerance" policy towards use of the Bond franchise. But the right to parody has previously been viewed as "fair use" by the U.S. Supreme Court.
New Line could fight the case on fair-use grounds, but it would halt any attempt to market the film under that title while the matter is before the courts.
That might mean the film would require a new title. "Goldmember" is the name of one of four characters that star Mike Myers plays in the film, Variety said
By JAM! Movies
Austin Powers may have his "Goldmember" cut off.
Variety reports New Line Cinema has taken down its online promos for "Austin Powers: Goldmember" after the Motion Picture Association Of America deemed the film's title "inadmissable."
The decision was taken after MGM and United Artists objected to the title's parody of the James Bond film "Goldfinger." New Line plans to appeal the decision, Variety said.
It's a curious decision, because the second Austin Powers film, "The Spy Who Shagged Me," was similarly a parody of the Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me," and New Line was allowed to use the title, despite protestations from keepers of the Bond franchise.
New Line officials told Variety the rejection of the film's title was in fact a "procedural infraction" between the studio and the MPAA, and added "We find it unproductive and will not tolerate any deliberate attempts to manipulate the facts in the press to further aggravate this matter."
MGM officials told Variety that the studio and producers Danjaq have a "zero tolerance" policy towards use of the Bond franchise. But the right to parody has previously been viewed as "fair use" by the U.S. Supreme Court.
New Line could fight the case on fair-use grounds, but it would halt any attempt to market the film under that title while the matter is before the courts.
That might mean the film would require a new title. "Goldmember" is the name of one of four characters that star Mike Myers plays in the film, Variety said

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