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Movie title stuff that I found within 5 minutes of searching....

Posted by: RazorHawk on Jul 02, 17:58 in response to Antibody's post It's a 1916 short. WB is holding a grudge against TWC....

Movie titles are not copyrightable. Legally, you can name your movie whatever you want.

In cases of sequels who have a common name element ('The Twilight Saga:' 'Harry Potter And The ...') the common name element can be trademarked since it identifies more than one unit belonging to the whole.

Movie studios that belong to the MPAA or use its movie rating service to appoint ratings to their movies have to follow the rules that MPAA establishes.

As filmmakers prepare to make their movie, they typically take action to secure the unique nature of the title of their film. Enter the Title Registration Bureau. The Bureau is a voluntary central registration entity for titles of movies intended for U.S. theatrical distribution, and it is intended to prevent public confusion over films with similar titles.

In order to register titles, filmmakers must subscribe to the Bureau's registry. There are currently almost 400 subscribers, including all of the major motion picture studios. Subscribers are bound by the Bureau's rules, which prescribe procedures for registering titles and handling any related disputes.

It’s impossible to talk about title clearance without mentioning the way Hollywood decides motion picture title disputes. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) set up its own Title Registration Bureau in 1925 in response to filmmakers' wishes to protect their titles. By agreement each member (mostly the major Hollywood studios and their subsidiaries) is required to register forthcoming titles with the bureau. Independent distributors can opt in for a small fee. If the title is registered, the other members agree not to use a confusingly similar title. A compulsory arbitration system applies where there is a dispute and, over the years, there have been many.

V: Warner Bros wins... The Butler [BUTLR] must choose a new title (according to MPAA) RazorHawk Jul 02, 17:05

With only one month out, will TWC delay the film? Can they get away with a variation such as "White House Butler"? {nm} Antibody Jul 02, 17:10

I dont think they will delay... Weinstein wants BUTLR to be another 'The Help' {nm} RazorHawk Jul 02, 17:13

Then they should call The Help 2! {nm} Oleg Max Jul 02, 17:16

No, you won't. {nm} Disney-DreamWorks Jul 02, 17:17

Its almost like a copyright, Warners released a project with that title and nobody else can use it without their permission (per MPAA rules) {nm} RazorHawk Jul 02, 17:17

It's a 1916 short. WB is holding a grudge against TWC. There's been multiple instances of films using the same title, like Heat. {nm} Antibody Jul 02, 17:20

They either get permission (or in most cases) the owning studio doesnt care to pursue the matter (they don't care) {nm} RazorHawk Jul 02, 17:27

Movie title stuff that I found within 5 minutes of searching.... RazorHawk Jul 02, 17:58

The First Butler perhaps? Or just First Butler. {nm} KalElFan Jul 02, 17:18

The West Wing Butler? 8 Presidents? The Executive Butler? The President's Butler? {nm} RazorHawk Jul 02, 17:20

Lee Daniel's The Butler Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire {nm} Antibody Jul 02, 17:25