Possible Illegal Use of the Blu Ray DVD, or Blu HD DVD name???

I didn't think the Official DVD forum had licensed the DVD name to $ony Blu Ray, but I see quite a few news stories touting the Blu Ray DVD format, Blu Ray HD DVD, or simply Blu DVD.

What legal ramifications might be presented against $ony for using Blu Ray and DVD in the same title???

$ony broke ranks with the DVD mainstream with their opposing Blu Ray format, and if they plan to move in and start calling it Blu DVD, or Blu HD DVD, this is blatant Copyright and Trademark Infringement.

Blu Ray may have won, but Blu Ray is nothing closer to the DVD standard other than their use of a similar 12cm Optical Disc.

Blu Ray may have won, but if they dare to use the DVD or HD DVD names without license, they should be sued and fined accordingly.

Leave it to $ony to create more public confusion over HDM formats, if they try to pass themselves off as Blu DVD or Blu Ray HD DVD, they will likely find themselves embroiled in a nasty legal battle, leaving the public to still question what HDM format is the standard, and what was supposedly defeated.

More $ony FUD to delay the clarity of a mainstream HDM format...

Why don't the Blu HD DVD's play on my HD DVD player????

They might build themselves a customer service nightmare beyond what was ever imaginable...

Why the hell would they want to call it Blu-ray DVD or Blu-ray HD DVD. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Blu-ray as a name has been trademarked for years and is printed on everything related to the technology, it's also been advertised for years as such, and there is absolutely no reason for the BDA to change the name even with HD DVD's impending exit from the market. This sounds like more BS created by you.

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[Post edited by gvortex7 on Feb 18, 2008]

Links to stories saying Sony is calling the format Blu DVD or something along those lines?

Because if a reporter has it wrong and is using Blu DVD (or some such amalgamation), Sony has nothing to do with it. Thereby rendering the entire conversation moot.

Jason

It's most likely just some reporter who knows nothing about the format war, just calling it a Blu-Ray DVD.

Big deal. For years they called circular saws "skill saws" no matter who made it (Skill is a brand name) or refrigerators "frigadairs" (another brand name). Brand and trademark confusion is nothing new. Add to that some purposely deceptive advertising in today's market...an ad I saw last night "...now available on DVD and Blu Ray high def..." showing BOTH the HD DVD and BD packaging, with the BD package in front natch. You can read that two different way, either they are both hd or only the BD is. Either one is a DVD or they both are or one isn't. Duh!! Take your pick. They are confusing the public on purpose. They don't care what you call their product, as long as you buy it.

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It's most likely just some reporter who knows nothing about the format war, just calling it a Blu-Ray DVD.

DING

We have a winner...

But with all of the false press release crap and phony rumors someone is putting these terms into reporters mouths, and it is being echoed and printed.

It only adds to the confusion of the consumer HDM market, and I am sure that $ony would love to have the public confused on thinking Blu Ray DVD and/or Blu Ray HD DVD.

A general public perception of Blu being DVD, of Blu being the HD version of DVD, you have to wonder who is putting this misleading press out there to be reported, maybe more of that Project Hydra crap that supposedly doesn't exist either..

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But with all of the false press release crap and phony rumors someone is putting these terms into reporters mouths, and it is being echoed and printed.

What phony press releases? We have one from Netflix and Wal Mart and Best Buy. We had official information from Warner and had some from Paramount, too. Again, what evidence are you bringing to the table? Without it, you're one of those people spreading "phony rumors."

Jason

Even if Sony was actively trying to upsurp DVD's trademark (which I doubt) proving trademark infringement is pretty difficult. You have to prove WILLFUL intent to damage someone's trademark. Now if we saw official Blu-Ray commercials saying "Blu-Ray DVD" that would be one thing but some reporter just saying it in an article doesn't mean anything.

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Now if we saw official Blu-Ray commercials saying "Blu-Ray DVD" that would be one thing but some reporter just saying it in an article doesn't mean anything

Next time you see a commercial for an upcoming movie release on home video, listen to how they word it. They say: "own it Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray hi-def". That's what they say. Not one commercial has ever said Blu-ray DVD.

lol, I never said there any commercials that say that. I was just speaking in a hypothetical. It would have to be something like that in order to qualify as copyright infringement.

It depends where you put the emphasis. This inerpretation implies that only the BD is hd.

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They say: "own it Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray hi-def". That's what they say. Not one commercial has ever said Blu-ray DVD.

This implies something entirely different...

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They say: "own it Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray hi-def". That's what they say. Not one commercial has ever said Blu-ray DVD.

In this case the implication is that they are both hd and note that both the HD DVD and BD pictured in the ad.

In both cases, there is no tacit implication that BD is actually a DVD but the uninformed might very well draw that conclusion. The wording is very muddy. We know better, but the general public does not. It's a very clever tactic designed to draw the consumer to BD when he purchases the film. It's certainly not illegal, but it is deceptive.

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[Post edited by StevePro on Feb 18, 2008]

I agree. To avoid any possibility of confusion they should say:

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own it Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray beyond high definition

Keep tryin' guys! You can reach further than this!

You know guys there is fine print in commercials. If you look at the bottom it says "must have Blu-Ray capable player".

edit: you know what I think is deceptive? Beer commercials, I have drunk many a beer in my time and never have hot girls in bikinis been hanging out at my house.

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[Post edited by Movielover316 on Feb 18, 2008]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/ap_on_hi_te/toshiba_dvd

Front page on Yahoo news:

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Sony's Blu-ray DVD format could prevail

I am sure the DVD association won't be too happy with Sony Blu Ray Disc being referred to as a "Blu Ray DVD".

Sony needs to put some spin on this and make sure people understand that Blu Ray Disc is Blu Ray Disc, and DVD is DVD.

If they choose to adopt the title they need to pay DVD royalties as well as license the new "Blu Ray DVD" name.

DVD is a Trademarked Standard, if a Blu Ray disc does not play in a DVD player, they can't call it a DVD.

I have seen other news stories mentioning "Blu Ray HD DVD" as well.

Toshiba should be seriously considering their strategy on that one as well, first $ony makes it clear that Blu Ray is different than HD DVD, then Blu Ray is now the new "Blu Ray HD DVD"...



Sony can't use those names to refer to Blu Ray Disc without license, and any media outlets need to print retractions to their published stories.

If the media is being fed false information, someone needs to tell them to stop, if Sony tries to hijack existing names in reference to Blu Ray Disc, the lawyers will have a field day with this.

They can't create a new product, with a new name like Blu Ray Disc, then start changing the name back to something like DVD, something the consumer is more familiar with or more comfortable buying, unless they officially license a new name, and make the distinction clear.

Sony broke away from the DVD association, and insisted on going forward with an entirely different format with Blu Ray Disc, I seriously doubt that the DVD and HD DVD association or promotions group will let them ride to victory on the coattails of something that it isn't associated with.

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I am sure the DVD association won't be too happy with Sony Blu Ray Disc being referred to as a "Blu Ray DVD".

Sony can't be held liable for what Yahoo news reports. Even if it went to court (highly unlikely) Yahoo would just say it was a typo and just be asked to take it down. Even if there were damages paid (again unlikely) Yahoo would be the one paying for them not Sony.

Naa, it's just a bunch of video files to me...

Dude, let's stop this. As MovieLover said, this is all on the AP (original source of the article), not Sony. Moreover, the line you quote comes from the headline...again from the AP. At no time did anyone associated with Sony say Blu Ray DVD. Period. There is no suit, potential suit or likely suit here against Sony. And is the DVD Forum REALLY going to go after the AP and/or Yahoo?

Jason

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own it Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray beyond high definition

Keep tryin' guys! You can reach further than this!

I think "beyond high definition" is a trademark for BD. This was refering to an ad for a movie, not a disk format. It also implies that Blu-Ray is something better than hd. It would just lead to more confusion. You too can do better then this Sky.

To$hiba, Univer$al, Warner Brother$, Micro$oft, Be$t Buy, $amsung, Di$ney, Wein$tein, Paramount/Dreamwork$, Lion$gate, HD-DVD Con$ortium...

Gee, that is fun!

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I think "beyond high definition" is a trademark for BD. This was refering to an ad for a movie, not a disk format. It also implies that Blu-Ray is something better than hd. It would just lead to more confusion. You too can do better then this Sky.

Umm... it was meant to be satirical to illustrate just how stupid this entire thread is.

I realize that. And I do agree with you, there have been a LOT of stupid threads on this forum lately.

The ironic thing is that Blu-ray is actually a kind of Digital Versatile Disc. It is in fact a lot more versatile than the original DVD ever was, but that's beside the point.

They already call it Blue ray HD DVD for those who didn't know.