Posted on 01/04/2005 6:09:39 AM PST by Ellesu
Federal prosecutors want to burn or bury 62,496 copies of a board game called "Ghettopoly" because they say the parody of Monopoly, which has raised accusations of racism, infringes upon the "Monopoly" trademark.
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Tacoma opened two cargo containers from China early last year and found the games, which feature "playas" who, instead of putting hotels on Park Place, construct crack houses on Cheap Trick Avenue. The customs agency now has the games under lock and key.
The game's creator, David Chang, says the game is a parody, drawing on stereotypes to bring friends together "to provoke laughter."
But the owner of Monopoly, Hasbro Inc., is not amused.
Shortly after Chang began peddling his game on the Internet in 2003, he generated a lot of media attention and the orders started flowing in from "mom and pop stores who wanted to sell it," said Chang in a telephone interview. That's when he ordered the games from the manufacturer in China.
Hasbro hauled him into federal court in Rhode Island, where the company asked a judge to stop Chang. "While the genuine Monopoly game has become a wholesome and respected American icon ... the Ghettopoly knockoff has generated a firestorm of controversy for its highly offensive, racist comment," the suit contends.
Game pieces include a depiction of a black man wielding a machine gun and clutching a bottle of malt liquor.
Chang, 29, an Asian American, said he's not trying to offend anyone. He noted that the game has fun with stereotypes surrounding a variety of ethnic groups, including Asians, represented on the board by "Ling Ling's Massage Parlor."
"It is absolutely a parody," Chang said. "The last time I checked, that is still legal in this country."
Parody or not, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle is pursuing a complaint that seeks forfeiture of the games to the government for eventual destruction. The suit contends that the games are "imported merchandise bearing a counterfeit mark" without Hasbro's consent.
Chang, who says he can't afford an attorney, is representing himself in the case.
I guess the federal prosecutors have nothing to do since they put Martha Stewart away.
I'm glad they jumped all over this. It makes our borders so much more secure.
I wonder what one gets when one passes "GO".
If it were a parody of white, Christian, Conservatives, that would be legal, applauded, and the ACLU would probably link your game to their website.
Not to worry, David, I've got you covered:
Ping.
Sounds like an open and shut case of copyright infringement. Plenty of Monopoly parodies, but they got permission from Parker Brothers, these guys didn't.
Hmm... They're still taking credit card orders. Wonder if they're delivering any games. Pity da fool...
I guess the federal prosecutors have nothing to do since they put Martha Stewart away.
Bongs are different than a parody.
Got two copies of it before the court order was handed down. How much are they going for on eBay?
However, if the courts uphold what they ruled in the case between 2 Live crew and Roy Accuf Music, then it's not that simple - it means that you can parody anything, and it falls under fair use - and you don't even need to ask permission...
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