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Chili Peppers to Showtime -- You Stole Our Name!

Posted Nov 19th 2007 7:23PM by TMZ Staff

The Red Hot Chili Peppers filed suit today against Showtime Networks over a new show called "Californication." In 1999, the band released a hit album with the same name. That album was named one of Rolling Stone's Top 500 Albums of All Time.

The suit, filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges Showtime and others violated federal trademark law. In the court documents, the band says the song "Californication" and the album achieved "extraordinary critical and commercial recognition," and according to a statement by lead singer Anthony Kiedis, "'Californication' is the signature CD, video and song of the band's career. For some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right."

Band members want the show to stop using the name and to turn over any profits it made.

A rep for Showtime could not immediately be reached for comment.

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31. I love the Chili Peppers! I just assumed Showtime had asked permission.

Sometimes I think lawsuits like this are stupid. Turn over ANY profits? So every bit of profit the show made should be turned over to the Chili Peppers because the title of the show is the same as one of their albums? That's asking a little much, I think.

Posted at 5:32AM on Nov 24th 2007 by Ashley

32. I agreed. It seems funny to sue after the series has ended. Why did they not file the law suit when they first heard of it months ago? To ask them to turn over the profits to them, why not some charitable organizations? This would make them look good instead of some greedy celebrities after money.

Posted at 12:06AM on Nov 20th 2007 by lcb

33. they stole this song from tom petty any way. They suck a horses ass

Posted at 12:24AM on Nov 20th 2007 by rhcp suck any way

34. is anthony kiedes on another drug binge and needs the extra cash?

Posted at 12:56AM on Nov 20th 2007 by phil

35. Well if the RHCP's really felt that they had such ownership to the word, they could have trademarked it. Just checked out US patent and trademark office website and the only one's to register the name was......Showtime.

Maybe this lawsuit was a ruse between the two to get more notice for the show and also for the cp's.

Posted at 8:13AM on Nov 20th 2007 by JD

36. This suit sounds pretty weak. Legally you can't copyright a title, so they're using a little creative lawyering and trying to approach this with other legal theories. However, no one has mentioned that even this title is hardly original with the RHCPs. A full 15 years earlier, the J. Geils Band did a song titled Californicatin' on their album You're Getting Even While I'm Getting Odd. If the Peppers can sue Showtime over this, the J. Geils Band ought to sue the Peppers

Posted at 12:18PM on Nov 26th 2007 by mrbill

37. I was modeling a fashion show a while back and a friend of mine introduced me to Anthony Keidis. The whole time we were chitchatting the guy kept looking down at my package. Even after I told him I had a girlfriend he still kept coming on to me, asking me for my number, and inviting me to where he was staying. I'm sure his people told him not to sue but he went after Showtime anyway. That's my impression of him.

Posted at 2:23AM on Nov 20th 2007 by JamesCarson

38. To #31 JamesCarson: Yeah, right.

Posted at 3:10AM on Nov 20th 2007 by Everyone

39. whatever chillis! It would be hard for them to prove anything in court. Movies with the same name come out all the time as well as do songs, that would be a first if they won a case like that. The show run for a whole season on Showtime, quite successfully and just now they are filing for infridgement? Good Luck with that, besides they are "has beens", so who cares! that song makes me sick when I hear it because It was played to death. Unless you put a trademark sign by this One word by filling papers in the Trademark Office, you can't call a trademark on that one single word just because you want to.

Posted at 2:56PM on Nov 20th 2007 by mrteo

40. He is a cuttie! I saw his profile on millionaire dating site WealthyRomance.com last week! Is he single now? Just curious!

Posted at 5:55AM on Nov 20th 2007 by cuteone

41. Who cares if the damn show is called californacation!!! They don't have a right to that anyways. It's not like they called the show red hot chili peppers. if that's the case then any sports teams like the indians,blackawks,seminoles or anything like that should pay money to those people. should the Miami Dolphins pay money to protect the dolphins or the atlanta hawks pay for the protection of hawks.!!! Come on get real!!! If rhcp can sue for that then I can sue someone who has my last name. It just doesn't make sense. If anything RHCP should pay the farmers who raises red hot chili peppers!!!!!

Posted at 6:24AM on Nov 20th 2007 by TTMike71

42. So if you use a word, no one else can use it? The Chilli Peppers did not make up the word, it was already in existance.

Posted at 6:47AM on Nov 20th 2007 by Tim

43. I love it when some one makes the statement, "they have enough money". Must not be a person with much ambition themselves.

Posted at 7:18AM on Nov 20th 2007 by MyKisa

44. To #8 - exactly.

To #14 - It doesn't matter who coined it. If they have the word trademarked, it's theirs. Remember Madonna trademarking her name?

See the story here:

http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/08/38341

Posted at 7:33AM on Nov 20th 2007 by MeTeeter

45. Uh, PS, when making an acronym out of the band's name, you don't use the 'T', people! lol

Posted at 7:43AM on Nov 20th 2007 by Bam Bam

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