Universal and Amblin Entertainment may be facing a brontosaurus-sized lawsuit for trademark infringement, breach of contract and unfair competition. It seems the makers of ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ struck a deal with the endangered species charity The Dinosaur Project to use their trademarked slogan “Save the Dinos” in this summer’s blockbuster. Universal and Amblin paid $50,000 to be able to use the phrase in the movie and in its marketing. As part of the deal, the phrase could not be used to promote any other similar charitable causes or on merchandising unless it distinctly bore the ‘Jurassic Park’ or ‘Jurassic World’ branding. Frederick Zaccheo of The Dinosaur Project attests that the studios did the latter, slapping “Save the Dinos” on various clothing items without any discernible ‘Jurassic’ logo.
That means that Universal and Amblin are marketing clothing items similar to that which is sold on the site savethedinos.org. However, while the money from sales of the charity’s merchandising goes to help endangered species, that licensed by the film studios goes… well in their pockets. But it’s not just that the studio is profiting from the use of the slogan, but that a consumer might buy one of the licensed ‘Jurassic’ items instead of items from savethedinos.org. In a sense, the studio is taking money away from this charity. As a result, Zaccheo is filing a $10 million lawsuit against the studios
In ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) organizes her own charity, the Dinosaur Protection Group. Their cause is literally to save the dinosaurs, the real dinos living on Isla Nublar, who are threatened when the volcano Mt. Sibo threatens to erupt.
To be honest, considering the pro-ecology, pro-endangered animals theme of the movie, it’s surprising that the studios didn’t strike a deal to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of any merchandising bearing their “Save the Dinos” logo to The Dinosaur Project. It’s not as though Universal and Amblin are hurting for revenue from the ‘Jurassic’ franchise.
Hopefully, this matter can be settled before it gets too messy. $10 million is a bit steep, but maybe if Universal and Amblin make a sizable donation to the charity, the suit will be dropped.
Source: Cinema Blend
