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Yea, I would think that would be fine.<br />
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Okay, think of it this way... "4 Hour .....” is his brand. Just like Kelloggs is a brand. Imagine if you came out with a product called Kelloggs Wheatie Fluffs.. even though you weren’t really Kelloggs.<br />
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But if you came out with a product with a tagline: “The Kelloggs of fruit cups” or “the Netflix of Skateboards” you should be fine.<br />
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I’d definite check with a lawyer though.
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Yeah that makes sense. <br />
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<blockquote data-attributes="member: 10703" data-quote="DennisDuty" data-source="post: 716626"
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<i>I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.<br />
I took a shitty Media Ethics & Law class in college which I half remember. This is my personal subjective observations based on common sense and a bad memory. I advise you to seek a lawyer.</i><br />
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Copyright doesn't apply here as it has to do with the content within that specific work. Spend some time looking into TRADEMARKS which is what will be used against you.<br />
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Trademarks have to do with the branding. Ferris put out 4-Hour Chef and 4-Hour Body. His brand IS the "4 Hour" brand.<br />
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You also can't put out a Rich Dad's Guide to Yoga because it's intentionally representing yourself as another brand. You can't even release a financial self-help book with those shades of gold and purple on the cover, because that too is a trademark issue.<br />
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Tim Ferris most certainly can (and will) make the case that you are intentionally using his brand's image to sell products by misleading customers.<br />
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The issue might not even be that you're making money. The issue is that you're hurting his brand. If a customer picks up your product, and the customer is negatively affected by it, they will think that it's Tim Ferris' brand. You actively hurt his brand message. I'm relatively sure any judge will agree.<br />
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The waters are a bit wooshy-washy.<br />
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Trademarks really only apply within the same industry. If you're releasing a yoga mat called the "4-hour yoga mat" you're basically in the clear. There's no brand confusion. If there's a defect int he yoga mat, Tim Ferris doesn't get hurt.<br />
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If it's a book, ebook, dvd, course, productivity tool, or self improvement product... you're in trouble.<br />
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I think significantly changing the title to "5 hour housecleaning week" is far more safe. But at that point... without the brand confusion... it looks extra hacky (which is a sign it was a bad idea to start with).<br />
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Just come up with something original.<br />
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<b>edit:</b> Keep direct product comparisons out of your titles. It's a REALLY REALLY bad practice and opens you up to liability.<br />
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Instead, use product comparisons in your marketing.<br />
"My product is basically 4-hour workweek... but specifically for housecleaning".<br />
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There's no way to claim intentional brand confusion there.
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Thanks a lot for the write up man! Looks like I can get away with a slogan then? <br />
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<blockquote data-attributes="member: 44336" data-quote="Thoelt53" data-source="post: 716632"
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Tim Ferris could still sue you and drag you through the mud before you’ve made your first $1,000. There is nothing stopping him from suing you. He has bigger pockets, and even if he loses the suit (which he probably wouldn’t), he will still come out on top as you’re buried six feet under in legal fees and lawyers.<br />
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Ask a lawyer.<br />
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The Beatles sued Apple Computer for trademark infringement of their record company, Apple Records, and won, initially. And they were in completely unrelated markets at the time.
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Okay I understand, but <b>slogan wise </b>there's tons of companies that say they're the (Insert Brand) of (Insert Niche). Netflix of Foreign Movies, Wordpress of Apps, etc. Wouldn't they get sued by corporations bigger then Ferris?</div>
