Batman vs. Batman

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Variety has reported that a town in Turkey called Batman is suing Warner Bros. and film director Christopher Nolan for what they deem improper use of their town’s name. According to Variety, Mayor Huseyin Kalkan blames the film for an increase in crime and suicide among depressed citizens who are distressed to see their city’s name usurped. Kalkan stated, “There is only one Batman in the world. The American producers used the name of our city without informing us.”

I wonder how he’ll react when he learns his surname was appropriated by pet food manufacturers.

PAD

16 comments on “Batman vs. Batman”

  1. Wait, they’ve only figured out NOW that there’s a character named Batman?

    The Ottoman Empire fell a hundred years ago, so they’ve had plenty of time to catch up to the rest of the civilized world. 😛

  2. I sent this news item out to friends a little while back via email.One of them (The trivial… er… Master of Trivia Micha I believe.) sent back a fun little tidbit that kicks their “we had the name first” claim in the butt.

    Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

    Main Entry: bat-man

    Pronunciation:

    \ˈbat-mən\

    Function:

    noun

    Etymology:

    French bât packsaddle

    Date: 1755

    : an orderly of a British military officer

    In your face, Mayor Kalkan!

  3. Oh, it’s hardly the only Batman. Melbourne, Australia has Batman Park, named after the founder of the city, John Batman (and Melbourne was almost called Batmania in his honor). Details at http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=1587
    (and may I say the kids who go to “Batman Park Kindergarten” must really get to rule it over their peers).

    There’s also Bat Cave, NC near where I grew up. I recall they did some tie-ins back in the 60s when the Adam West show was on. The Wikipedia article for it has a shot of the Bat Cave exit sign off one of the area’s major highways.

  4. Honestly, I doubt that he expects to win. He is probably doing this to bring his town’s name into the public consciousness. And if that is the reason, then he has succeeded.

  5. Do they have no idea of how this sort of thing is supposed to work? You CAPITALIZE on the name! Sell all kinds of Batman-themed stuff! Attract tourism! Build up the economy of your town! Hëll, there’s a city in Japan called Obama that just did that very thing.

    All they’re doing is creating a case that will be laughed out of court. I can’t figure out why they named Christopher Nolan. He doesn’t have any legal rights to the name “Batman.”

    Oh well. I suppose it’s nobody’s business but the Turks.

  8. I don’t think Truth or Consequences, NM has much of a case, given that they renamed the town due to the show soliciting for a town that would rename itself after the show.

  12. This whole story sounds like the script of an academy award nominated foreign movie with a role for a Hollywood actor or actress.

    Oh God… Why didn’t I see it before?

    It may even be worse than that, Micha. We may all have been conned into blogging about the latest Sasha Baron Cohen crapfest.

  13. Me, I’m hoping it wins one of the screenplay awards (either adapted or original, since both movies were based to some degree or another on books by Miller or Loeb), since the thing that stood out to me the most was what a great story it was, or an acting award for Ledger.

  14. So will they also sue the Northern Virginia developer the Batman Corporation?

    (Really. It was founded by a man named Bahman Batmanghelidj. Now you want business cards for the Batman Corporation. Yes you do.)

  15. Posted by Luigi Novi at November 13, 2008 08:22 PM

    Me, I’m hoping it wins one of the screenplay awards (either adapted or original, since both movies were based to some degree or another on books by Miller or Loeb), since the thing that stood out to me the most was what a great story it was, or an acting award for Ledger.

    The only thing funnier than Ledger winning an acting award would be seeing his Zombie-Úš accepting the award.

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