UFC parent company files lawsuit against Elite XC

by MMAmania.com on Mar 28, 2007 11:52 AM EDT in UFC News

elite xc sued by zuffa
Fresh off its purchase of PRIDE FC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) — Zuffa Entertainment — is still looking to tighten its stranglehold of the mixed martial arts industry.

According to report on KeepersOfTheCage.com, the Brothers Fertitta and their legal militia filed a lawsuit earlier this month in the United States District Court of Nevada against cable network Showtime and its MMA brand, EliteXC.

Here's a snip:

"In a 34 page filing, Zuffa contends that the debut EXC broadcast on 2/10 in Southaven, MS featured ‘unauthorized, wrong, knowing and continuing appropriation, use and copying' of UFC copyrighted material that Zuffa has produced themselves or own from acquiring UFC in 2001 from Semaphore Entertainment.

The filing claims that the defendants, ‘wrongfully and willing copied the Infringed Copyrights, or caused the wrongful and willful copying' of the UFC footage. They allege EXC and Showtime may have also copied ‘other aspects and portions' of material Zuffa owns.

Zuffa also contends that the usage on EXC's broadcast created a ‘likelihood of confusion in the marketplace' and that EXC is using UFC's name and goodwill for their own good, citing the move was unfair competition on the part of Elite XC."

Perhaps this is an attempt on the part of Zuffa to slow down the counterweight that is forming within the industry to combat their growing monopoly of the sport.

Or, it could be legit.

I did not tune into the debut show, therefore, I can't comment with confidence on the validity of the accusations. However, the complaint does allege that EliteXC used copyrighted material during the production, which is a big no-no when it comes to the UFC brand.

Look no further than YouTube.com for proof of that.

At any rate, if the court rules in favor of Zuffa, the defendants will be required to cover the legal costs of the lawsuit.

And if that happens, I wouldn't be surprised if UFC President Dana White waits at the courtroom exit and personally kicks EliteXC President Gary Shaw in the junk just for good measure.

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Comments

They should file a lawsuit if their footage is being used without authorization. F elitexc..

by wildbill on Mar 28, 2007 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

THIS IS LEGIT.

Intellectual property law is serious in the U.S. – I watched the Elite XC show and assumed they got permission to use the brief footage they used – I also assumed part of the deal was that Elite would play up the UFC – but there was no deal, and Elite was kissing up to UFC, knowing that they went to far and used intellectual property that was not Elite’s.

The lawsuit will cost Elite some time and resources, and can tarnish them. It’s unlikely that the lawsuit will kill them, but if and when they are week, it makes them weaker.

…Interesting…

by Savior on Mar 28, 2007 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

i love it!

by MR.MURDA on Mar 28, 2007 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Elite XC is retarded anyway. I have seen better promotions and filming at amature cage matches.

by Yorkis on Mar 28, 2007 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

I can understand the move, but as a fan I hope they leave youtube and the like alone. I pay for there ppv, buy merchendise, but I like to catch up on fights without having to buy every ufc dvd. I used to love Eminem, but when him and Dre started filing lawsuits on people and napster, I stoped listening to them cause there greedy, and bad mouth them to this day(greedy assholes) I for one say if they try shit like that, then the fans should ban them, dont but there ppvs, and just wait till they get up on the net so they dont get money. Who here wouldnt be pissed if they couldnt catch up on fights for free? I think we as fans should send a strong message to these corporate guys to be fan friendly, dont get too greedy cause it wont pay off in the long run!

by UFCmaniac on Mar 29, 2007 6:41 AM EDT reply actions

I can understand the move, but as a fan I hope they leave youtube and the like alone. I pay for there ppv, buy merchendise, but I like to catch up on fights without having to buy every ufc dvd. I used to love Eminem, but when him and Dre started filing lawsuits on people and napster, I stoped listening to them cause there greedy, and bad mouth them to this day(greedy assholes) I for one say if they try shit like that, then the fans should ban them, dont but there ppvs, and just wait till they get up on the net so they dont get money. Who here wouldnt be pissed if they couldnt catch up on fights for free? I think we as fans should send a strong message to these corporate guys to be fan friendly, dont get too greedy cause it wont pay off in the long run!

So in your opinion, people should just do stuff 4 free?!!!What the HELL kind of world do u think we live in? I wish ignorant people like u would go out in public and say the stupid things u do instead of hide behind your computer so I could knock u out!!!! This is 2 bad,I was starting 2 become a fan of your blogs until u had 2 go and say something so dumb!!!I think u r the greedy asshole wanting everything 4 free instead of working hard 4 your own shit!!!HOLLALULIA HOLLA BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by ibread on Mar 29, 2007 7:56 AM EDT reply actions

I think it’s an industry issue- no way should eminem et al be suing folk. It’s for record companies to sort out. Anyway, if this deal brings another smaller organisation on side as a feeder for ufc then I’m happy. I just don’t like fragmentation- where fights can’t happen because of contracts.

by Henrikcouture on Mar 29, 2007 9:18 AM EDT reply actions

IBREAD i have to agre with ufcmanic cause,I buy the ppv and you come over an watch’em for free so how ae you different or can say we don’t work hard for are little bit of money,therethe ones macking millions of the fans at least they could is give us a free fight here and there and really when they put it on spike if you dont have cable os dish you still can’t see it so its really not free either….BUT NO MATTER WHAT I’M STILL GOING TO BUY THE PPV,DVDS’,CLOTHS AND WHTA EVER ELSE THEY PUT OUT THERE AS LONG AS I COULD CATCH UP ON A FIGHT OR TWO….HOLLA……..

by cheeks420 on Mar 29, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions