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Model Citizen
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Voodoo Lounge
Posts: 19,491
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The marketing rights to the name Steve McQueen belong to the McQueen family. This has been established. Thus, if someone profits from the use of the name, the McQueen family is entitled to a share of the profit.
It's the same with Elvis Presley or WC Fields or Richard M Nixon, as long as the family or trust has taken the necessary precautions.
I can imagine that if your cat Steve McQueen became an internet sensation making lots of money for it's handler, the McQueen lawyers would be happy to send you some correspondence! You could then lawyer up yourself and come up with a reasonable explanation as to why you named your cat Steve McQueen that doesn't infringe upon the rights of Steve McQueens family. Then a judge would decide and some lawyers would send out bills.
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"I would be a tone-deaf heathen if I didn't call the engine astounding. If it had been invented solely to make noise, there would be shrines to it in Rome"
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