Fair and balanced
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Fair and Balanced" is a trademarked slogan used by the American news broadcaster Fox News Channel. The slogan was originally used in conjunction with the phrase "Real Journalism."
Author and comedian Al Franken used the slogan in the subtitle for his 2003 book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. In the book, he accuses Fox News Channel of bias. On August 22, 2003, Fox sued based upon its trademark on the phrase.[1] Fox News dropped the lawsuit three days later after Judge Denny Chin refused their request for an injunction (see Fox v. Franken).
In December 2003, Fox News found itself on the other end of a legal battle concerning the slogan, when AlterNet filed a cancellation petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to have Fox's trademark rescinded as "notoriously misdescriptive." AlterNet included the documentary film Outfoxed as supporting evidence in its case.[2] After losing early motions, AlterNet withdrew its petition and the USPTO dismissed the case.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ de Moraes, Lisa (August 12, 2003). Three Little Words: Fox News Sues. Washington Post
- ^ Coyle, Jake (July 19, 2004 ). Advocacy Groups Challenge Fox News Slogan. Associated Press
- ^ Official Documentation of Petitioned Cancellation of "Fair & Balanced" trademark phrase, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System
