Simpson's Being sued for 250 Million by a Goodfella's actor

[palitoy]

Louie isn't even my second favourite Mafia character on the show...

http://www.cnbc.com/2014/10/22/ay-carumba-goodfellas-actor-sues-the-simpsons.html

[Nostalgiabuff]

what a jerk. really, you wait 25 years to bring this up? guy is just looking for a payday

[Mikey]

Gene Levy should now sue him for stealing his Bobby Bittman look

[pmwasson]

Isn't parody protected? Seems frivolous.

[MIB41]

Isn't parody protected? Seems frivolous.

Exactly what I was thinking. It will be thrown out.

[Brazoo]

Very strange. I can't see how he can claim ownership of the character from Goodfellas, since whoever owns Goodfellas should own the rights to the characters. I'm surprised he's not just claiming that The Simpsons use of his likeness affected his acting career, or something.

In any case, from similarities in other cases I've read about my guess is that if this character ended up on merch, like toys or t-shirts, it might complicate a straight Fair Use defence.

[Gorn Captain]

The actor "continues to suffer severe financial damages in the form of lost income."

Lawyers come up with the funniest phrases.

[Mikey]

Next he'll go after Clamps

[Hector]

[phil]

When I first saw Goodfellas back in 1990 I thought the character looked like Eugene Levy's Bobby Bitman from SCTV. My friend and I both laughed for that reason when Carbone first appeared.

The lawsuit seems beyond frivolous.

[huedell]

what a jerk. really, you wait 25 years to bring this up? guy is just looking for a payday

So is anybody who does this. It's a dang good reason to sue. People are OWED getting paid in certain cases. And there's nothing wrong with going after a payday---IF you're owed something.

Unfortunately this guy is an idiot who, as a few have pointed out already, is putting forth one of the most frivolous cases I've seen in a while.

That said: It's hard to think he and his cronies could be THAT unintelligent.

Maybe this was an attempt at cashing in, not for actual cash, but with publicity as currency? THAT seems more reasonable than the actual case itself being the core. I mean, it's likely that's not the case, but I'm just trying to give the guy some room for not looking like a total idiot.

[huedell]

Louie isn't even my second favourite Mafia character on the show...

Johnny Tightlips is severely overlooked.

From the Simpsons Wiki:

Johnny Tightlips is a reference to Frank "Tight Lips" Gusenberg -- who was shot down in the real-life St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago and replied, "nobody shot me," while dying.

In the episode "Insane Clown Poppy" Johnny is shot by accident. When asked where he is injured, he says, "I ain't sayin' nothin'!" When asked what to tell the doctor, he says, "Tell 'em to suck a lemon."

Hilarious.