Giving Zealous Publishers Ample Reason To Live:  I Sue Therefore I Am

Referencing FILM Titles in Dexter

Dexter Not Only Murders, He Steals Intellectual Property – Part 2

Dexter – Murderer & Larcenist Of Film Titles

Dexter, Piracy & Film (Titles)

Dexter, Piracy & Film – Publisher Perils

Dexter, Piracy & Film (Titles):  I Sue Therefore I Am

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This is my second blog post about DEXTER.  In the first I explored how many episodes of DEXTER were named after song lyrics and/or song titles.  In this post, I will identify episodes named after films.

The Showtime original series, DEXTER, lasted for eight (8) seasons – each season featured twelve (12) episodes.

Throughout DEXTER, I was surprised that so many titles of episodes were references to songs, lyrics or movies.  I feel strongly that creators in contemporary cultures should feel free to acknowledge, borrow, reference, copy and transform preexisting material – in these examples, words that constitute titles.  In my opinion, the titles of episodes in DEXTER that have been referenced should NOT lead to any type of legal problem or copyright infringement (although I have been a part of copyright infringement actions brought over as trivial and ridiculous similarities as these potential issues below from DEXTER).

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F I L M S   (and  Dexter)

Many episodes of DEXTER are titled after titles of films.  I’ll repeat the accusatory verbs that could be hurled at the copyright owners of DEXTER by each of the potential plaintiffs below.  While to some, referencing a movie title is not a reference/cultural reference/cultural signifier as much as it is an outrageous theft of their intellectual property.  There are many who have sued over four (4), three (3) or even two (2) words that have been copied/stolen/referenced/plundered from another source by cutthroat pirates.

To repeat the accusations from a previous post, only this time with respect to movie titles:

DEXTER references film titles

DEXTER copies film titles

DEXTER steals film titles

DEXTER misappropriates film titles

DEXTER appropriates film titles

DEXTER plunders film titles

DEXTER rips off  film titles

DEXTER thieves film titles

(I use the word, “thieves,” as a verb above, humorously, as I know “thieves” is NOT a verb.)

“Referencing” film titles is the most appropriate verb above.

What follows is my take on eleven (11) DEXTER episodes that reference movie titles.

1.

DEXTER – Season 1 Episode 12 –  Born Free.   “Born Free” was a successful 1966 British movie filmed in Kenya.  Its eponymous theme song was also famous and can be heard below.

Born Free  (IMDB)  (1966)

Born Free  (Wikipedia)

Born Free (Trailer)

Born Free  (Theme song sung by Andy Williams, with a frozen, awkwardly and uncomfortably smiling picture of Michael C. Hall (“Dexter Morgan” from DEXTER)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because two (2) words are the same, and the title of this film.

2.

DEXTER – Season 2 Episode 2 –  Waiting To Exhale.  

Waiting To Exhale  (IMDB)  (1995)

Waiting To Exhale  (Wikipedia)

Waiting To Exhale  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because all three (3) words are the same, and the title of this film.

3.

DEXTER – Season 2 Episode 3 – An Inconvenient Lie. 

The film, An Inconvenient Truth (2006), becomes the Dexter episode, An Inconvenient Lie.

An Inconvenient Truth  (IMDB)  (2006)

An Inconvenient Truth  (Wikipedia)

An Inconvenient Truth  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because two (2) of the three (3) words are the same, and the title of this film.

4.

DEXTER – Season 2 Episode 6 –  Dex, Lies & Videotape.  

The film, Sex, Lies & Videotape (1989), becomes the Dexter episode, Dex, Lies & Videotape.

Sex, Lies & Videotape  (IMDB)  (1989)

Sex, Lies & Videotape  (Wikipedia)

Sex, Lies & Videotape (trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because two (2) words are the same (and the 3rd word is only letter different), and the title of this film.

5.

DEXTER – Season 2 Episode 10  –  There’s Something About Harry

The film, There’s Something About Mary  (1998), becomes the Dexter episode, There’s Something About Harry.

There’s Something About Mary  (IMDB)  (1998)

There’s Something About Mary  (Wikipedia)

There’s Something About Mary  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because three (3) words are the same (and the 4th word is only one letter different), and the title of this film.

6.

DEXTER – Season 3 Episode 9  –  About Last Night. 

About Last Night  (IMDB)  (1986)

About Last Night  (Wikipedia)

About Last Night  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because the three (3) words are the same, and the title of this film.

7.

DEXTER – Season 4 Episode 5 – Dirty Harry. 

Dirty Harry is the first a series of five (5) films based on San Francisco Police Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan, played by Clint Eastwood.  The first of these films, Dirty Harry, dates from 1971 – the fifth, The Dead Pool, from 1988.

From the 1971 trailer: 

“This is about a movie about a couple of killers.  Harry Callahan and a homicidal maniac.  The one with a badge is Harry.”

Dirty Harry  (IMDB)  (1971)

Dirty Harry  (Wikipedia)

Dirty Harry  (trailer)

When it comes to DEXTER, a hammer can be an effective killing weapon, not just a metaphorical hammer that bludgeons one’s competitors (think Apple, Samsung and other litigating bodies) but the REAL thing  –  the means by which one human murders another human.

Many would sue for copyright infringement because two (2) words are the same, and the title of this film.  The potential plaintiff could even more enthusiastically claim that “all two (2) words are the same.”

8.

DEXTER – Season 5 Episode 4 – Beauty & The Beast.

There have been at least seven (7) Beauty & The Beast films from 1946-2003.  The most successful was the 1991 animated Walt Disney version.

Beauty & The Beast  (IMDB)  (1991)

Beauty & The Beast  (Wikipedia)

Beauty & The Beast  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because all four (4) words are the same, and the title of this film.

9.

DEXTER – Season 6 Episode 3 – Smokey & The Bandit.

Smokey & The Bandit  (IMDB)  (1977)

Smokey & The Bandit  (Wikipedia) 

Smokey & The Bandit  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because all four (4) words are the same, and the title of this film.

10.

DEXTER – Season 7 Episode 6 – Do The Wrong Thing.

The film, Do The Right Thing (1989), becomes the Dexter episode, Do The Wrong Thing.

Do The Right Thing  (IMDB)  (1989)

Do The Right Thing  (Wikipedia)

Do The Right Thing  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because three (3) of the four (4) words are the same, and the title of this film.  Furthermore, “The Wrong Thing” could be a parody of “The Right Thing,” and many potential plaintiffs do not like being subjected to parody and ridicule.

11.

DEXTER – Season 8 Episode 3 – What’s Eating Dexter Morgan?

The film, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape  (1993), becomes the Dexter episode, What’s Eating Dexter Morgan?

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?  (IMDB)  (1993)

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?  (Wikipedia)

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?  (Trailer)

Many would sue for copyright infringement because two (2) of the four (4) words are the same, and the title of this film.

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If this post seemed as if I have experience in this area, a penchant and a strong point of view, it is because I HAVE experience in this area with foolish lawsuits over trivial unprotect-ible (able) material – as few as two (2) or three (3) words in common between works of authorship – as well as a penchant and a strong point of view.

I will continue to explore how our society views referenced material from works of authorship, as well as how music and the arts intersect with law, business, technology and communication.  As always I welcome your input.

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