David Duchovny Gets Chili Peppers Hot Under the Collar

David Duchovny by James Dimmock/Showtime

Who didn't see this one coming? Yesterday, the Red Hot Chili Peppers filed a suit against Showtime for giving its midlife crisis dramedy the same name — Californication — as their hit 1999 album. (Um, wouldn't the network's lawyers have, like, checked on the legality of reusing a famous title before they, you know, used it?) In Showtime's defense, Alabamashtupping and Ohioh-oh-oh-my-God-yessss! just don't have the same ring to them. — Ben Katner

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Posted by

Matt Webb Mitovich

Nov 20, 2007 10:14 AM

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Red Hot Chili Peppers, Welcome to Rock 'N Roll Douchebaggery. Your plaque is being placed next to Metallica. Congratulations!
Posted by Mrs.MikeyCera Nov 20, 2007 1:00 PM Report Abuse

They will no doubt use the defense that the term existed long before the Peppers wrote a song about it and therefore they have no claim to it. They will probably win.
Posted by guinnessgulper Nov 20, 2007 1:45 PM Report Abuse

Maybe the Peppers are right. Maybe they did invent the term. And maybe the show does have a character named after one of their songs. But this is not what I would expect from them. This is not an Uplift Mofo Party Plan. And what "damages" has this show possibly caused them? Booooooooo.
Posted by achyfakey Nov 20, 2007 2:21 PM Report Abuse

I think they think we might confuse or forget that they are from California. The fact that every song they write tells us isn't enough I guess.
Posted by Mrs.MikeyCera Nov 20, 2007 2:31 PM Report Abuse

Red Hot Chili Peppers? Sounds like something you'd eat to get heartburn. They must be pretty full of themseleves if they think they're that popular. I suspect this lawsuit will get thrown out in court. I mean one's a song only a small majority of people have every heard of the others a tv show only a small majority of people have ever seen. Where's the conflict?
Posted by wildbill Nov 20, 2007 4:48 PM Report Abuse

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Posted by wildbill Nov 20, 2007 4:51 PM Report Abuse

Unfortunately it is a song that is still played too much on the radio...even if it is 8 years old by now. To claim ignorance of it, especially in So Cal is a bad joke.

However. It's not as though news of this show and its title were not publicized before the show aired. What's up with filing suit only after the season has ended and the show got picked up for a second season? Did the Chili Peppers only want to sue if the show proved to have legs? Stupid.

Posted by Flora Isadora

Nov 20, 2007 5:38 PM

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My guess is that RHCP aren't involved in the lawsuit at all. Just attorney crap, as usual.

The words Californication, Californicate, Californicated, etc. have been used by Californians since the late 60's. Pretty much public domain in that respect, der woody guys. I don't think RHCP's lawyers are goig to find a judge that will bother sitting down for this one.

RHCP's attorneys must be from New Jersey, or somewhere else really super cool (NY hipster lingo dudes maybe?) and just kinda missed it.

Heh.

Posted by daata

May 16, 2008 12:45 PM

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