Mattel taking legal action against the 'Coffee with Ken' podcast is a David versus Goliath-like instance of intimidation
In an unexpected turn of events, Mattel, the renowned toy company, has filed a lawsuit against political podcaster Ken Biberaj over his show "Coffee With Ken." The lawsuit claims that the podcast's name could cause confusion with Mattel's "Barbie" brand, specifically fearing audiences might mistake "Coffee With Ken" for a connection to the Barbie franchise, which features a character named Ken [1][3].
Ken Biberaj, the podcast host, has described the lawsuit as "bizarre" and "intimidating." He emphasizes that his show is a serious political podcast that has been running for five years. Biberaj resists the idea of changing the podcast’s name, implying that Mattel is overreaching by trying to monopolize the use of the name "Ken," even outside the toy context [1][4][5].
The dispute relates to the Barbie brand because Ken is the traditional male doll counterpart to Barbie. Mattel is seeking to protect its trademarks around those character names and related brands to prevent any perceived confusion in the marketplace [1][3].
Meanwhile, in New York City, the city's socioeconomic landscape has undergone significant changes, leading to struggles for the working class and increased drug use, as well as neglected building maintenance [2]. This contrasts sharply with the glamour and opulence often associated with the city.
Elsewhere, Dr. Michael Baden, a physician and forensic pathologist, has made headlines for his work. He hosted HBO's "Autopsy" for 14 years and has consulted on the autopsies of notable figures such as George Floyd, Eric Garner, O.J. Simpson, Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, and Medgar Evers [6]. Dr. Baden is reissuing his updated 2023 book "American Autopsy," which might make for an interesting bedtime read [7].
Intriguingly, there have been numerous conspiracy theories surrounding JFK's death, including one suggesting mob bosses ordered the hit due to his crackdown on organized crime, and another claiming Cuban dictator Fidel Castro ordered the hit due to his plans to overthrow Castro's communist regime [8][9].
Dr. Baden's book "American Autopsy" delves into these conspiracy theories and offers a forensic perspective on these historical events. It's a fascinating read for anyone interested in the intricacies of history and forensic science.
On a lighter note, six thousand years ago, Neolithic people were using opium for pain relief [10]. It's fascinating to consider how far medicine has come since then, and how much more we have yet to learn and discover.
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/08/media/mattel-ken-biberaj-lawsuit-trnd/index.html [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/nyregion/new-york-city-working-class.html [3] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/08/mattel-sues-podcaster-ken-biberaj-over-use-of-name-ken.html [4] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/mattel-sues-podcaster-ken-biberaj-over-use-name-ken-1235034674/ [5] https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisdannen/2021/06/08/mattel-sues-political-podcaster-ken-biberaj-over-use-of-name-ken/?sh=7c8b58094231 [6] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/08/arts/television/michael-baden-autopsy-hbo.html [7] https://www.amazon.com/American-Autopsy-Michael-Baden/dp/0062678571 [8] https://www.history.com/news/jfk-assassination-conspiracy-theories [9] https://www.history.com/news/jfk-assassination-fidel-castro-conspiracy-theory [10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737026/
- Despite the ongoing legal dispute between Mattel and podcast host Ken Biberaj over his show "Coffee With Ken," which revolves around the Barbie brand and the character named Ken, the concept of entertainment remains distinct from general news, pop-culture, crime, and justice.
- As the trial between Mattel and Ken Biberaj unfolds, the world of crime and justice continues to juxtapose with the glamourous, often opulent, and infamous socioeconomic landscape of New York City, where struggles for the working class and increased drug usage persist.
