007 Film Producer Broccoli Wins Libel Suit--Reputation Be-'SMERSHed'

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeU.K. newspapers The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday will publish apologies and pay undisclosed damages to James Bond film producer Barbara Broccoli over August 2010, articles that suggested as a U.K. Film Council member, she steered grant money to a company she owned, according to a story on the Website PressGazette.uk.com.

The Mail on Sunday August 15, 2010, edition sported a story headlined: "Axed film quango gave 70 million pounds ($113,228,148) to own members." For "TUOL"'s American readers, Broccoli wasn't upset about being called a quango (quasi-autonomous non-governmental orgranization). Rather, she resented the allegation that she used her position as a member of the board of directors of the Film Councill to funnel public funds  to First Light, a company the defendants alleged she owned.

Her attorneys told the High Court that First Light is a registered charity to which Broccoli contributes, but has neither an ownership interest or financial stake in. Associated Newspapers, the defendants' parent company, plans to publish an apology to the plaintiff, Broccoli, Barbara Broccoli.

'Trademark, Registered Trademark

Image via WikipediaJames Bond aficionados remember the scene in Dr. No (1962) in which Q and M admonish Agent 007 and force him to relinquish his Beretta handgun in exchange for the more powerful Walther PPK 7.65 millimeter firearm ("with a delivery like a brick through a plate-glass window").

Thanks to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the PPK is now a registered trademark, though still not quite as famous as Sean Connery. The USPTO initially was lukewarm to the gun maker's application to register James Bond's Weapon of Choice, which was submitted along with movie posters and news media references, to make the case that the weapon had its own aura and mystique.

The deal was sealed, however, after the manufacturer provided the results of a blind Internet survey of current or prospective handgun owners, age 18 and older. Roughly 54 percent of those queried identified the PPK handgun, many of whom cited 007 in their response. That led the USPTO trademark and trial board to conclude the weapon's design possessed the requisite distinctiveness to warrant trademark protection.

Wonder if this will give George Lazenby any ideas?  As Bond might quip: "It's worth a shot."