Italian Woman Sues Peppa Pig Producers

Rosie

Rosie

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Apr 6, 2013
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I just had to share this with everyone!

Do you all know about the Peppa Pig cartoons? Peppa is HUGE in Italy right now, they show it on kids channels all the time, kids love it! They make figurines, toys, backpacks, clothes... you name it! with the piglet and they're selling like crazy! It's a real trend, but that's not the point :P

It seems that, a while ago, there was an episode of this cartoon that introduced kids to a new character, named Gabriella the Goat. In Italian, that's Gabriella Capra. So... it seems there really is a woman named Gabriella Capra in Italy! Ans she was teased and ridiculed ever since the episode came out... and now she's suing the Peppa Pig producers, asking for €100,000 as compensation. Read the full news here (it's in English).
 
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Thats Crazy! It will be interesting to see if she wins the case. :eek:

Peppa Pig is produced in the UK so I guess she would have to go to court there?

I read the article and was pleased to see that any sums won would be donated to associations looking after abandoned children. However, If she wins, what does this mean for the producers and the future of names used in cartoons?
 
This is definitely interesting, and I look forward to see how this case turns out. However, I feel like it was just an unfortunate coincidence. It seemed a bit immature to me that she cannot handle the ridicule coming from a children's TV show, but at least she decided that if she wins the money, she will donate to an appropriate charity.

There are many cases of authors having conflicts with people, and end up subtly insulting them by scrambling their name in their books, or describing their features without name revealing, and making them a terrible character in their pieces. Perhaps this is a case of that.
 
LOL, that is totally ridiculous, can't a cartoon maker create a character without seeing if someone is named like that? I feel that she just wants free advertising, no way she will get any money from it.
 
I have no idea what will happen.... The producers used a random name, should all people named George sue the show as well? :D (George is the main piglet's brother).

To be honest, I would have sued the people making fun of me, if I were her.
I think you can do that, it's illegal to make fun or say things about someone, I think it can be considered defamation. Which is probably what this lady is using to sue the cartoon's producers.

I do agree with what Nate said though, she says friends and colleagues made fun of her. First of all, if someone makes fun of me in an unpleasant way, they are not my friends, so they can go ... themselves :D As for the colleagues, I don't know what to say, who watches Peppa Pig in adulthood? I would have made sooo much fun of them for that!
 
I'm at lost here in this discussion. What is she advertising? :) My first read was that she was probably a victim of identity theft. :):D:p
 
This is a frivolous case as you can only claim for damages where there was intent to harm and there was none. It's a civil case so it will cost her money, but there are many cartoon characters and villains in movies that share names with real people too.

I doubt she will win as she hasn't lost anything or been harmed. If everyone sued for being teased or called names then there would be a backlog of cases.
 
It could also be a type of fraud, as fraud is not limited to race, gender, ethnic background, education or income. Fraud is basically just "a deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain."

When making a film, generally if the characters are fiction, they don't need permission. But if there is a chance that the public mistakes the imaginary characters for real people, the filmmakers could be liable. If the woman is receiving non-violent threat and therefore could no longer live her life like a normal person, I think she has a case. :)

In addition, I personally think that could be a type of adult abuse, where an adult is abused for being vulnerable. :(
 
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Pessel said:
It could also be a type of fraud, as fraud is not limited to race, gender, ethnic background, education or income. Fraud is basically just "a deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain."

When making a film, generally if the characters are fiction, they don't need permission. But if there is a chance that the public mistakes the imaginary characters for real people, the filmmakers could be liable. If the woman is receiving non-violent threat and therefore could no longer live her life like a normal person, I think she has a case. :)
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The character is not human so you can't compare the two! If it was the name of a murderer in a book that was where that person lived, it could be seen as a possibility people would get confused, but if people can't tell the difference between a cartoon character and a human being, they maybe the ones that need help!

I am a writer and all films or books have a disclaimers stating all characters are a work of fiction and any resemblance is a coincidence. That protects them, all the defense need to do is find someone else with the same name (very likely) and I did a search and there are 7 on Facebook, and prove that they are not affected by it.
 
People have been suing cartoon production companies for likeness:

- Goodfellas actor sues over The Simpson: http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...ellas-actor-frank-sivero-lawsuit-the-simpsons
- Comedian Carol Burnett sues over Family Guy: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-16-burnett_N.htm
- Art Metrano sues over Family Guy: http://www.tv.com/news/family-guy-sued-again-10569/
- Teenager who voiced Dora the Explorer sues over voice: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/08/voice-of-dora-the-explore_n_756345.html

Famous people, mostly.
 
Famous people sue, because it can hurt their image, reputation and career if the characters use their catchphrases or anything that maybe similar. These cartoons do use real peoples names though in parody to protect themselves.

It's a law of tort and defamation, which can't be said for some whose career has not been ruined by a direct cause of the character or a trademark being infringed. I think the case will make her look silly as all the other Gabriella Capras' seem to be fine with it.
 
I totally agree, she is ridiculous for attempting such an action and I am wondering what legal base does she has to try this, I feel it's a case of insanity.
 
I previously agreed with Gabe, but if she is being presented with non-violent threats over the character, she can say that the public identified her in the context of the character in the film. Many cases of people suing over invasion of privacy of characters based on real life individuals. :):):) I think invasion of privacy is ridiculous, but attempting to get a compensation is not.
 
Having looked into things, it seems this Gabriella Capra is a businesswoman claiming defamation. As the original version was in English, the makers of the show failed to put a disclaimer in Italian for the translation, however defamation is only if they can prove that the character was based on her and I haven't watched the episode, but I doubt the character does any thing bad. Who has seen the episode?

With defamation, you have to prove that there was intent to harm and what was portrayed was untrue. Either way, she has brought more attention to something that would have died away and been forgotten.
 
That's a little crazy. I'm assuming that the creators of the show didn't go out of their way to find an individual with that name and ridicule her in particular.

And without even needing to check, I very much doubt that she's the only Gabriella Capra in the world and she's certainly not well known enough for the world to put two and two together and assume it's her.
 
Exactly, Onionman. Since she is not a public figure, she can simply complain and file a lawsuit. If she's a public figure, she cannot base her lawsuit on incorrect harmful statements, unless there is proof.
 
Peppa Pig is quite popular in the states and a case like this would never fly. Many people encounter many circumstances because of media, but it is not always a direct relation. Particularly in the US, the right to freedom of speech allows a lot to be said. It will be interesting to see where this case goes.
 
Okay, I cannot imagine that she can win this. It is not like the show specifically went after her and aimed to ridicule her specifically. What is she even thinking trying to sue them? Does she actually think she will win or is she just looking to get her name in the newspaper/be famous?

I love Peppa Pig though. It's a cute show.
 
It's become very modern for people to try and sue whoever and whatever they can. And why not? Some even get lucky. If I was teased for having a popular name, I would use it at all times to make jokes about it and promote myself in a humorous way.
I guess it's possible that this woman might be experiencing some detrimental effects from being compared to a popular cartoon figure, but then she could always change her name. :)
 
The thing is people with these names usually get teased at school, so most get used to it or change it. I worked with someone and his surname was 'Chicken' and he said, yes you heard right, it's my real name. He had thick skin and got used to it, but must have been teased all his life. The good thing was it didn't phase him even when he would introduce himself and I was his PA for a few days and introduced him and I got used to it. It's only a name.
 
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