The six-time News Emmy winner is not happy at all about the “demeaning and insulting” Hasbro toy hamster that has both her name and, she claims, her look. In fact, Fox News Channel’s Harris Faulkner is taking the world’s third-biggest toy manufacturer to court for $5 million over under trademark law for false endorsement and unfair competition as well as violation of her right of publicity. In addition to the financial damages, the Outnumbered co-anchor wants a full accounting of how much Hasbro has made off the toy and the company stopped from making and selling any more of that Harris Faulkner.
Let’s be honest – Harris Faulkner is not the most common name around and the journalist has been in the public eye for many years before Hasbro introduced the toy as part of its Little Pet Shop line back in 2014. In fact, Faulkner’s lawyers say she put Hasbro on notice about the matter in January this year but nothing happened. Well into the summer the toy was available for purchase off Hasbro’s online store – which might be of additional interest to you if you are a Terri Bowman or Dash McDernutt. The Harris Faulkner toy hamster does not seem to be on Hasbro’s Little Pet Shop site today.
But doubt that would quell the Fox Report Weekend anchor’s ire at this point. The “uniquely named, acclaimed veteran journalist and author” says in her complaint against the multibillion-dollar company filed this week in federal court (read it here) that she has “worked for decades to establish and maintain her personal brand and laudable professional reputation.” The toy hamster doesn’t exactly help that journo brand.
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“Hasbro’s manufacture, sale, and distribution of the Harris Faulkner Hamster Doll is extremely concerning and distressing to Faulkner,” says the sharp 15-page filing. “In addition to its prominent and unauthorized use of Faulkner’s name, elements of the Harris Faulkner Hamster Doll also bear a physical resemblance to Faulkner’s traditional professional appearance, in particular tone of its complexion, the shape of its eyes, and the design of its eye makeup. Hasbro’s capitalization on Faulkner’s name, likeness, identity, and persona is underscored with the display of the ‘TM’ symbol after her name and a statement on the back of the packaging that this symbol ‘denote[s] U.S. Trademark[]’ that—falsely—claims that Hasbro owns a United States trademark in ‘Harris Faulkner.'”
And then there are the issues of being associated with a toy that could prove a “choking hazard” for young children and professional perception. “Further, Faulkner does not endorse products of any kind, as doing so would be a breach of journalistic ethics, would directly harm her professional credibility, and would be in violation of her contractual obligations to her employer,” the complaint adds. “This means that Hasbro misappropriated Faulkner’s name, likeness, identity, or persona without consent, for its own profit, for the purpose of capitalizing off of her good name and persona, all at Faulkner’s expense.”
“While we generally do not comment on litigation matters, it is critically important to correct a false statement made by Ms. Harris in the complaint regarding the safety of the product,” said a Hasbro spokesperson in reaction to the lawsuit. “The Littlest Pet Shop product identified, and all products in the Littlest Pet Shop line, meet and exceed all safety standards.”
Having filed in New Jersey, the real life Faulkner is represented by Paul Halasz and Dennis LaFiura of Day Pitney LLP of Parsippany in the Garden State. Dori Ann Hanswirth, Theresa House and Patsy Wilson of NYC’s Hogan Lovells US LLP are also providing counsel.
I don’t think they look anything alike.
while the points about similarities are pretty funny….the one thing that does seem kinda just kinda legit is that she has never endorsed a product of any kind and with that odd name…it does kinda seem like she might have had some sort of involvement…..you’d think Hasbro would have googled her and just tweaked the name a few letters….especially after receiving a letter in January.
Normally, I wouldn’t think lawsuits like this had a good chance to go forward, but she might have a shot at winning an award if she contacted them back in January and ignored her. Shame on Hasbro.
What a completely stupid thing for Hasbro to do even after she put them on notice. What did they think was going to happen?
I love that one of the complaints is being “associated with a toy that could prove a choking hazard for young children.
This is because it’s associated with her name.
Never would have heard of her if it was not for this silly lawsuit. I’ll change the channel or put down the paper if I see her name or face in the news now.
Really? Why is it silly? They are using her name in a weird way and profiting, that’s ok with you? Everyone is fair game for exploitation now?
Exploitation? LOL…..no one buying the toy even knows who she is. It’s a desperate money grab especially the garbage about “choking hazard”.
Legally, I don’t see how (not knowing who she is) matters. I think Mattel is a position where they have to prove it was some other Harris Faulkner or that they pulled the name out of their butt…
sorry…Hasbro (not Mattel)
Exactly. Another frivolous suit. Get over yourself, lady. As if children and/or their parents are enticed to buy a tiny doll sharing her name. (Looks NOTHING like her.)
Well it has HER NAME so it doesn’t have to look like her , are you a liberal?
So let’s call the next toy BILL THE FREAKIN’ DUMBASS and see how you feel.
Did you punch your right fist into your left palm after you typed that? Dork.
You mad corny, son!
your ignorance is no defense for Hasbro
Wow
“And then there are the issues of being associated with a toy that could prove a ‘choking hazard’ for young children…”
If there’s one real choking hazard in all this, it’s Faulker’s employer, Fox News.
Woah. Sick burn, bro…
Easy, Sage, we know you’re starting the 8th grade next week, but go easy little fella.
Harris, this is Johnny Lightning. Call me
Six-time News Emmy winner? Really?
She got a “participation Emmy.”
Is that the only kind of award you think black people get?
You can just SMELL the racism coming off that one !
Can I get a Jedediah Bila hamster instead?
Represented by a lawyer in Parsippany?
Well that’s a choking hazard right there.
~
Coat
Basically she’s admitting she looks like a hamster in court.
Harris Faulkner is a very beautiful lady and accomplished commentator on Fox News, I watch her so I would know.
how does a human look like a hamster or how’s a hamster look like human could it be the hair I wonder this is stupid….
I’m going after them for G.I. Joe profits
“Hasbro’s manufacture, sale, and distribution of the Harris Faulkner Hamster Doll is extremely concerning and distressing to Faulkner,”
It’s inspirational how she goes on under that kind of distress.
I looked the toy up out of curiosity (it’s not the one pictured here.)
“elements of the Harris Faulkner Hamster Doll also bear a physical resemblance to Faulkner’s traditional professional appearance, in particular tone of its complexion”
(Beige)
“the shape of its eyes, ”
(Perfectly round)
“and the design of its eye makeup.”
(It has eye lashes.)
AJ: Exactly!
Oh please Harris
Get over yourself!
I had to ‘Google’ this. At first I was pretty sure that Deadline had gone completely out of it’s mind. Hahaha, this hamster thingy doesn’t look anything like this, ahhhhhh, journalist? Your Honor – “My name is Barbara — I’m suing because Barbie has my eyes, my lips, and my boobs. Well, sort of – I have nipples, but other than the THAT – I swear, they’re my boobs Your Honor”. My name is ‘Barbie’ and I feel exploited and used for profit.
One might conclude that this chick would be lucky if she looked like this hamster. She is quite boring, whereas the little toy is kinda cute.
Get a life.
Wow. Your racist hatred is blocking you from the simple concept of NAME APPROPRIATION. A company does not have the right to use your LIKENESS without your permission. You do KNOW that right? You do know that someone cannot take a photo of you on the street and then put it in an AD for a new product, right? WELL YOUR NAME IS JUST AS ENDEMIC TO WHO YOU ARE THAN YOUR LIKENESS IS. I don’t think the toy “looks” like her but unlike YOU I have enough sense to know that it doesn’t matter BECAUSE IT HAS HER FIRST AND LAST FREAKING NAME YOU UNBELIEVABLE PERSON YOU.
There is more than 1 person with that name…I googled it. So, since the name is’nt copyrighted, she will not win. Remember Spike Lee wanted to sue Spike channel for the same sort of thing?
While writing in caps is fun KEITH, the hamster isn’t a journalist. If the hamster was a journalist, I would be with you.
Isn’t everyone on Fox News a toy hamster?
That was my first thought, I said to myself, “Oh it must be some kind of goofy dancing hamster specifically targeted at her as part of a “Fox is Stupid” collection from some novelty store online. Then I see it’s a Littlest Pet Shop toy. This is literally more stupid than the Lindsey Lohan v GTA thing.
hehehe…. she only wished she looked as cute as the little animal.
Is this real life?
Where does she get off saying they ripped off her image? It doesn’t look a thing like her. Except in her dreams maybe . . . Plus I doubt seriously that there would be confusion or that her image would be tarnished with the 5 year old demographic this toy is marketed to.
I think it’s a cheap publicity stunt. Before this story I never heard of her. But then I don’t watch Faux News. And she’s not “uniquely named” – I know a Harris Faulkner right here in Jacksonville. Of course, it’s a guy . . .
Parody?
For what it’s worth, in the 80s I heard several people use “hamsters” as a derogatory slang for African-Americans. I don’t know if that was a private joke or what.
Just attempt to garner publicity…got you reading and finding out who the hell Harris Faulkner is , didn’t she?
My name was used in the recent power rangers show. Should I sue them too? What a damn entitled bitch.