faster_than_you Posted December 22, 2004 Posted December 22, 2004 (edited) Feds Seek To Destroy "Ghettopoly" $2.5 million worth of controversial "Monopoly" knockoff at stake DECEMBER 22--Justice Department lawyers are seeking judicial permission to destroy about 63,000 copies of the controversial "Ghettopoly" board game, which has been criticized as a racist takeoff on the classic "Monopoly." Earlier this year, Customs and Border Protection agents in Tacoma, Washington seized five separate containers filled with "Ghettopoly" from a ship that had arrived from China. According to the below forfeiture request, the board games were seized by federal agents because they violated a trademark held by Hasbro, which produces "Monopoly." The knockoff game, which retails for $39.95, describes "elements of the game" as, "buying stolen properties, pimpin hoes, building crack houses and projects, paying protection fees and getting car jacked." In "Ghettopoly," players land on properties like Chico's Bodega and Smitty's XXX Peep Show, instead of Boardwalk or Marvin Gardens, and the game pieces include a pimp and a machine gun. When "Ghettopoly" debuted last year, black leaders nationwide decried it as racist and criticized game creator David Chang, who has defended his creation, saying it "draws on stereotypes not as a means to degrade, but as a medium to bring together in laughter." Hasbro, of course, did not get the joke and last October filed a federal copyright lawsuit, which is pending in U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island. Chang has about 30 days to file a claim challenging Uncle Sam's bid to destroy the seized "Ghettopoly" stash, which has a street value of nearly $2.5 million. (5 pages) Edited December 22, 2004 by faster_than_you Quote
faster_than_you Posted July 27, 2005 Author Posted July 27, 2005 More than 60,000 copies of the board game "Ghettopoly" were seized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for infringing on "Monopoly's" trademark. Tony Fuller tosses seized copies onto a heap at JKM Fiber in Tacoma, where they were destroyed. (July 26, 2005) Scott Eklund/Seattle Post-Intelligencer Quote
catbirdseat Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 I'll bet you wish you'd gotten your hands on the game when you had a chance. It's going to be an incredibly valuable collectors item. Or at least you'd be totally popular at parties. Quote
snugtop Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 And the traffikers, no doubt, will go directly to jail. Quote
snugtop Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 I'm trying to imagine what the Community Chest would look like on that edition...? Quote
catbirdseat Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 I'm trying to imagine what the Community Chest would look like on that edition...? Like Lummox's avatar image? Quote
EWolfe Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 I'm trying to imagine what the Community Chest would look like on that edition...? First one's free! Quote
faster_than_you Posted July 27, 2005 Author Posted July 27, 2005 Miami city leaders are apologizing for a news release that invited summer campers to a ''Ghetto Style Talent Show'' and ''Watermelon Eating Contest.'' The release said that children participating in the summer camp who "know the meaning of ghetto style" would have a chance to "prove just how ghetto they are.'' Members of the black community expressed outrage at the wording of the invitation to the talent show. The show will be part of the grand finale picnic for the city's summer camp program to be held Friday at Hadley Park. After being criticized by residents of the nearby Model City neighborhood and community leaders, Miami Parks Director Ernest Burkeen, who is black, released a formal apology and announced the renaming of the talent show. The show will now be called the "Funky Talent Show," according to Burkeen's written statement. The watermelon contest will still be part of the event. Even though the name has been changed, Burkeen did still continue to defend the choice of the name for the show. "The word 'ghetto' was used to imply a down home show, not something offensive, but embracing the culture of today's youth and their language," he said. Church and community leaders said that changing the name isn't enough -- the damage has already been done. "It's almost equivalent to saying, 'We're having bananas at Jose Marti Park' and referring to Miami as a 'Banana Republic,'" the Rev. Richard Dunn said. Other critics said that the watermelon eating contest is a painful reminder of racially insensitive stereotypes. "Watermelon, back in the days, was a good food for African Americans, according to the Bible, but at the same time, it had an attachment with slavery and bondage ties," the Rev. Carl Johnson said. Some members of the community had a different perspective and said that critics were missing the point. Michael Hardaway said, "They have to understand that the young generation has a whole different style than they do … At a ghetto-style talent show the kids are getting together to show their talent." Other community activists said changing the name of the contest is just the start of what needs to happen. Dunn suggested that instead of buying hundreds of watermelons for the contest, the money could be spent on school supplies and backpacks for kids who need them. Andre Williams said, "No more watermelons --- and as Reverend Dunn says, we need to give books and school supplies to our children." City officials said Tuesday that the contest is popular and it will not be canceled. The picnic will go on Friday as planned and will include up to 3,000 children from across the city. Quote
archenemy Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 Yet, no one gets their panties in a bunch about using the word "pimp" to mean something good. Quote
Camilo Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 Yet, no one gets their panties in a bunch about using the word "pimp" to mean something good. At the mall today I heard a guy tell his wife "Hold on honey, I have to get some wife-beaters." Quote
archenemy Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 She must be really bad if she need a whole team of wife-beaters to straighten her out... Quote
minx Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 ya, and besides, minx likes it. yeah oly, thanks for being a team playa Quote
thelawgoddess Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 Yet, no one gets their panties in a bunch about using the word "pimp" to mean something good. At the mall today I heard a guy tell his wife "Hold on honey, I have to get some wife-beaters." Mesh Shirt Replaces "Wife-Beater" as Official Garment of Domestic Violence Quote
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