Judge Dismisses Gibson Guitar Corp.'s Lawsuit Against Viacom Over Nickelodeon UK's "SpongeBob SquarePants" Ukulele

The entertainment industry news website The Hollywood Reporter's 'Hollywood, Esq.' column, the intersection of entertainment and law, is reporting the Nickelodeon News that Viacom Inc., the parent company of the Nickelodeon brand, has gotten a judge to reject the initial version of a lawsuit over a "SpongeBob SquarePants Ukulele", a Ukulele designed on the popular Nickelodeon original animated series (Nicktoon) "SpongeBob SquarePants". The claims came from Gibson Guitar Corp., which asserted that the owner of the Nickelodeon TV network was promoting various products that infringed its trademark rights to the words and design of the "Flying V," its more than five-decade-old electric guitar known for its distinctive look. The judge decided that Gibson wasn't specific enough in making allegations against Viacom versus its U.K.-based licensee John Hornby Skewes & Co. However, the judge is allowing Gibson to amend its lawsuit complaint. You can find the Judge's ruling in full here on Scribd.

Nickelodeon UK And Appy Food And Drinks Co. Partner For Brand New Healthy And Interactive Kids' Fruit Juice Range

The Publican's Morning Advertiser, the only weekly pub trade publication in the UK, has announced the Nickelodeon UK news that Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products UK (NVCP UK) has signed a exclusive licensing agreement with Appy Food & Drinks Co. for characters from some of Nickelodeon's most popular properties to be the faces of a brand new healthy, delicious, fun and interactive juice drink range, which claims to be the first juice drink for kids to use Stevia, a natural zero calorie sweetener, to make sure every day is an Appy Day!

The range will launch with three flavours featuring popular Nickelodeon characters - Orange & Pineapple ("SpongeBob SquarePants"), Tropical Vitamin Boost ("Dora the Explorer"), and Apple & Blackcurrant ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") - will be available, and a further three flavours for the range for the product line are planned for later in the year. Each flavour will be available to buy as Tetra (cardboard) cartons (single cartons or as a 5 pack) and in a pouch design (available in 5 and 10 packs). Each pouch will come with a exclusive sticker sheet from collectibles, digital media, distribution, licensing and publishing company Panini featuring characters and props, and a special QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone to give access to a range of games and puzzles on the Appy Drinks App, said co-founder Bobby Patel. A Special Scan and Win competition will also be launched soon.

Nickelodeon UK To Premiere "House Of Anubis" Season 3 From April 2013!

Breaking Nickelodeon UK News: Nick UK and Ireland have today announced in a brand new teaser trailer/promo (transcript below) the very exciting Nick News that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will start to premiere and show season three of Nickelodeon's hit mystery drama series "House Of Anubis", dubbed "The Reawakening", in April 2013! Nickelodeon UK is expected to announce the exact premiere airdate and time for the third season of "House Of Anubis" very soon! SIBUNA!:

A new year.

[Eddie Miller (Burkely Duffield): Something really, really evil is going on here.]

New faces.

[Eddie: Not everyone is who they say they are.]

New danger.

[Victor Rodenmaar Jr. (Francis Magee): They shall not [...].]

Unlock the secret.

[Eddie: A great evil is about to be unleashed.]

Discover the clues.

[Fabian Rutter (played by Brad Kavanagh): Trust no one.]

And awaken an all new mystery.

The House of Anubis, season 3, coming this April, only on Nickelodeon.

Remember to keep voting for "House Of Anubis" to win Favourite UK TV Show in the Nickelodeon 2013 Kids' Choice Awards! Vote online at kca.nick.co.uk and/or on Twitter using the special hashtags #KCAUK #VoteAnubisUK!

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