Call Signs, Slogans, Jingles, and Characters: The Bits and Pieces of Broadcasting

For broadcasters, disputes over call signs, slogans, jingles, and characters can be the most intense and important encounters with copyright or trademark law. They mark the media outlet's public persona and reputation. Since imitation of the leader is not only great flattery but also an effective way to compete, a competitor's taking of key trademarks usually signals a strike at the heart of a broadcaster's base.