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Comic strips Legal

Mike Peters sued for $20M over coffee cartoon

1 minute 31 comments

Offending Mother Goose and Grimm comic

Mother Goose and Grimm creator Mike Peters has been sued by the The Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers over a cartoon published last week poking fun at Columbian Crime and Columbian coffee. The federation alleges that Mike’s cartoon “damages the intellectual heritage.” They’re asking for US$20 million.

According to Columbiareports.com, Mike has apologized in a letter to El Tiempo and says the idea of the cartoon was based on news that the inventor of Pringles had his cremated ashes buried in a Pringles can.

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Comments 31

  1. “According to the coffee growers, the Pulitzer Prize winner’s comic insults Colombia’s national dignity. ”

    Columbia has national dignity? Who knew?

  2. It could be worse … They could be calling for his assassination.

  3. Who knew that a cup of Joe was really a cup of Juan?

  4. I’m no lawyer, but if I were, I’m pretty sure my first bit of advice for a client being sued for $20M would be “don’t write a letter of apology.”

    In any case, Mike’s going to have to pay this Federation an awful lot of money as soon as they show there aren’t any big crime syndicates in Colombia.

  5. The federation alleges that Mikeâ??s cartoon â??damages the intellectual heritage.â?

    Real intellectuals don’t sue over a joke.

  6. I guess this pretty much ruins the plans for the 2010 Reuben Awards in Bogota.

  7. what is it about coffee and frivolous lawsuits?

  8. If the lawsuit is truly frivolous (as I believe it is) I look forward to Mike’s counter lawsuit for frivolous lawsuit filing.

  9. Totally and completely frivolous grounds–but enough about Columbian Coffee, the lawsuit is pretty lame too.

  10. I guess that’s what they mean when they say “it’s a full-bodied cup of coffee.”

  11. I always thought that “Mrs. Olson” character was kind of creepy with a hidden agenda and a phony Scandahoovian accent. Reminded me of a 007 villain!

  12. Things like this is why syndicates keep a battalion of lawyers on call day and night. Hell, if Mike worked for Disney, they would have already staged an invasion of Columbia.

  13. I’ve gotta side with the Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers on this one.

    I mean, how come nobody ever pokes fun at the Maxwell House Crime Syndicate? For shame, Mike!

  14. Small point: Nowhere does it say that a suit has in fact been filed; so it’s probably premature to say Peters has been sued. If and when it is filed, though, it ought to be laughed out of court.

  15. Well, the term, “lawsuit” would imply that it has been filed. Otherwise, it’s just a letter of complaint to the cartoonist and his syndicate. And I’m assuming it’s being filed in Colombia, so it might not be laughed out of court there. But the court would be wise to do so, as this just makes them all look ridiculous.

  17. I can’t wait to see Mike show up to court wearing his Superman costume.

  18. Maybe Mike can get Jackie Chiles to represent him. It worked for Kramer.

    I love Mike’s work, but it’s too bad this dustup occurred over work that isn’t even particularly strong. If you’re gonna get sued, at least have it be over something that really kicks some gluteas maximus.

  19. I dunno Tom when I first read it the other morning I sprayed my double shot nonfat no foam cinnamon venti misto clear across the table through my nose.

  20. When the people is happy with the crimen in Colombia, they are cracy. When someone in USA is buying some cocain, with that money someone is kiling anybody here. Sure you think the USA´s problem with cocaine consumers is a joke too. Please think before write.

  21. I thought it was pretty strong, especially for a comic strip.
    I don’t think much will come of this lawsuit in the U.S. since Larry Flynt and the U.S. Supreme Court has already broken this ground.

  22. “I love Mikeâ??s work, but itâ??s too bad this dustup occurred over work that isnâ??t even particularly strong. If youâ??re gonna get sued, at least have it be over something that really kicks some gluteas maximus.”-Tom H.

    I dunno Tom…implied cannibalism ‘after the fact’ is always a good gag!

    ( I think it especially funny that a goose would eschew eating human! )

  23. “When the people is happy with the crimen in Colombia, they are cracy. When someone in USA is buying some cocain, with that money someone is kiling anybody here. Sure you think the USA´s problem with cocaine consumers is a joke too. Please think before write.”

    Huh? What are you talking about? Americans are ALWAYS joking about crime and drugs in America.

  24. I think he’s gonna be payin’ out the ying-yang…I’m just sayin’.

  25. The Federation needs to back away from the cappuccino machine.

  26. Yeah, well they are going to have to produce Juan to win this … and he hasn’t been seen lately!

  27. … and his burro ain’t talkin’!

  28. The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

  29. They don’t EVEN want to see my cartoon about Juan.

  30. ***The Colombian Hillbilly***

    Come and listen to a story about a man named Juan
    A poor mountaineer, barely kept his coffee farm,
    Then one day he ran clean out of luck,
    â??Cause he saw a hundred keys being loaded on a truck.

    Dope that is, nose candy, Bogota marching powder…

    Well the first thing you know olâ?? Juanâ??s a disappeared,
    Cartel said “Juan we need a volunteer”
    Said “This Folgers can is the place you ought to be”
    So they packed him up & shipped off to the local grocery…

    Krogerâ??s that is, Save-A-Lot, Piggly Wiggly.

    But itâ??s also time to say goodbye to Grimm and all his friends!
    â??Cause he made a joke about that dope and Juan aâ?? droppinâ?? in.
    Heâ??s been invited, â??Hey, come and stay in old Itagui!
    And have a heapinâ?? helpinâ?? of our hospitality!â?

    Like Enrique Camarena that is, suffer a spell, take your ears off.

    Heâ??ll never come back now, y’hear?

  31. RS – That’s a hoot! Good stuff!

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