As we reported yesterday, the Channel 4 documentary/soap/reality TV/fly-on-the-wall show Gogglebox now has its own adult parody, but Channel 4 are not happy about it at all!
The parody, Gobblec****, is set in the same format as Gogglebox, with characters who are similar to those featured on the hit show…
But rather than watching shows such as X factor and Strictly Come Dancing, the stars watch adult movies together whilst sharing their reactions, and actions, with the audience.
We can see why Channel 4 wouldn’t be best pleased, given that not not only has their Bafta award-winning show format been ridiculed, but the parody has mimicked the show’s format in great detail, even down to the narrator’s voice over and main characters, including a posh pair called Beth and Don who are meant to represent Dom and Steph in the hit Channel 4 version.
The Sun newspaper quotes a source at the network as saying on the matter:
“Channel 4 are not happy to have Television X making a show so similar to Gogglebox in everything but for the fact it is about people watching porn movies rather than normal telly.
“In the past, they would’ve sent a strong legal letter warning, but the law that came in in October effectively protects them from prosecution, so their hands are tied.”
Unfortunately for Channel 4, and any viewer who happens to stumble across this atrocity, this particular new legislation allows people to freely make parodies out of copyright protected material from film and TV without any legal or financial consequences for doing so.
This change in the law has been made in response to the ever growing spoof market which has proved popular with viewers over the last few years. Though, we are sure you will agree, this is the most risque of shows to have put the new law to the test to date.
According to the laws currently in place – and which are enforced by The Intellectual Property Office – people are free to “make minor uses of other people’s copyright material for the purposes of parody, caricature or pastiche, without first asking for permission”.
We need new laws, or at least legal loopholes in this one which could stop anything this icky from happening ever again!
Watch the eyeball friendly trailer for Gobblec**** in the clip below, if you really want to!
