Spike TV Gets The Go-Ahead

Cable network TNN, the home of Star Trek: The Next Generation reruns, can now officially relaunch itself as Spike TV.

Viacom Inc., the owner of both TNN and the Star Trek franchise, Monday settled out of court with director Spike Lee, who sued the company for infringement over the use of his name, the Associated Press reported.

"We have settled the case with Viacom," Terry Gross, one of Lee's legal team, told the AP. "It's obviously good when parties settle." New York State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub consequently ended the injunction against TNN renaming itself Spike TV.

Although the terms of the settlement have not been revealed by either party, a TNN representative told the Hollywood Reporter that the network is "very happy with the outcome". Both parties are scheduled to meet with Supreme Court Justice Walter Tubb today.

Academy Award-nominee Spike Lee, whose movies include Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing and Bamboozled, last month sued Viacom for infringement, claiming the name "Spike" was indelibly associated with him (story). Actor Edward Norton and Senator Bill Bradley were among those who reportedly thought Lee was associated with the cable network because of its new title.

TNN planned to relaunch itself on June 16 as Spike TV, "the first network for men". The network's programming line-up includes reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Baywatch and Stripperella, an erotic cartoon about a stripper. This last offering caused Spike Lee particular offence. "I don't want to be associated with that Stripperella crap," he said at the time.

A TNN spokesperson said a joint statement on the settlement will be released tomorrow. The original articles can be found at Yahoo! News and the Hollywood Reporter.

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