Out of Humor : Rodney Dangerfield Sues O.C. Firm Over Web Site

By MARLA DICKERSON

June 26, 1997 12 AM PT

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Hear the one about the comic who says an Internet company stole his act? It’s no joke.

Funnyman Rodney Dangerfield is suing Epoch Networks Inc. for $2.8 million, alleging that the Irvine-based company that designed his Web site also swiped his bug-eyed image for promotional gain.

In a suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, his Rodney Dangerfield Entertainment Inc. charged Epoch with selling advertising space on the comedian’s Web site, https://www.rodney.com, without permission, pirating his name and likeness to market its services, and using an Internet audio system purchased by Dangerfield for its own benefit.

Known more for his low-brow humor than high-tech wizardry, the 75-year-old Dangerfield nevertheless was one of the first comedians to take his act to the Internet, where fans can scroll for daily jokes and film clips of the self-deprecating comic.

The site has won several Internet awards. But even in cyberspace, Dangerfield is still searching for a little respect, according to his attorney, Patricia Glaser.

“The whole thing has been galling to Rodney and his wife. . . . This isn’t funny to them,” Glaser said.

Officials from Epoch, which does business under the name Epoch Internet, refused requests for a telephone interview. But in a prepared statement, they called Dangerfield’s allegations “meritless” and say the comic owes them several months worth of fees for maintaining and servicing his Web site.

Epoch no longer provides those services for Dangerfield, who switched to another Internet service provider this year.

“Rodney, we would like you to retract your false statements,” the Epoch release said. “It’s hard to get any respect if you don’t pay your bills.”

According to Dangerfield’s complaint, the comedian entered into an agreement with Epoch in 1995 to design and maintain a Web site to showcase the comic’s jokes.

Dangerfield made a conscious decision not to sell advertising on the site, but this spring noticed a banner ad for Microsoft on the Web page, according to the lawsuit. Research by Dangerfield’s wife, Joan, revealed that Epoch had allowed earlier ads from Ford Motor Co., Life magazine, Visa and other companies, without notifying Dangerfield or offering him compensation, according to the complaint.

Joan Dangerfield was most disturbed by an ad from a firm called Sassy-Sex advertising hard-core interactive pornography, says Glaser.

“She was mortified,” Glaser said. “We’re talking very explicit stuff.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Epoch used Dangerfield’s name, likeness and Web site without permission in its news releases and promotional materials to sell its services to other clients.

Additionally, the suit says, Epoch convinced Dangerfield to purchase the rights to use an Internet technology known as “Real Audio” that would allow the comedian to put sound clips on his Web site.

Dangerfield paid $4,500 and did a cameo promotional spot for Real Audio in exchange for a licensing agreement he thought applied only to his Web site. Instead, Epoch duped Dangerfield into paying for an agreement that allowed Epoch to sell that same technology to other clients for a fee, according to the suit.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Rodney’s Web Site

Home page of the award-winning Web site developed for Rodney Dangerfield by Irvine-based Epoch Networks Inc.:

Address: https://www.rodney.com

Features

* Joke of the Day

* Marketplace: Purchase ties, videos, autographed photos

* Film clips and sound files to be downloaded

* No Respect contest

* Dangerfield’s upcoming projects and appearances

Awards

Some of the cyber awards won by Dangerfield and his site: