NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) -- Director Spike Lee has dropped his suit against Viacom, which would have prevented the entertainment conglomerate from renaming its TNN channel Spike TV.
The suit had claimed the proposed channel unfairly used Lee's name and would make viewers think it was associated with him. Lee won a temporary court order preventing the name change but asked New York Supreme Justice Walter Tolub to vacate the order Monday.
The New York Times reported Viacom had put the cost of the suit at a minimum $17 million in wasted promotional and advertising fees. The company had argued Lee was hardly the only Spike in the world and has no exclusive title to the name.
Details of the settlement were not released but Lee had been expected to receive some financial compensation. Viacom told E!Online it was "very happy" with the settlement.
Spike TV is aimed at a young male audience. It will air such shows as "Baywatch" and an animated series featuring Pamela Anderson as the voice of "Striperella," a superhero who works as an exotic dancer.
