[njharman]

> owns the rights to the name "flipper"

What rights do you imagine grant ownership of the word "flipper" exactly? I believe there's only four IP rights granted in US; Trade/Service mark, Patent, Copyright and Trade Secret? Which of those could possibly prevent a electronic device have same name as a TV Show?

[yeahdef]

...let's say instead of a dolphin named flipper, the character / avatar on the product was a plumber with a big mustache named "Mario". You're telling me Nintendo isn't filing a C&D?