Troubles in Harlem

This story should lead to some debate about the free market and possibly copyrights. This is from today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

It turns out that someone has decided to copy the Harlem Globetrotters and try to make a couple bucks off it. The Harlem Ambassadors (creative name...at least be from Queens or something) are complaing that the Globetrotters are taking away their business. If you want the entire story, check out the LINK.

Long story short, the Globetrotters have a clause in their contract with the venues they play at that forbids the venue from booking another basketball/entertainment related group for a set time (6-8 weeks) before and after the 'Trotters are there. Sounds fair in my book. Why let imitators come in right before they are there. It is supposedly common for special entertainment performances (circuses, etc.)

Here is my thought. How the hell can the Globetrotters be "taking away business" from a group that basically copied the Globetrotters? The Ambassadors have been around for only 8 years. The Globetrotters have been around forever. If anything this other group should be the ones being pursued. So it is fair to steal someone else's idea and then try to steal their business away from them?!? Come on...get real!