Dave vs. NBC: Paging Judge Wapner : Television: CBS’ new late-night talk-show host is relaxed despite threats from former employer to lay claim to ‘intellectual properties.’

David Letterman is talking softly in the escalating late-night talk-show war, while NBC may be preparing to use a big stick.

NBC President Robert Wright said Tuesday that the network will fight to keep its former star from taking popular characters and features such as “Stupid Pet Tricks” and “Top 10” lists with him to CBS next month.

“This is not about Dave; it’s about intellectual properties and copyright protection,” Wright told a gathering of television critics at the Universal Hilton.

“What you’re seeing here is that we are telling CBS that there are certain intellectual properties that do not travel with Dave, and we have to work that out, and we have to understand that that is the way it is. I hope there is no confrontation on this issue.”

At a press conference before the same group the night before, Letterman had insisted that “The Late Show With Dave Letterman,” which debuts on CBS Aug. 30, would use basically the same features as his former NBC program.

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“I personally don’t perceive any specific changes at this time,” Letterman said. “One of two things will happen: We’ll do the stuff we want to do and that will be fine. Or we’ll do the stuff we want to do and they’ll sue us.

“And,” he quipped as he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger, “if this comes to trial, be sure and get a seat down front.”

Appearing relaxed and trim in a dark, double-breasted shirt and droopy white socks, Letterman, making his first public appearance since “Late Night With David Letterman” went off NBC June 25, said he was not taking his former employers’ threats seriously.

“They’re all very nice men, they’re all very intelligent men, they’re all reasonable men,” Letterman said. “It would really surprise me if we all didn’t find ourselves on the high road together. I think a lot of what has been said may have been said in fun. I honestly don’t see a problem either way.”

In his defense, Letterman said that he and former “Late Night” writer Merrill Markoe had developed the “Stupid Pet Tricks” feature on his failed NBC morning series, which preceded “Late Night.” He said he owned that show.

As for the “Top 10” list, Letterman said, “We stole that from USA Today.”

Letterman admitted that his best-known foil, “Larry (Bud) Melman,” and other characters such as “Pea Boy,” would probably not make it to the new show, since NBC owns the characters. But Calvert DeForest, who portrays Melman, will be on the new show, he said.

“Oddly enough, Calvert DeForest’s name is owned by ABC,” Letterman cracked.

CBS declined comment Tuesday on Wright’s remarks. But last Saturday, when asked about the dispute, CBS Entertainment President Jeff Sagansky said, “You know, we have invested $1 billion in baseball over the last four years, which NBC is going to get now, and we feel we have a proprietary right to the nine-inning baseball game. And so we are just going to caution them: We don’t mind about eight innings or a six-inning stretch, but nine innings is going to be something that we’re going to take action on this year.”

If the legal wranglings and the pressure of starting up a highly anticipated new late-night show were wearing on Letterman, he didn’t let it show Monday. The usually press-shy comedian smoked a cigar and jostled easily with journalists, even insisting on answering questions past the allotted time.

When asked if his predominantly youthful audience would feel alienated by his reported $14-million-a-year salary, Letterman joked, “If that happens, I’ll just buy a new audience.” He later added, “Most of my money has gone to lawyers and I bought a speedboat, so I’m busted.”

Letterman also expressed confidence about his chances in the late-night arena, where he will go head-to-head at 11:35 p.m with “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” as well as competing with other shows hosted by Arsenio Hall and Chevy Chase. He said he didn’t anticipate any difficulties in booking guests, despite controversial practices of the past in which some shows would refuse to take a performer who had appeared on a competitor first.

“I don’t think booking will get any easier” than it was when he was on at 12:35, he said. “But as far as embargoes or suspensions or prison terms, I don’t foresee any of that.”

Responding to a comment about his apparent lack of worry, Letterman said, “Maybe I’m just dumb, but I don’t find myself in a cloud of anxiety about this.” Pausing a beat, he joked, “Of course, I’m full of gin.”

Letterman said he felt no lingering animosity toward NBC, despite the well-publicized falling out after Leno was named to succeed Johnny Carson as host of “The Tonight Show.” The rift ultimately led to Letterman signing with CBS.

“I kind of believe that things worked out for the better,” he said. “I have no rancor, though I have a little remorse. . . . I’m just six weeks away from doing this show at CBS and I couldn’t be happier. I’m so happy that I have a job and such a great job.”

At a separate press conference Tuesday, Leno said that he was looking forward to competing with Letterman. As to the dispute with NBC, he said, “It’s Dave’s bit. Let him do his bit.”

Unlike with Carson the year before, NBC did not stage an elaborate send-off for Letterman. The comedian said that network president Wright visited him during his last few days there and “we sat and talked for an hour and he gave me some very nice gifts. I appreciated that; that meant a lot to me. That was the extent of the send-off, but I certainly did not want any more and did not expect any more. I like Bob Wright. I think there’s some real humanity there.”

He also had high praise for his successor, Conan O’Brien, and said that he would love to be asked to guest on the new “Late Night.”

Still, Letterman took some pointed shots at NBC and General Electric, which owns the network. When a burst of feedback greeted his appearance on stage, he joked, “It’s the GE equipment.”

Letterman said he would love to have Carson, whom he continually referred to as his hero and a major influence on his life, as one of his first guests.

In fact, he said, he approached Carson a few days ago about that very subject.

“I went up to him in the nicest, most respectful way I could and said, ‘It would be great--I have a new show, you used to work at CBS and, if you could consider it, I would really appreciate it.’

“He looked at me and he said, ‘Get away from the car!’ ”

Letterman joked, smiling mischievously.