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NetZero Creatively Recreates AOL Commercial As Anti-AOL Commercial

Too Much Free Time

from the sneaky,-there dept

Tue, Nov 23rd 2004 12:11pm — Mike Masnick
It's one of those painfully slow holiday week news days, without much going on in the wide world of tech. So, all the stories we seem to be seeing are somewhat random, such as this one from Dan , who writes: "I direct your attention to a NetZero commercial that ran during last nights CSI:Miami. The commercial in question takes a stab at the latest round of horribly annoying AOL commercials. It seems that the makers of the NetZero commercial took this AOL commercial, and dubbed over it. The dialogue in the new commercial is as follows: "Sir? It seems that some of our customers are switching to NetZero." "Which ones?" "Looks like all of them." Shot of hundreds of people: "BYE AOL!!" This seems like a risky step for NetZero. This opens them up for a whole round of lawsuits from AOL. But, in my opinion, the gratification is well worth it. " This would be the same AOL commercial that seems to suggest (on its own) that AOL users hate their service. In trying to confirm this story, I haven't been able to find a version of the NetZero commercial online, but have spoken with a few people who insist, rather than an overdub, it's a remake of the original commercial. Still, it's an interesting legal question. Is remaking a competitor's commercial with a very different meaning a protected parody? Or will AOL see it as infringement. NetZero is probably banking on the extra publicity either way. Update: Looks like they redid the both annoying AOL ads, but made them both look very, very similar. The ad agency that did them is hosting a comparison of the ads, so you can see the original AOL ads and the new NetZero ones.
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15 Comments

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  • identicon
    Mikester, 23 Nov 2004 @ 1:00pm

    Apologevent

    I saw this last night too. Unfortunately, as with most commercial breaks, I had the commercials mostly tuned out (I hope this isn't illegal yet). I hadn't realized until the end that it was in fact a NetZero commercial and not the original, annoying AOL one, so I can't be sure either if it was a remake or a dub. Either way, this "Apologevent" will probably generate some press and do NetZero a favour.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      anono-mouse, 26 Nov 2004 @ 8:23pm

      Re: Apologevent

      It isn't illegal, even if it wasn't a parody, there is nothing illegal about using similar looking ads, unless AOL went and copyrighted the whole genre or something.
      It'll prolly piss em off tho, and it generally isn't a good idea to piss off people with lots of lawyers, they may sue just to rake up cost even tho they wouldn't have ligit case.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mark Murphy, 23 Nov 2004 @ 6:16pm

    Looks like a pseudo-dub to me

    Just saw most of it a few seconds ago. I think what they did was keep real snippets of the actual ad, and put NetZero voiceovers on bits with no dialogue or where they put in their own images (e.g., crowd shot with NetZero banners).

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dustin Fasching, 27 Nov 2004 @ 3:54pm

    NetZero Commercial is not re-dubbed.

    I was one of the actors in the NetZero commercial that shows all the AOL members leaving. To be specific, I am the guy standing behind the guy that tells the receptionist we're leaving. Everything was reshot (masterfully I might add) with all new actors and a dummy set. The receptionist was played by a remarkable doppleganger. So, hopefully no lawsuits.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      MrPerson, 9 Dec 2004 @ 4:25pm

      Re: NetZero Commercial is not re-dubbed.

      How is that acting? I am an actor too, I stood behind some guy doing some thing behind a truck that was selling hotdogs in that one commercial with that dog!!

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MrPerson, 9 Dec 2004 @ 4:27pm

    Okay Mr. Netzero

    How is that acting. I was an actor too then I guess... I stood behind some guy doing some thing behind a truck that was selling hotdogs in that one commercial with that dog!!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      trailerparkbarbie, 27 Apr 2005 @ 2:56pm

      Re: Okay Mr. Netzero

      Wow, that was a really lame comment. You obviously have no idea what it's like to be an actor in L.A. Is it really neccesary to put other people down like that? Grow up.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fran, 13 Dec 2004 @ 4:41pm

    Netzero commercial

    I saw that commercial too, and in addition, I saw another netzero commercial today that made fun of the other AOL commercial (where the lady with the baby jumps up on the table) and I COULD SWEAR the actress playing the lady is the same person.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    audrie, 14 Dec 2004 @ 9:34pm

    There are others

    How about these two that also appear to be what I call "stolen commercials":

    1. AOL commercial with lady and the baby that gets on the table. NetZero turns that one around to their corner.

    2. Netscape gives Net Zero a taste of its own medicine when it steals the commercial where the Net Zero guy sits next to the Netscape guy and shows him why he should switch. In the Net Zero version he switches back!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      wizzie, 28 Dec 2004 @ 2:59pm

      Re: There are others

      Regarding No. 2: Are you sure that's the case? I thought both of them were Netscape commercials.

      In the first, the dork on the right switches to Netscape while delivering a (very annoying) "Shhh..."

      In the second, the dork on the right switches to Netscape while saying, "I'm a Netscape guy."

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    steve tavlin, 27 Dec 2004 @ 11:05am

    'netscape guy"

    The guy who switches his IP from Earthlink to Netscape. This is a brilliant commercial. My kids wanted to change just cause they get a kick out of him.

    Steven T.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    joe, 15 Nov 2008 @ 12:21pm

    peoplepc

    peoplepc suck it is to slow and acceleration does not work web page allways down and you cant get your money back what ever you do dont get peoplepc for internet!! if you wont good internet get netzero 3g high speed internet it is the best that money can buy please check them out at www.netzero.net

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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