Slap Chop Remix Being Used As A Real TV Ad

from the fantastic dept

Tue, Jul 14th 2009 11:20am — Mike Masnick

Back in May, we wrote about the amazing remixed autotuned "rap remix" of the infamous Slap Chop infomercial. In the post, we noted that the ad was almost certainly infringing on basic copyright, but it was actually doing an amazing job attracting more attention to the product. It's much more entertaining than the original ad itself. And, amazingly, it looks like the folks behind Slap Chop (no slouches when it comes to recognizing viral ways to get their message out to the world) have embraced the remix. Details are minimal, but Lee points us to the news that the remix is going to start airing on TV as a real commercial for the Slap Chop:

Once again, it's great to see the convergence of a few different things we talk about here, including how advertising is content and content is advertising, along with a better way to respond to "infringement," by recognizing how you can take advantage of it, rather than breaking out the lawyers and threatening to sue.

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Filed Under: advertising, content, copyright, remix, slapchop

38 Comments

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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 14 Jul 2009 @ 11:32am

Awesomesauce
Variations of that have pitched since what? The Eighties? And yet I still watch that whole vid. I think they're onto something there.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2009 @ 11:52am

If this amazing remix is an example of cultural enhancement purportedly being held back by copyright law, then I guess it is time to turn off the TV and read a book.
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Boring Tuna, 14 Jul 2009 @ 11:54am

Boring Life
There is nothing better than calling out how boring tuna will lead to a boring life...
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2009 @ 11:56am

As Mike has said, content is advertising. Its an awesome job of remixing to make it very entertaining.
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Anon Y Mous, 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:03pm

It is already running. You can't miss it. It is WAY long. Check the brand extension channels on digital cable (ID and Military in particular) as that is where I recall seeing it.
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emptywalls, 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:08pm

I saw this awhile ago on Huffington Post. It's really cool to see it here on TechDirt, I love this remix. I think it's great that the Slap Chop people have recognized exactly what they had in this remix. For whatever reason, I find Vince Offer and the late Billy Mays to be so interesting and fun to watch.
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Charles, 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:10pm

Bah! The TF2 scout does it better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7QIcxoJU4g

or the Heavy for Kaboom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHgEnN2PFzo
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lavi d (profile), 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:14pm

Uh Huh
...a better way to respond to "infringement," by recognizing how you can take advantage of it, rather than breaking out the lawyers and threatening to sue.

That's all well and good until someone produces a Slap-Chop video using mice.
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chris (profile), 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:17pm

Re:
and sham wow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zhHRcxc_qM&NR=1
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Killer_Tofu (profile), 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:17pm

Nice
Great, now the remix is going to be stuck in my head for another week.
It is quite well done in my opinion.
Catchy.
One of the only times I look forward to seeing a tiny infomercial.
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John Doe, 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:35pm

That is cool...
The remix is cool, but the original infomercial is so annoying that the first time I saw it I thought it was a spoof. That device has been around forever and the guy pitching it is so CHEESY I can't believe anyone would buy anything he is selling.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2009 @ 12:45pm

Re:
Ok captain wet blanket. I'm sure glad your sour puss was able to cast your attention this way before shambling off to your painted gray bedroom for a nice nap on nondescript sheets and pillows filled with BORING!
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Richard Altman, 14 Jul 2009 @ 1:22pm

if they can provide
and make public the increase in revenue this is the kind of stuff those automatons programmed to litigate like its 1999 and earlier need to see to maybe at least say "you know, ..." ease up on the laws of copyright infringement with fair use, cause it may make them money to do so. (psst...we all know it would, and probably some of us who bother to make these creatively warped sketches as well)
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2009 @ 1:29pm

ok, that was freakin amazing.
yes, the exact same thing has been around for the last twenty years or so, but A)I watched the entire thing and B)I now would have no problem buying one simply for the fact that they are taking that and using it as an ad rather than suing the hell out of the guy that put it together.
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yogi, 14 Jul 2009 @ 1:31pm

Genius
The guy that made this remix is a genius.

I found it riveting - I actually watched it until the end and then went to see the (boring, sleep-inducing) original.

This is the first commercial I've watched in ages.

The only thing is - how do I get it to stop from running over and over in my head?

If i buy a slapchop, will the music stop? I guess I'll buy a slapchop.slapchop chopslap. must have chapslop slopchap.chipchapslop. whatever.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2009 @ 1:38pm

And woot has a set of knock offs today for $12. :)
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E-Rocker, 14 Jul 2009 @ 1:52pm

Two quick questions:
- Is/should the creator of the re-mix be compensated or is it still seen as property of the Slap Chop people?
- Do we really have to love his nuts?
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MattP, 14 Jul 2009 @ 2:29pm

Re: Uh Huh
There will always be unintended uses for products showing up. The advantage is that unless they made a video using mice 'awesome' so that people want to watch it then it will fall into the vast pit of obscurity and be forgotten.

For some reason your post makes me think of the Bass-o-Matic Saturday Night skit where the whole premise is that they're blending Bass into a drink. Completely gross, absolutely hilarious, and in no way altered my decision to buy my last blender.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2009 @ 4:37pm

What about the monkeys?
It's all fun and games until someone uses that thing to slap their monkey.
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Swiggy (profile), 14 Jul 2009 @ 7:26pm

Slap Chop Remix
It's amazing how easy it is to put an unauthorized commercial together: and how willing corporations, if not embracing them outright, turn a blind eye to what you do, as long as you don't really trash their product.

In the mid-90's, I operated a website called the Church of SPAM. The good people at Hormel® never bothered me because I only sang praises of SPAM®, while trouncing rival, ripoff product Treet®. At the same time they were shutting down other sites that used their name inappropriately, I was left alone.

For the last year, I've had a video on YouTube that concerns Burger King.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8WqtToeHpE

Again, not only no comment from Burger King, but I've had folks suggest I should do commercials for them.

You be the judge.
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Joe, 14 Jul 2009 @ 7:55pm

Ha, its pretty funny yet catchy.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Jul 2009 @ 12:21am

Using this remix isn't exactly rocket science, it's a cute remix that people will enjoy (to some point).

The reason they embrace it? They have NOTHING to lose. There is no lost sales of the original commercial (nobody was buying the ad, just the product), and the remix helps to extend the ad and make more sales (the intent).

Not exactly the music industry, is it? The object in music is to sell music, not a third product. So there is no easy way to link this to music unless you first assume that nobody is buying music.
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Matt, 15 Jul 2009 @ 5:28am

Re:
Wow....no, not even close actually.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Jul 2009 @ 8:17am

Someone link to the story of the re-mixer suing slap chop for unauthorized use of the remix.
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Rachel, 27 Jul 2009 @ 11:20am

DUDE
I just saw this commercial today! It took up the entire commercial break, and I laughed my butt off!
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Viola, 30 Jul 2009 @ 6:10pm

awsomenesss
this clip is awesome ^^ i can watch it like a bajillion times
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anon, 19 Sep 2009 @ 4:59pm

i would never wathc the original commercial, but i saw this late one night and did watch it, so it is definitly a way to hold viewers.
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Susan D, 23 Oct 2009 @ 9:54pm

Awesome Vid
It never gets old. I love it. Love the slap chop too.
Great item they're cheap now. Ebay.com has them cheap and i found a website that sells them for under 14 bucks including shipping! (www.embdoc.com) btw it really isnt the best when chopping tomotatoes ;(
Best used when doing a lot of cooking.
Susan D.
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SarezJay, 24 Oct 2009 @ 9:57am

I just saw this on TV. this is incredible.
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Neil, 2 Dec 2009 @ 12:30pm

Kidding me
The guy is fu#*ing annoying and it's got to be the stupidist thing around. And for you people who think it's great and you love the commercial, you should have your heads examined as well.. bunch of idiots.!!
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neil, 2 Dec 2009 @ 12:36pm

Re: idiot
well we have one idiot right here. Grt a life!!!
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neil, 2 Dec 2009 @ 12:40pm

Re: idiot
If you need one of these to chop a tomato.. (not the way you spelled it moron..) your the stupidest person alive.
you americans are the stupidest people alive..
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fritz..., 13 Dec 2009 @ 6:35am

watch this ur gonna love my nuts..
watch this ur gonna love my nuts..
watch this ur gonna love my nuts..
watch this ur gonna love my nuts..!!!
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neogamer, 1 Mar 2010 @ 1:24pm

you have to eat my nuts
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neogamer, 3 Mar 2010 @ 1:25pm

slap chop remix
it is stupid to use slap chop for your nuts
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reymundo, 3 Mar 2010 @ 1:28pm

slap chop remix
i am dumb and but slap chop is better than me
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a, 18 Mar 2010 @ 10:45pm

hilarious
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Neogamer, 19 Apr 2010 @ 2:30pm

go to youtube and type in youtube poop that 70s show
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