Non-profit Responds To Threatened Lawsuit From Ferrari By 'Remaking' Video To Hide The Ferrari

from the but-solidar-hits-back dept

Mon, Feb 25th 2013 11:46am — Mike Masnick

Qûr Tharkasdóttir writes in to let us know that luxury automobile maker Ferrari is allegedly threatening to sue Swiss NGO Solidar (actually a network of NGOs focused on social justice) for daring to use a Ferrari in their recent commercial that appears to be making fun of rich bankers. The original is here (for now, at least): In response, Solidar has released an updated version of the commercial in which, they've made a small change. See if you can spot it: Just in case you can't see the videos, here are two screenshots. First from the original video:

And here's the "new" version. You might spot the change.

You'd think that a brand like Ferrari would know better than to threaten a group focused on increasing social justice around the globe. There's no way that argument ends well for Ferrari -- even if they "win."

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Filed Under: ngo, threats, trademark
Companies: ferrari, solidar

22 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:11pm

They should add...
"Computer graphics courtesy of" followed by the Ferrari logo. Since it's not for commerce, with no chance of confusion, trademark wouldn't apply. And I know they don't have fair use doctrine over there but it would pretty clearly be commentary too.
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S. T. Stone, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:14pm

Ha ha, excellent move on the NGO�s part.
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Yakko Warner (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:16pm

Where's the funny button for articles?
That's some funny stuff right there.

Although they could've highlighted the offending party by making the caption read "Car obscured due to legal claim by Ferrari S.p.A."
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McCrea (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:24pm

Switch it to a Lamborghini. I'm sure one of the companies accept the stigma of their products.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:29pm

The idea of combining trademark, copyright and patent under the umbrella term of intellectual property induces stupidity in those who think that they own it. They think its ours, and therefore we decide where it can be used.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:33pm

IP Culture
What would movies and TV shows look like if showing cars on screen required permission from each car's maker? Sure, it's ridiculous, but we've pushed intellectual property law to ridiculous extremes elsewhere, so why not here?
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:39pm

Perhaps I missed something, but I did not find a link to the alleged threat.
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PaulT (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:43pm

Re: IP Culture
A lot of productions already make a chunk of their budget from product placement, including cars (the Bond franchise, for example). I wouldn't be surprised if they started trying the opposite - one of our cars is seen in a film we didn't pay for and we think gives the car a negative image? Bring on the lawyers!
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:50pm

Looks like Swiss NGO Solidar hired the Olympics committee to come in and cover up the name brand in question no?
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David Muir (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:52pm

Re:
Even with today's amazing technology advances, alleged threats are still unlinkable.
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ahow628 (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:54pm

HDR
Wow, that HDR filter really makes all the difference in the world.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 12:59pm

Re: They should add...
Yeah I was expecting it to be a big black block that said "not a ferrari"
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Q�r Tharkasd�ttir, 25 Feb 2013 @ 1:16pm

Re: link to threat
I guess we have to take Solidar's word that they got a phoen call froma a lawyer or something
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Q�r Tharkasd�ttir (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 1:21pm

Lamborghini
You bet. If I remember well, it was Lamborghini's boss that forced one of their workers to get rid of that Lamborghini he'd bought used.
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Mr. Applegate, 25 Feb 2013 @ 1:43pm

Actually, could be a brilliant move
Ferrari having seen the Streisand effect and knowing that there is no Such Thing As Bad Publicity, just got a bunch of free press.

The over paid bankers will love it.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Feb 2013 @ 2:06pm

Re: Actually, could be a brilliant move
Come to think of it, there probably IS a lot of overlap between "people who can afford luxury cars" and "people who enjoy abusing intellectual property law".

I wonder if we're going to start seeing yacht advertisements featuring public libraries being burned down?
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cryptozoologist (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 2:40pm

that settles it...
i will not be buying a ferrari anytime soon
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Mr. Smarta** (profile), 25 Feb 2013 @ 3:01pm

Not a Ferrari logo, me thinks.
Looking at the video, the logo on the front of the car doesn't look exactly like a Ferrari logo. I zoomed in really close, and I could swear it reads either "RIAA" or "MPAA". Not sure. Can anyone else verify?
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Feb 2013 @ 3:50am

Re: Re: IP Culture
unfortunately, that does happen- it's why if a brand name s mentioned in a TV show, it's probably product placement.
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Tex Arcana (profile), 26 Feb 2013 @ 11:37am

Re: Not a Ferrari logo, me thinks.
No no no no no, you have it all wrong!! It's the legal team's logo, and it reads thusly:

Avv. Santa Ricci
Avv. Gabriele Consiglio
Avv. Paolo Lazzarino
Avv. Gianluca Massimei

FERRARI S.p.A.
clo NCTM Studio Legale Associato
Via Bissolati, n. 76
00187 Rome (Italy)
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Mar 2013 @ 3:47am

Re: IP Culture
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Sep 2016 @ 6:46pm

Go ferrari - sue these idiots!
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