Powershop pulls Darth Vader outdoor campaign after complaint from Lucasfilm
Online electricity retailer Powershop has been forced to withdraw an outdoor campaign which compares its competitors to Star Wars’ evil tyrant Darth Vader after a complaint from Lucasfilm.
The campaign, launched in September, featured an image like that of the iconic Star Wars character but drew attention from the studio which owns all the rights associated with the franchise created by George Lucas, as it had not licensed the use of the likeness.
The company said in a statement: “Powershop Australia Pty Limited (Powershop) acknowledges that some of the images and text previously appearing on our website and on Powershop’s advertising and promotional material could be similar to copyrighted artistic works owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC and its affiliated companies.
“Some members of the public may have believed that Powershop was authorised to use Lucasfilm’s intellectual property. In light of this, Powershop has removed the material from the market and apologises for any inconvenience caused.”
The billboard ads were created by New Zealand agency DoubleFish.
Miranda Ward
Given Lucasfilm/Disney make millions out of the Star Wars brand annually, you would think they could have given Powershop Australia some leeway on this. The ad is purely satirical, would not have been intended to pass off the Star Wars brand and if anything is something of backhanded compliment! What’s the old saying: “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery!”
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Lucasfilm, even prior to the acquisition by Disney, was renowned for being one of the most litigious brand owners out there. Every agency knows this. Except one, it would seem.
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And there’s an even older saying – “Ask, and ye shall receive”
Had Powershop Australia put in a proposal to use Lucasfilm’s trademarked property, I’m sure they would have been very forthcoming, in allowing them to go ahead with the advertising campaign.
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Great artwork! Shame it has to be scrapped
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Give them a bit of leeway? They’re not a bloody charity and neither is Powershop. They’re trying to make money for themselves – why should someone who created something from their own idea let others profit from that? Also, Star Wars doesn’t need a compliment from a brand. Not sure you noticed but it’s legendary enough.
Jeez. Talk about naive.
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I wonder if McDonalds Australia had to pay up….
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Leeway. I have a VPN. I’ll just download it for free.
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