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Who's Suing Hyundai For This Ad?

by Edward Niedermeyer
(IC: employee)
March 1st, 2010 3:00 PM
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Think you have it figured out? Hit the jump for the answer…
Yes, it’s Louis Vuitton, for the subtle basketball graphics-check. Reuters reports:
Estimating that “tens of millions” of Super Bowl viewers and an “untold number” of online viewers saw the commercial, [LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA] said Hyundai intended the ad “to benefit commercially from the fame and renown of the LVM Marks by creating a false association between Louis Vuitton and its automobiles.”
Louis Vuitton is seeking triple damages, punitive damages, a halt to the alleged infringement, and other remedies.
Remember kids, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything.
[UPDATE: Could GM sue LV for this ad?]
Published March 1st, 2010 2:51 PM
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pause the video at the 5 second mark. the LV corporate logo is dead center of screen underneath os the two X's. seems pretty clear copyright infringement.
Read the logo. It's LZ. The pattern is similar to LV's handbag pattern, but quite different. It's similar enough to look like it in a half-second flash on TV, but not enough to fool the ladies if you buy them one. Unless Louis Vutton can prove that they hold an ironclad copyright on anything vaguely cross-shaped and circle shaped, they don't have a case.
This commercial was about the idea of luxury, and Hyundai used the LV likeness. Can someone who actually knows law comment about this? This commercial had chandelier, Crown Vic, vending machines, and others. This commercial was depicting luxury and wanted to convey the idea of luxury. @taxman100, sorry, Hyundai couldn't make its own version of Pontiac Aztek or Buick Skylark.
A heartless piece of snarky posturing made by a foreign corporation - Or a damn funny ad made by a company who was beat down for a long time and is now in ascendancy?