At the end of last week, our imagination was captured by American Start-up GoldieBlox and their advert set to a parody of the Beastie Boys...
Watch the video here:
This morning, we have come in to news that the Beastie Boys have threatened to sue GoldieBlox for Copyright Infringement stating that it is 'a big problem' that has 'a very significant impact'.
More than 8m viewers have watched the video on YouTube and the brand awareness for GoldieBlox and Beastie Boys alike is phenomenal. GoldieBlox is claiming that as a parody, the version is newly recorded and free to use under the 'Fair Use' Laws, but potentially it will be argued that they should have asked permission!
The interesting thing will be to watch the implications of both the advert and the lawsuit; turning to John Lewis and their #BearAndHare advert, the exposure triggered massive sales for Lily Allen. There is a significant possibility that the Beastie Boys will also benefit in the same way and if they do, how will the judge rule when they have made significant money from it?
We're waiting with bated breath to see how this particular lawsuit unfolds, particularly as it may well set a precedent for rulings on professional AND personal parodies alike!
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