01 November 2007 If You Drink And Drive…
…then you’re probably going to be subject to similar campaigns. Or at least its likely if you drink Heineken and drive a Holden.
Julian Cole linked me to an interesting little blog Talent Imitates, Genius Steals written by Faris Yakob. After looking through it just last night and then watching an episode of House, I noticed a rather familiar commercial.
The “original” was for Heineken beer, and much like many of the beer commercials it was a pretty kickin’ advert…
And the “stolen” is for Holden’s new ute, which is also a pretty sweet advert…
Does anyone else spot the similar theme there?
Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re both great ads, particularly Holden’s use of Aussie rock band Jet (and their single Rip It Up), but it raises the question as to what level can two campaigns be similar? Where is the line between stealing someone else’s creative idea and imitating another?
Take a look at You Thought We Wouldn’t Notice? and see for yourself.
Is it really genius to steal?
Julian Cole
Posted at November 2, 2007 5:50pm, 02 NovemberThat is so funny, I had not made the connection between the two ads, I had seen them but had not thought of them as stealing from each other. But now that I look at them together, it is clear that Holden have done a nice little copy.
P.s I am a big fan of Six Pixels, Jaffe juice and Managing the Grey
Wags
Posted at November 2, 2007 11:00pm, 02 NovemberIt happens in other industries, too. Have you read the story of the “Wilhelm Scream”, a sound effect that first appeared in a film in the 1950’s and has been used hundreds of times since? See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio for a small sample!