Making fun of corporate logos

mr ploppy · 06-10-2011, 01:04 PM

I probably should have asked before doing it, but is it okay to have fictional characters make fun of a corporate logo and/or say that the product itself is horrible?

I know copyright/trademark owners can do whatever they want these days regardless of the law, but if I had to would I have any defence against them?

ATDrake · 06-10-2011, 01:22 PM

You can do it as long as you're not mocking Starbucks, because they're sensitive and delicate souls who'll sue your pants off.

Actually, if you're worried, I think the better thing would to have a thinly-veiled but recognizable parody of the corporation/logo to mock or simply have your characters and narrative always refer to the actual corporation by the nickname alone.

"Arrrhbucks" and their nautically-themed/pirate logo, perhaps.

HarryT · 06-10-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

I probably should have asked before doing it, but is it okay to have fictional characters make fun of a corporate logo and/or say that the product itself is horrible?

I know copyright/trademark owners can do whatever they want these days regardless of the law, but if I had to would I have any defence against them?

Yes, certainly, although the laws of libel do of course still apply.

mr ploppy · 06-10-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, certainly, although the laws of libel do of course still apply.

Can you libel a product just by having someone say it tastes horrible? By then (a couple of chapters later) the drink in question would have gained its new nickname among those characters.

This is more of a "look at that silly logo, it looks like a ..."

HarryT · 06-10-2011, 02:08 PM

No; expressing an opinion is fine. What you couldn't do would be, say, to write a book in which someone drank a branded drink and died as a result (unless of course it wad a murder mystery in which it had been poisoned, of course). Having a character say "I think brand X drink tastes like cat urine" is perfectly OK.

Barcey · 06-10-2011, 05:17 PM

It would be much better to have the characters say how wonderful the product is and hope the mighty corporation will sponsor you. Everything we do must be beneficial for corporations.

Penforhire · 06-11-2011, 11:46 AM

Product placement! You could write a placeholder and see what company wants to sponsor your book. "He lifted a cool clean bottle of xxx to his lips and sighed in relief."

Coke? Pepsi? Frappuchino? No takers? Darn it, water then!

bhartman36 · 06-11-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

You can do it as long as you're not mocking Starbucks, because they're sensitive and delicate souls who'll sue your pants off.

That's just obscene. I don't usually patronize Starbucks, but now I'll damn well make a point of not going there.

06-10-2011, 01:04 PM	#1
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Making fun of corporate logos I probably should have asked before doing it, but is it okay to have fictional characters make fun of a corporate logo and/or say that the product itself is horrible? I know copyright/trademark owners can do whatever they want these days regardless of the law, but if I had to would I have any defence against them?

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06-10-2011, 01:22 PM	#2
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	You can do it as long as you're not mocking Starbucks, because they're sensitive and delicate souls who'll sue your pants off. Actually, if you're worried, I think the better thing would to have a thinly-veiled but recognizable parody of the corporation/logo to mock or simply have your characters and narrative always refer to the actual corporation by the nickname alone. "Arrrhbucks" and their nautically-themed/pirate logo, perhaps.

06-10-2011, 02:08 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No; expressing an opinion is fine. What you couldn't do would be, say, to write a book in which someone drank a branded drink and died as a result (unless of course it wad a murder mystery in which it had been poisoned, of course). Having a character say "I think brand X drink tastes like cat urine" is perfectly OK.

06-10-2011, 05:17 PM	#6
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	It would be much better to have the characters say how wonderful the product is and hope the mighty corporation will sponsor you. Everything we do must be beneficial for corporations.

06-11-2011, 11:46 AM	#7
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Product placement! You could write a placeholder and see what company wants to sponsor your book. "He lifted a cool clean bottle of xxx to his lips and sighed in relief." Coke? Pepsi? Frappuchino? No takers? Darn it, water then!

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