Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Sex Pistols threaten ice-cream firm over 'God Save the Cream' strapline; Guardian, 10/14/09

Mark Sweney, Guardian; Sex Pistols threaten ice-cream firm over 'God Save the Cream' strapline:

Lawyers demand that company stops using Sex Pistols-related imagery on T-shirts, deck chairs and online material

"The company launched its "guerilla ice-cream installation" in Selfridges in September and also uses the phrase "God Save the Cream" in advertising online, on a Facebook profile and the official company website, and in an ad campaign at the Oxford Street department store.

The company also uses a guitar instrumental featuring parts of the national anthem. Promotional material by Selfridges describes the company as "More Sid & Nancy than Ben & Jerry".

Lawyers representing the band are understood to have written a letter to the company demanding that it stop using the Sex Pistols-related strapline and imagery on T-shirts, deck chairs and promotional material online – including the snippet of a guitar version of the national anthem.

There is also understood to be a demand for damages for allegedly "passing off and copyright infringement" based on the fees the band is able to get for licensing its imagery.

"We are a bit dumbfounded that a group that made its reputation for being banned is trying to ban one of our ice creams and claim copyright over the national anthem and the Queen," said Matt O'Connor, founder of the Icecreamists."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/14/sex-pistols-ice-cream

1 comment:

Custom T-shirts said...

Good information...keep it flowing