According to the Media Guardian site (can't link directly as you have to sign in):
"Coca-Cola has avoided potential litigation by reaching an agreement with a London-based band over the use of a video clip and music that resembled the group's song, Ninja.
The agreement covers a payment to the band, called Seven Seconds of Love, with a portion of the money going to two charities - baby charity Tommy, and stillbirth society Sands.
Seven Seconds of Love is headed by Joel Veitch, more well-known for the cult website rathergood.com and his video of an animated cat bouncing around in a Ninja suit.
The band approached Coca-Cola after fans in South America contacted them to let them know about the TV and online campaign promoting Coca-Cola Light, which used a similar creative execution to Ninja's animation and music. The Ninja track was only available online.
The solicitors Olswang* brokered the agreement between the band and Coca-Cola Latin America.
"The band was in a strong position because it owns various forms of intellectual property for the Ninja song and video," said Michael Burdon, head of intellectual property and a partner at Olswang.
"This dispute clearly demonstrates the international nature of international property rights and enforcement. The band may never have known about the ad in Argentina if it had not been for the internet."
Seven Seconds of Love will be using the some of the money to help launch an EP that will feature the Ninja track.
In addition, Peter Jenner of Sincere Management, who has 40 years experience managing the likes of Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Clash and Billy Bragg, has signed on as manager of the band."
Hurrah for the internet! (and the for steam-powered media nodes that picked up the story as well, to be fair, or I doubt Coke would have given a monkey's, but there we go, new media and old working in harmony, like when the homemade Stealth Viper took on that weird spidership while it was distracted by two different older spaceships on Battlestar Galactica in series two) An inside informant told me that one particular news studio had purchased a whole set of plush ninja kittens to (discreetly) show their support, so they'll be pleased. A good day for lovers of S. K. A. music everywhere.
* hahahahhaha 'Olswang'
21 comments:
" hahahahhaha 'Olswang'"
hehehe
Hurrah for the internet! I knew it would come in useful one day.
Woo hooo power to the people. Now where can I buy a plush ninja cat?
That would be rathergood.com. I already have a Spongmonkey which my sister bought me for Christmas, and he is such a handsome devil.
I heard about this yesterday - Seven Seconds of Love have just PWND one of the biggest business superpowers in the world.
The WORLD.
Cap'n Pat, Joel et al; I SALUTE YOU SIRS.
Wonderful news; even better still that they're giving some of the proceeds to charities like Tommy's. :-)
I will email my channel 4 contact posthaste and see if we can get it on the telly, if only to see a representative from Olswang in the flesh.
Although it seems that the ad agency (who did the plagiarising, after all) got off scot free. But then I'd guess that Coke doesn't *really* mind that one of its ads went, like, totally viral.
w00t w00t that's great news for the band go them :D
Of course, I knew about them before they had a manager.
Whoo for them though!
Yay, I LIKE THE MOON and this news makes me very happy.
James, I just received my copy of Green Wing Sript Book* today, and I was just wondering how you officially spelled Mac's name. The end credits on the DVD's spell it Macartney, the book has it MacCartney, and if I remember rightly, the Special has it as MaCartney. So which one is it?
*Excellent work! I particularly enjoyed your 'How To Write An Episode Of Green Wing - A game for around seven players, or "writers"'. Hilarious! :D
OOhhh Going to see Seven seconds of love in Feb ....can't wait
Yeah me too!!
Awesome sound.
When are they going to add Newcastle to their tour?
I once applied for a summer placement with Olswang. Didn't get it mind. Probably for the best I wouldn't want to work for a firm called after a word verification.
Wait. "The international nature of international property rights." Does that seem funny to anyone else? No? Just me, then. Hm.
I'm supposing they meant 'intellectual property rights'.
Ah, that would make sense!
S.K.A - hilarious! Been listening to 7 Seconds Of Love in the car lately - bit odd to hear your 7 yr old son in the back going: "Let's get wasted ..." Am wondering if my biker bint gene found its way into his genetic make up after all. Hmmm.
My bosses brother-in-law is quite big in Olswang *snigger* I may never be able to speak with him on the phone again without laughing down the handset at him. I hope yo're happy. No, really I do :)
Olswang a bit like Wetwang -incidentally my favourite road sign - oh and one of my clients shhhhh!
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