Sony Sues Kevin Butler & Bridgestone Tires
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grumpy_new_yorker
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Following a bizarre turn of events and a highly unlikely TV commercial, actor Jerry Lambert - for years the "face" of the PlayStation brand - is being sued, along with Bridgestone, by none other than Sony itself.
Despite having made something of a name for himself playing the fictional PlayStation executive Kevin Butler, last month Lambert appeared in an advertisement for Bridgestone tyres playing a competitor's product, the Nintendo Wii.
Strangely, the commercial was later edited to remove Lambert from it entirely. Which seemed weird at the time, but it may be explained by the fact that on September 11, Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a suit (spotted by gumby_trucker @ NeoGAF) against both Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, a company registered in 2007 by...Jerry Lambert, who according to California Secretary of State data is also its president (it appears to be the registered name for Butler's handling of his business affairs).
Sony is suing both companies over trademark infringement, I'd wager for their use of Lambert - synonymous now with the PlayStation brand - in a scenario involving video games that aren't PlayStation games. It would be crazy if the fine print of Lambert's contract with Sony didn't include some mention of not being seen to endorse competing products for some set amount of time.
http://kotaku.com/5949607/sony-is-suing-kevin-butler
Click here if you wanna see the court docments:
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/3:2012cv04753/258962/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9WRGjODZDQ
Despite having made something of a name for himself playing the fictional PlayStation executive Kevin Butler, last month Lambert appeared in an advertisement for Bridgestone tyres playing a competitor's product, the Nintendo Wii.
Strangely, the commercial was later edited to remove Lambert from it entirely. Which seemed weird at the time, but it may be explained by the fact that on September 11, Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a suit (spotted by gumby_trucker @ NeoGAF) against both Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, a company registered in 2007 by...Jerry Lambert, who according to California Secretary of State data is also its president (it appears to be the registered name for Butler's handling of his business affairs).
Sony is suing both companies over trademark infringement, I'd wager for their use of Lambert - synonymous now with the PlayStation brand - in a scenario involving video games that aren't PlayStation games. It would be crazy if the fine print of Lambert's contract with Sony didn't include some mention of not being seen to endorse competing products for some set amount of time.
http://kotaku.com/5949607/sony-is-suing-kevin-butler
Click here if you wanna see the court docments:
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/3:2012cv04753/258962/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9WRGjODZDQ Comments
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I really thought he was the ps3 president or whatever they said he was.
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Sony caught feelings LOL
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LOL. Worst gimmick ever. Him and "Marcus".
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Lol damn
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this is stupid. Why not just fire him and get a new gimmick? guy was funny but why waste time and money over a fictional character lol. ? just dub his voice over a LBP model of him. Done.LOL. Worst gimmick ever. Him and "Marcus".
young ? always the first to bring up other young ? . -
earth two superman wrote: »
Because there was most likely a breach of contract, so they are entitled to compensation. I don't think he is with Sony anymore now, but there has to be a standing arrangement why they brought a suit. -
I think the Bridgestone commercial was a subtle shot at Sony.
Haven't seen a Kevin Butler commercial in well over a year. Might have been some bad blood between them, there sure is now.
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This is wack.If it is a breach of contract then just make him give back a check or something.The guy is an actor and was getting paid.
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It's the American way
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joseph sun wrote: »I really thought he was the ps3 president or whatever they said he was.
The President of Sony doesn't take part as an actor in Scare Tactics. -
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Sony watching Nintendo commercials
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LOL. I thought the tire commercial was old. Like, it aired around the time Mario Kart Wii dropped or something, then Sony hired this dude a couple years later realizing it. But the fact that he became Sony's official spokesperson, then went out and did a Nintendo commercial makes it even funnier. LOL.
