Apple Needs to Fire Their Attorneys.
Most companies would kill for the coolness of Apple and the devotion of the iPod people. And, yet, their legal beagles are on the job! By golly, we certainly can’t have people promoting our products all on their own! This bit of silliness from Des Moines: Apple wants to unplug bar’s iPod night.
This isn’t quite as ridiculous as Disney and the Winnie the Pooh gravestone.
It’s getting real interesting these days - what with all that new-fangled conversational marketing stuff. The old control and command way of doing business just won’t work any more. And, companies’ logo police might have to develop some job skills.
Read More:
Drew’s Marketing Minute
Mike Sansone’s take at ConverStations
Tags: Apple, iPod, Disney, conversational marketing, mind candy and brain food
View the Blog Roll
February 15th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
No, not quite as ridiculous as the Disney “cease and desist” order on the parents who wanted to etch Winnie the Pooh on their child’s grave, but right up there with Universal Music going after Bank of America for the video of two of their employees at an offsite doing a BofA version of an U2 song. And with the NFL for cracking down on an Indiana church that wanted to have a Super Bowl party for its parishioners.
What’s with these guys? They just come off as ham-handed, foolish, and bullying. When they should be either delighted - or just let it go.
February 15th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I believe it’s at least partly due to good old fashioned fear. The very foundation of marketing is changing - and the companies simply don’t know how to play. And, the attorneys have to do something to justify their jobs (Now, now, please - no emails. I’ve got good friends who are attorneys - but they’re good ones, with both brains and heart.)
Disney should have shipped the gravestone to the parents, with their heartfelt condolences. The NFL should have sent along a check for some free beer, and so on. Or, as you note, just let it go.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Mary,
You make a very good point– this is new territory. But its also a big dose of big business rigidity and blindness.
I expect it from most companies, but not the likes of Disney and Apple, who usually are light years ahead of most.
Thanks for the head nod!
Drew