Sony Responds to Bravia Ad Rip Off Allegations/Proof
Despite the fact that the ad agency and studio Sony hired to create their bunny Bravia ad, Fallon and Passion Pictures, clearly and blatantly ripped off LA-based artists Kozyndan, it’s standing behind them and denying that anything dickish was done.
Basically, Passion Pictures got in touch with Kozyndan two years ago about working with them, asking for samples to be sent in. They sent Passion a bunch of stuff, including the bunny panorama that was clearly ripped off, and never heard from them again. Then, lo and behold, they then went ahead and made the ad without paying them or crediting them at all. The excuse? Well… there really isn’t much of one, other than claiming that the creative-types came up with the idea on their own, somehow forgetting the submissions they previously received. Right. Here’s the full statement from Sony:
‘There is suggestion that there is a similarity between an illustration by Kozyndan and the new Sony BRAVIA ‘Play-Doh’ advert. Sony would like to stress that the advert conception, creative and final animation is not based on any pre-existing artwork.Sony Europe, its agency Fallon, production company Gorgeous, and animation company Passion Pictures, assert that the wave, whale and bunnies were arrived at without reference to these artists. In the original script, the rabbits were one of many creatures to cavort around a cityscape. In fact, the location was only finalised shortly before the shoot. The final creative, led by Juan Cabral at Fallon and director Frank Budgen at Gorgeous, was chosen to champion the brand and best reflect ‘colour.like.no.other’. Sony enjoys working with experienced and talented creatives and all involvement in a campaign is always credited.’
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
For a few months last year, we had a computer hooked up to the tv so we could watch DVDs. I had this great idea to make a cut down version of the computer that would sit below the TV just for playing DVDs.
Completely by accident, I had invented the DVD player (true story).
My point is: you can claim you came up with the idea yourself, but to the rest of the world, it’s pretty bloody obvious that you copied it.
Reckless’ new word of the week: Jerks
The fact that both the original panorama and the ad open with a reference to the graffiti artist Space Invader makes it clear that that the ad is an homage/ripoff of Kozyndan. I hope they sue the pants off Fallon/Passion Pictures.
Sony = Epic Fail. Big ups to the original concept from Kozyndan.
oh com’on the bunnies even have the same color!
its a rip-off no question.
shame on Juan Cabral at Fallon and director Frank Budgen at Gorgeous.
Just be honest and admit they influenced it. Reminds me a bit of Honda’s cogs..
This is seriously annoying..what a ripoff.. I wont be purchasing any sony products until they pay the orginal artists his due royalties..
I would suggest contacting Sony on their feedback link at: http://sonystyle.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/sonystyle.cfg/php/xml_api/cci/feedback.php?source=CustomerCare and let them know how WE feel.
Wrong….Totally wrong on Sonys’ part!
People will learn, mind you, some too late.
Sorry for the original artist, and sorrier for a mega-National that has to resort to theft in order to make more money!
~Ptuny
A great example of how ad people can be stupid and dumb. Bring along an artist will not only give respect to the art it self, but credibility to the entire project.
How small and miserable people can be!
This is so disappointing, I loved Sony products. But now, this makes me wonder how many other poor artists got ripped off by them. Great job Sony.
Rippers.
Thats how big companies get bigger. Shame.
BOYCOTT!
Wait, what!?! Didn’t Kozyndan already say that they were contacted prior to this ad for samples by the agency?
How can Sony, Fallon, Gorgeous & Passion Pictures assert that they arrived at this idea without inspiration from Kozyndan when they contacted them for samples and never got back to them?
&#*$!%@ idiots.
Have Kozyndan actually spoken out about this? Think of it like this they’re getting a load of exposure over the whole thing, so its not all bad is it?
In July of 2007 I ordered a Sony HDR-SR8 movie camera from Sonysyle direct. It was for my daughter’s birthday so I ordered it 2nd day air.
It did not arive after two weeks & sony said it was lost so I ordered a second HDR-SR8 camera which arived on time. After about two weeks the second camera showed up. I called Sony 5 times from the middle of July to the middle of August and each time I would get a customer rep but they each time told me I would have to talk to a supervisor to get an authorization to return the camera. After waiting 30 minutes each time the phone would cut off because (as I found out later) it is programed to shut off after 30 minutes. After a couple of months of e-mailing I get this e-mail from sony stating that 30 days had gone by so they could not give me a return authorization. So now I have two camer’s, one in a sealed box with no need for it.
Needless to say I am done with Sony also.
thanks for listening.
That is complete BULL. I’d sue if I were the artist, or at least DEMAND they let me talk to the guy(s) that supposedly “came up with the idea” for Sony… then again, they’d probably pay just about anybody to say that they came up with it just to keep their appearence “clean”.
BOYCOTT SONY.