SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promotion

[CaptainZombie]

SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promotion

Jerry Lambert, the actor who plays the Kevin Butler character began appearing in Bridgestone Tire commercials a few months ago. More recently the company began running a Game On promotion where purchasing a new set of tires nets you a $70 American Express card or a Nintendo Wii.

Those court documents don't really make it exactly clear what Sony's basis is for the suit. I assumed that they must have had some contract that barred Lambert from advertising another videogame product, but that doesn't seem to be the case. So I think their claim is a bit silly.

[nemesis04]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

I think they are going the route that they created his character and there was trademark infringement. Kind of weak, I guess they are going to throw something at the wall and see what sticks.

[Blzer]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

Too bad, no more Kevin Butler then.

[Burns11]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promotion

I'm sorry, but this post completely misconstrues things.

One, Lambert is the actor behind Kevin Butler, but he's also president of the ad agency that made the Bridgestone ads.

Second, Bridgestone had to know they were wrong on some level, since they immediately began slicing Lambert from the ad presence, which seems to me to indicate that Bridgestone is going to say that was a good faith move, settle, and then lay it all on Lambert.

Also the fake tweet just feels like trolling.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

I'm sorry, but this post completely misconstrues things.

One, Lambert is the actor behind Kevin Butler, but he's also president of the ad agency that made the Bridgestone ads.

Second, Bridgestone had to know they were wrong on some level, since they immediately began slicing Lambert from the ad presence, which seems to me to indicate that Bridgestone is going to say that was a good faith move, settle, and then lay it all on Lambert.

Also the fake tweet just feels like trolling.

Lambert is probably at fault here if he had a no compete clause in his contract with Sony. But, when was the last time there was a commercial with him in it, about a year ago? So who knows what the terms were in his contract.

The fake tweet is meant as a joke, not trolling, considering I own a PS3.

[Burns11]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

He's not being sued for breach of contract, he's being sued for copyright infringement. By making that commercial and associating himself with a competing product, he sullied the character Sony had spent time and money creating. Making a commercial for Bridgestone is fine, but once he linked himself as a spokesman for a competing product, he steps on the copyrighted character of Kevin Butler (at least that's what Sony will argue, and I can't say it isn't meritorious).

[CaptainZombie]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

Sony Settles With 'Kevin Butler' Actor Over Bridgestone TV Ad

According to the settlement, Lambert acknowledged that his contract with Sony precluded him from promoting or endorsing competing game systems. Lambert also acknowledged that at the very least, confusion was created in the minds of some consumers who believed he was portraying the Kevin Butler character in both the PlayStation and Bridgestone commercials.

Under the terms of the settlement, Lambert agreed not to appear in any ad or promotion that features or even mentions “any other video game or computer entertainment system or video game company” for a period of two years.

[bigbob]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

Lambert also acknowledged that at the very least, confusion was created in the minds of some consumers who believed he was portraying the Kevin Butler character in both the PlayStation and Bridgestone commercials.

What would they have preferred, him changing his face?

[mestevo]

Re: SCEA sues Bridgestone and Jerry Lambert (Kevin Butler actor) over Game On promoti

The character is their property essentially, it's like suggesting they'd be OK with Bridgestone using Ratchet and Clank to sell stuff. His contract said he couldn't do work associated with gaming, and he did.