Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

March 9, 2009

At this point, British government health campaign Change4Life probably wishes it had gone in a different direction with its most recent ad campaign.

As has been widely reported, the ad, which visually links playing video games with an early death, has generated official complaints to the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority by British game development group Tiga and game business website MCV.

Now, reports MCV, Sony Europe is considering the filing of a lawsuit over the ad's unauthorized use of what appears to be a PlayStation controller:

A source close to Sony revealed to MCV that the agency behind the ad, The Gate, had not contacted the platform holder to ask about using a controller that bears a close likeness to PlayStation's pad.

The ad forms part of the Government’s Change4Life Campaign, and was created by agency The Gate in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK.

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Comments

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by DarkSaber on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:46.

Well, the British government already IS one big PR disaster.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by deuxhero on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:53.

Is the "PR" qualifier needed?

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by PHX Corp on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 15:49.

British Govt= One GIANT PR Diaster

Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights

America has just became its own version of the Jerry Springer Show after a bizarre moment in Florida involving a carnival worker.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by insanejedi on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 11:59.

Sony's gotta make money somehow in this day and age.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Firebird on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:38.

I would wholly agree with that comment in light-hearted humor ................. that is, if it did not make me feel a little dead inside.

I don't know about any specifics, but a couple months ago I read and article of the PS3 almost breaking-even.

Personally, I blame bad marketing ads that don't target more casual audiences than harcore ones.

....also a linux based programmers for developers aren't really in high quantities, so expect lesser exclusives that truly maxes out the capacity. (On opposite of that note; Nintendo........ most third-party games suck!!!)

I would've preferred the 360, but RROD paranoia always settles with me (I have bad luck with receiving non-faulty equipment, and I take rather good care of my hardware)

and the wii.....(really, do I have to explain myself?) holds little interest to me.

Maybe I am a little biased, but until I own all three systems, I might as well bitch and moan.

______________________________ Because I have NO Life... :P I introduce the following. PSN User ID: FirebirdXR (Yes, I use that moniker often) Xbox Live ID: FirebirdLR (Don't bother, It's a Silver Membership) *Limited Time Only* I put both because I

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Weatherlight on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:09.

As long as you get one of the newer 360 after they changed the chipset slightly and the RROD doesn't seem to be an issue. Then again I partially fault consumers for the original RROD issue because so many of them did not treat the 360 like the sensitive piece of equipment it is, which made the problem a lot worse then it really was.

The PS3 was just to much for the market, it was overkill. Looking at what all is in it makes it a work of art, but it is just to costly for most people and in turn is not always cost effective for publishers. I have yet to buy a PS3 and don't foresee it in the near future because it is just to damn expensive.

Wii there is nothing I can really say about it, its a creative piece of hardware and was marketed successfully.

But back on topic, I am glad to see Sony go after these people. They do have a right to compensation and to have the ad pulled if they wish, because it is pretty clearly apparent that they used a Sony product in the advertisement and showed the product in a poor light.

~Weatherlight~

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Nocturne on Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:25.

Then again I partially fault consumers for the original RROD issue because so many of them did not treat the 360 like the sensitive piece of equipment it is, which made the problem a lot worse then it really was.

Personally I blame Microsoft for releasing a product they knew was faulty just to get it to market as quick as possible then worry about getting it working right once a large number of their potential customers have already invested in it... otherwise know as business as usual for MS.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Firebird on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 17:10.

@Weatherlight: Be that as it may, we are fortunate to hear of rumored price drops on both 360 and PS3.... so there is hope to be had.

Right, on topic...; Many people here don't seem to find out whether or not it is an actual PS3 controller in the ad, since there are others that have used this type of schematic.

-Perhaps if GP can provide a more detailed copy of the ad or confirmation?

@EZK: NOO! We must send that 360 to a sterile, hourly-filtered, 50-degree enviroment!! Call ER!! There is a fingerprint on it!!

(BTW, I have a cousin who takes care of his 360 religiously. BOOM!!!.... RROD)

Again, sorry..... off topic.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:44.

You mean we weren't supposed to put it in the entertainment center where we have always put our other video game systems and entertainment electronics? If I had known that, I would have placed it in its own climate controlled room like I should with all my delecate electronic hardware.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by DavCube on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:31.

Damn. I knew i'd get beaten to it, but i didn't think it would be on the first post. XD

The sad thing is, it's true (to a point.) If i remember correctly, Sony is still selling the PS3 at a loss. They DO need to make more money somehow if they want to keep selling them during these harsh economic times.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by beemoh on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:09.

Ouch.

Shout box

BearDogg-X: @PHX Corp: It's like they're just throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks at this point.05/20/2013 - 12:15pm

Kajex: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-money-making-exploit-sees-cryptic-turn-back-time/ My understanding is that none of this was illegal, either.05/20/2013 - 11:42am

PHX Corp: http://www.gamezone.com/news/2013/05/20/violent-video-games-are-bad-for-your-body Most rediclous Study about violent video games ever05/20/2013 - 10:13am

Cecil475: @PHX Corp - The dude's a moron who wouldn't know crap if it came up and kicked him.05/19/2013 - 6:36am

PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am

E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am

E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am

MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am

E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am

MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am

E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm

E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm

Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am

E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am

MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am

E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am

Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am

Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm

Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm

Avalongod: @Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm

All shouts

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