View this article at: http://dev.macnn.com/articles/06/01/20/the.postal.service.answers
Friday, Jan 20, 2006 1:20pm
TPS \'dissappointed\' with ...
The Postal Service (TPS) this week responded to accusations about Apple's second copycat television spot. Earlier this week, we noted the growing controversy over Apple's recently-released ad featuring the company's involvement with Intel. The spot, which was debuted at Macworld San Francsico and subsequently has aired on national US television, shows "shot-by-shot" similarities with a music video from The Postal Service dubbed "Such Great Heights," according to the band--who expressed disapointment with both Apple and the film makers. "It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original," wrote Ben Gibbard, a member of The Postal Service."

"We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent." Apple's revised silhouette ads featuring Eminem caused controversy last year, as it also was apparently a knock-off of a Lugz footwear ad spot that aired a few years ago (Lugz has since sent Apple a cease-and-desist order). Elite Productions has posted a side-by-side comparison of both Apple's ad spot and The Postal Service's music video, "Such Great Heights." The videos are accompanied by still-photos taken from both sources at various points throughout each, depicting the similarities between the two.