Federal judge refuses to block 'Priceless' parody ads
By The Associated Press
09.14.00
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| Ralph Nader |
NEW YORK — Ralph Nader has learned that justice can be
priceless.
A federal judge has rejected an effort by MasterCard to stop the
presidential candidate's parody of its "Priceless" ad
campaign.
U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels said Sept. 12 that MasterCard
failed to prove irreparable harm and thus did not qualify for a temporary order
to block the ad campaign before the full evidence could be heard in the
case.
MasterCard's lawyers had argued that Nader's television
ads infringed on the company's trademark and copyright for its
"Priceless" ad campaign.
The MasterCard ads typically show a sequence of goods or services and
their values followed by an intangible — such as "a day when all
you have to do is breathe," followed by the word
"priceless."
The Nader ads highlighting the need for campaign-finance reform say:
"Grilled tenderloin for fundraiser, $1,000 a plate; Campaign ads filled
with half-truths, $10 million; Promises to special interest groups, over $10
billion; Finding out the truth, priceless. There are some things money
can't buy."
Daniels rejected an argument by MasterCard lawyer Russell
H. Falconer that viewers might believe MasterCard was making a
political endorsement.
Anthony L. Fletcher, Nader's lawyer, said the Nader
campaign's "right to express themselves in any manner trumps the
rights of corporations not to be made fun of."
"Unless I completely misread the First Amendment, we are talking
about the highest form of protected speech," Fletcher said.
Previous
MasterCard to Nader: 'Priceless' campaign ads could prove costly
Consumer advocate tells company to 'lighten up' after it sues him for parodying its highly successful advertisements.
08.18.00
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