LONDON (Brand Republic) – MasterCard is suing the US Green Party’s presidential candidate Ralph Nader for $5m, claiming his TV campaign rips off its own “priceless” ad campaign.
MasterCard is seeking an order to ban Nader from running the ad, which features the same format as its own campaign. It focuses on the monetary value of various family-orientated activities before ending on one described is “priceless”.
Nader’s ad opens with clips of rival presidential candidates George Bush and Al Gore as a voiceover tots up the cost of their campaigns, before highlighting the Nader’s pledge to “Find out the truth” as “priceless”.
Chris O’Neill, MasterCard vice-president for global marketing communications, said, “We feel we have one of the most successful marketing campaigns, period, and we will always do whatever it takes to protect it.”
He added the move to sue was made after a week of fruitless discussions with Nader’s campaign office.
A campaign spokeswoman said despite MasterCard’s complaints, the 30-second ad was still on air in Los Angeles and that it had been a useful tool in awakening voters. The company behind the Nader ad, Minneapolis-based North Woods advertising, would not comment.
MasterCard proved it would step in to protect its brand when it sued cable television network HBO, owned by Time Warner, last year for running a comedy series which aped the “priceless” ads.