So they told me I need to stop using the “golden arches” in my costumes. The official letter from the lawyer came today. Booo. I’ll just make them without the “M”. And of course people are welcome to add their own golden arches to their fries costume at home since it’s a matter of selling things with their trademark. And I totally understand it’s their right and I won’t sell anymore with the arches I just think it’s kinda of sad.
What’s even more annoying is that we, that is the music maker and I have some copyright history with McDonald’s. You know the Badabababa tune that they’ve been using in ALL their commercials for these past many years. Well maybe a year or two before their first commercial featuring that tune aired my hubby released an album (a real national release with a record label, not just a local thing) with the exact same tune. Errr. So here we are already feeling like they’ve stolen from us and they can’t just shrug off a dinky business like mine making cute costumes that gives them free advertising. Lame. And it’s not like we could really go after them about the song stuff since the copyright belongs to the record label who we know weren’t compensated for the theft. Yup.
Don’t believe me. Let’s compare. While they’ve morphed the tune recently a tad style-wise (which doesn’t matter for copyright reasons), the original was disturbingly similar. But of course I can’t find any recent McDonald’s commercial’s on YouTube, but really who hasn’t heard it? I just wish I could show you the original version because it’s almost identical. It’s not just a matter of notes, but style and music and the whole bit of the original commercial.
So there you go as much as I love their fries and nuggets the business part of McDonald’s is some of the lamest on earth for their lovely double standard.
amanda says
i already wasn’t crazy about mcds but now that i hear this im kinda annoyed and feeling like regurgitating that big mac i ate a week ago. how totally lame. like super lame. with a capital S. those outfits are adorable and heck id buy me some fries if i saw that. and the song…you’re so right. its errily (sp?) similiar. thats messed up junk right there. sorry youre dealing with such a loser company. their trying to get their money back after the hot coffee spill of ’94. baha.
Christina Lowry says
They do seem to be a company with no sense of humour and a do as I say and not as I do attitude. I hope everything works out for you.
:)
Chad and Elizabeth says
That song… I hate to admit to you that is is so similar that I can’t help but sing in my head “I’m lovin it.” Sad that big companies can’t just, like you said, be happy for the free advertising! Sad day, those are some cute costumes (Which I’m sure will be just as cute sans the “m”). Good luck sticking it to the M!
vmsb says
WOW -sounds the same to me! I also want to say that your other costumes are so much cuter and I for one hate clothing with labels and names on it – I don’t want my children advertising for McD any more than I like them advertising for any other company. I actually cut out the advertising/logos of my children’s clothing whenever I can or just won’t buy that stuff… crazy huh?
thereddeer says
Man that stinks – McDonalds officially suck. Sorry this has happened to you :(
bopbopdesigns says
Wow, I am sorry. I get the M thing but holy smokes I would be enraged about the music. I am really sorry to hear it!
Heidi says
I couldn’t get the song to work. :(
I say when people order, you let them know that they can “specify a particularly fattening fast food chain’s logo that can be added to the costume” or something like that.
Stick it to the man!
Heidi says
And if it makes you feel any better. All of their advertising for YEARS has been AWFUL (and I don’t mean the song, but their concepts). They’ll never recover from “SuperSize Me.”
marissa says
thanks all. I joke about doing silly things but I have no intention of fighting with mcdonalds, so they will be the fries without the M.
bopbop, I think you hit it right on, I wouldn’t be as bugged if the music thing wasn’t already out there irking me
Ruhammie says
That’s a bummer, the outfits are SO CUTE! You’ll just have to sell yellow “m” applique’s separately in your etsy store. ;) There’s an idea for ya!
jeanmarie. says
I have heard that McDonald’s is a stickler for this kind of thing! I was told years ago by a friend of mine that they were hawks about such things. I remember him saying, “Don’t mess with McDonald’s… they’ll come after you!” Really really cute costumes, though!!!
Amber says
That is totally lame!! I LOVED your fry outfits…they were so cute!! :)
GloJoeSews says
That sucks! And, U were giving them FREE ADVERTISING after all!
mikhail, t.l. says
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