Report: VW to sue makers of bomb ad(muslim stereotype)

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Volkswagen is planning to sue the makers of a controversial Internet short film showing a Middle Eastern-looking man using one of the company's cars in a suicide bombing attempt, according to a story on a British newspaper's Web site.

The makers of the film, a London based creative team known only as Lee and Dan, have said in various media reports that the ad was leaked accidentally and was never intended for public viewing. They have apologized for the film.

They have reportedly not said how the making of the film was financed.

The film, which looks like an advertisement for the car, shows a middle-eastern looking man getting into a Volkswagen Polo, a compact car the company sells in Europe. The man drives the car to a spot in front of a sidewalk cafe. He looks down and presses the button of what looks like a bomb detonator held in front of an explosive-filled vest.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/26/pf/autos/vw_ad/index.htm

in a morbid, sick kind of way. ;-) similar to the one where the car decapitates a cat with the sun roof.

it was funny.

I hate it when large corporations try to stifle freedom of speech.

Something lawyers are good for is stopping shit in it's tracks, IF they're so inclined.:)

Gyre

http://www.snopes.com/photos/commercials/vwpolo.asp

Pretty clever, if you ask me.

but also with incredibly poor taste...and it's easy to see why VW wants to distance themselves from this as far as possible

even though, i can't imagine what grounds they can sue on (maybe copywrite infringement?)

I'm not particularly offended - certainly no more than I am by televized admonitions to seek medical help should my erection last longer than four hours.

I wonder if British copyright law would have a satire clause of some sort that'd be applicable in this situation.

eom