Lincoln Goes For Bike Messenger Street Cred Without Permission

[buckyanimal]

http://www.adrants.com/2005/05/lincoln-goes-for-bike-messenger-street.php

This Lincoln Navigator ad on page 41 of last Sunday's New York Times Magazine, according to bike racer, former bike messenger and Animal New York Publisher Bucky Turco, uses bike messenger's names, without permission, to promote the vehicle by attempting to create a relationship between messengers and SUVs.

Turco tells us, "Not only does this Lincoln ad hijack names of messengers who never gave permission, but just the idea that a NYC bike messengers having anything in common with a Lincoln is so far from reality. What is wrong with these idiots. Messengers hate cars. It's like using vegetarians to sell furs, it don't work. Who in the hell approved this creative?"

Bike messenger Squid, who is referred to in the ad, is a high ranking member of the NYBMA, and often referred to as "the bike messenger-general" never, according to Turco, OK'd the use of his name in this ad. Turco claims this is the second time Lincoln has run this type of creative, showing a bike messenger and then "throwing a few messenger names in with the copy for street cred."

Despite his image also appearing in an international version of the ad, without permission, a few months ago after declining to participate, Squid tells us he took no legal action. This time, he promises to do so.

funny enough gawker also ran a story

http://www.gawker.com/news/media/advertising/today-in-lawsuits-104938.php

Today In Lawsuits

Filed under Media : Advertising

Colorfully nicknamed bike messengers may file suit against Lincoln for allegedly using their (street) names and photos in an ad for the bike-crushing Lincoln Navigator. What remains unclear is why Lincoln thought skinny geeks in Bono glasses would help sell giant cars. Former messenger Bucky Turco says: “Messengers hate cars. It’s like using vegetarians to sell furs, it don’t work.†We think he could’ve taken that further. It’s like using Priests to sell condoms! It’s like using bloggers to sell personal grooming products! It’s like using Huey Newton to sell DVDs of “Blue Collar Comedyâ€! It’s like using FDR to sell Social Security privatization! You get the idea.

And Motley Crue is suing NBC for banning them. Not putting someone on television is now apparently a violation of one’s first amendment rights. Which would explain most of VH1’s programming. -AP

Lincoln Goes For Bike Messenger Street Cred Without Permission [AdRants]

Motley Crue Sues NBC [billboard]