Lol, you should try the original. Skeezy British politics.
tibfulv
2017-10-09 07:11:03 +0000 UTC
In many places like Canada it's illegal in shows produced there because it's advertising. In the US it's legal to just show a guy drinking a can of Coke or using a Playstation, falls under fair use. But if it ends up being featured prominently in an episode, the company could argue you benefited from the brand and need a license. There have been manga pulled in Japan because the company portrayed objected. Worse, if the company feels you portrayed them in a bad light, they can sue like an ep of Heroes where someone put their hand in a garbage disposal which was clearly an Insinkerator. Finally, they don't want to give away free advertising when they could be charging you for it! But I think House of Cards rightly doesn't want to pull you out, and given the amount of Sony stuff Frank flogs they probably have a deal.
Sarusa
2017-10-09 02:05:27 +0000 UTC
tangential but related: Seeing House of Cards in this comic just gave me secondhand sads. My flatmates love that show, and I came to NZ to get away from skeevy American politics!
audiaphilios
2017-10-08 19:22:12 +0000 UTC
I think it depends on the kind of story. I like the silly made-up names if it's a comedy.
Adam Silcott
2017-10-08 18:34:59 +0000 UTC
Sometimes the made-up names are pretty funny, like 'Mg Ronalds' in 'The Devil Is A Part-Timer'.
NickG
2017-10-08 17:42:38 +0000 UTC
Blame the lawyers. While most brand-usage in media can easily fall under "fair use" and what-not, if someone decides to get offended, they can easily drag on a nuisance lawsuit against you for years and years, costing you (hundreds of) thousands of dollars, even if they ultimately lose.