Star Wars director confirms Apple won't let movie bad guys use iPhones

[midian182]

WTF?! Have you ever noticed how bad guys in movies never use iPhones? It’s not a coincidence. Director Rian Johnson has revealed that while Apple allows its products to appear in films, the company has rules about how they’re used, and that includes keeping them out of the hands of villains.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson, who directed Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, was talking about his latest movie, murder mystery Knives Out. At around the 2:50 mark in the video, he reveals an interesting fact about Apple’s restrictions on product placement.

Also another funny thing, I don't know if I should say this or not... Not cause it's like lascivious or something, but because it's going to screw me on the next mystery movie that I write, but forget it, I'll say it. It's very interesting.
Apple... they let you use iPhones in movies but -- and this is very pivotal if you're ever watching a mystery movie - bad guys cannot have iPhones on camera.
So oh nooooooo, every single filmmaker that has a bad guy in their movie that's supposed to be a secret wants to murder me right now.

So, remember that if you see someone using an iPhone in a movie, they’re not a bad character.

MacRumors notes that as part of Apple’s guidelines for using Apple trademarks and copyrights, the company says its products should only be shown "in the best light, in a manner or context that reflects favorably on the Apple products and on Apple Inc,” so you’ll never see a serial killer beating someone to death with an iPhone 11.

"Of course I'm not a bad guy; I'm using an iPhone"

Ironically, iPhones are often the preferred phone of choice for real-world criminals, usually because of Apple’s refusal to unlock them for the FBI and authorities.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/84163-star-wars-director-confirms-apple-wont-movie-bad.html

 

[psycros]

This is gonna be a problem for whoever makes a documentary about the Occupy movement.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Considering how many iCLONES there are on the market, you could just use a Oppo or Cherry Mobile and most viewers couldn't tell the difference.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Maybe Android should do the same to show how stupid this is.

 

[Hexic]

Holy insecurity, Batman.

 

[Hexic]

This is gonna be a problem for whoever makes a documentary about the Occupy movement.

I laughed a little too loudly in the middle of my Webex on this.

 

[Jeff Re]

I've seen movies with bad guys using iPhones and it always surprises me because I know how Apple is.

 

[CBTex]

I'm not sure how they can enforce this. Trademark law only prevents someone from using someone's trademark to promote their own item or service. A bad guy in a movie using an iphone isn't being used to say the movie is better or made by Apple because it has iphones. No one sees the Apple logo and thinks, "man, this movie must have been made by Apple."

 

[Vanderkaum037]

I'm not sure how they can enforce this. Trademark law only prevents someone from using someone's trademark to promote their own item or service. A bad guy in a movie using an iphone isn't being used to say the movie is better or made by Apple because it has iphones. No one sees the Apple logo and thinks, "man, this movie must have been made by Apple."

Right, did I miss a day in law school? What is their cause of action for enforcing this exactly?

 

[OneSpeed]

This is so typical of Apple, and now it's going to be the spoiler for all movies!

 

[OneSpeed]

Maybe Android should do the same to show how stupid this is.

I think the proper reply to this is to ban all Apple products from movies, which I know isn't going to happen.

 

[Wertle]

This ban must've come in after they made the Jobs movie, Ashton must've held an iphone at least once in that movie.

 

[amstech]

What it they use some knockoff 3rd party no-name brand smartphone but place an Apple logo on it?

 

[wiyosaya]

? Yet another attempt at addicting their sheep.

What it they use some knockoff 3rd party no-name brand smartphone but place an Apple logo on it?

The logo is trademarked. crApple would likely have reason to sue. Maybe if the mirrored or inverted or inverted and mirrored the logo, or drew a line through it that might work.

 

[mailpup]

I'm not sure how they can enforce this. Trademark law only prevents someone from using someone's trademark to promote their own item or service. A bad guy in a movie using an iphone isn't being used to say the movie is better or made by Apple because it has iphones. No one sees the Apple logo and thinks, "man, this movie must have been made by Apple."

It's about product placement.

From the article: "...he reveals an interesting fact about Apple’s restrictions on product placement."

Product placement is where companies pay to have their products shown or featured in movies. As this necessarily involves contracts, companies can stipulate certain restrictions. If the restrictions are too objectionable, then the movie producers don't have to sign.

 

[amstech]

The logo is trademarked.

I know I know I was just being a jacka$$.

 

[captaincranky]

Maybe the bad guys could retaliate, by taking a bite out of a real apple, then chucking it in the trash....

That would best be "served up", with a wide angle shot from behind the trash can, with the bad guy at somewhat of a distance.

And remember, "fill that frame up with the flying apple" .

 

[cliffordcooley]

Product placement is where companies pay to have their products shown or featured in movies.

In other words they can use iPhones. They will not get paid when it is the bad guy using them.

 

[captaincranky]

In other words they can use iPhones. They will not get paid when it is the bad guy using them.

Oh, I don't know. Apple always likes to pretend it's "taking the moral high ground". Plus, they have an army of lawyers who could ostensibly sue for "defamation", if any n'er do wells used their damned phones on camera.

(Don't know how far they'd get, but I wouldn't put it past them).

 

[mailpup]

In other words they can use iPhones. They will not get paid when it is the bad guy using them.

That would depend on the contract provisions. It could be that and/or the production company might have to pay a penalty or perhaps have to scrap and reshoot offending scenes. I don't really know. Just throwing possibilities out there.

 

[Vanderkaum037]

In other words they can use iPhones. They will not get paid when it is the bad guy using them.

This makes sense. Either they don't get paid for product placement or they don't get any free Apple swag. It's like, the Navy can't stop you from making a movie about the Navy, but they won't let you film on a real battleship unless you make the Navy look awesome.