Filed under: iTS, Video, Apple
Even more Postal Service/Apple Intel Ad drama: Apple 'censors' Postal Service video
The above image is from a side by side comparison of the Postal Service's video for 'Such Great Heights,' to itself done by Elite Productions. It compares the video as it is seen on the iTMS (on the left) and in 'wild.' You'll notice that the video from the iTunes Music store has the words 'Skyworks' blurred out. Some have called this an Apple conspiracy, saying that Apple wasn't content to steal the video contents, but they had to screw with the video itself.
The real answer, I am sure, rests with the fact that 'Skyworks' is a registered trademark of Skyworks Solutions, Inc which is a 'leader in radio solutions and precision analog semiconductors servicing a diversified set of mobile communications customers,' to quote their website.
No conspiracy, just Apple legal avoiding another fight.
Update: Thanks to ian who points out that 'Skyworks' is blurred out on Sub pop's website as well (Subpop being the Postal Services 'label,' as folks in the industry call it). Therefore, it is clear that Apple digitized the video like this, and it was Subpop's legal department that called for the blurring of the registered trademark.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LD said 6:07PM on 1-25-2006
It's not Apple's legal battle to fight if the Postal Service somehow had a trademark infringement in their video.
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Siggi Simonarson said 6:14PM on 1-25-2006
Funny how none of those shots are even in the intel ad...
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aarplane said 6:21PM on 1-25-2006
*cough*
It wasn't Apple who censored this. This has been censored on the internet since 2004. Honestly....when it was still available from here: http://telemusicvision.com. There is no Apple influence in this situation. It's Subpop Records who did the censoring......
Everyone's making a big deal over nothing.
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Jeff said 6:21PM on 1-25-2006
There's a huge market for stock video footage and stock photography out there.
If the licenses are paid and are non-exclusive, then no one has a right to claim conspiracy if the footage is used by more than one party.
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Ben said 6:27PM on 1-25-2006
Maybe instead of Apple blurring the video, perhaps Apple recieved it like that. As LD said, it wouldn't be Apple's battle to fight, it would most likely be the record company's.
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Kevin Lee said 6:31PM on 1-25-2006
Where was it established that Apple did the censoring? Sounds to me Sub Pop is the party that would be the most likeliest to do the blur.
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Natrino said 6:49PM on 1-25-2006
I am so tired of hearing about this video.
Let. It. Go.
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macguy said 7:14PM on 1-25-2006
I agree, this is getting old now. Just leave it alone and talk about something else. Too many articles on this already. We don't need to see more.
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Steve Rhodes said 7:46PM on 1-25-2006
Some music video shows/channels may have required the blurring (you see blurring like that on MTV all the time) and Subpop (or whoever provides their videos to iTunes - most of which are available for free on their site) provided that version.
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Brad said 11:15PM on 1-25-2006
Hey, you just need to remember that the director most likely had the creative rights to the video, so he could do whatever the hell he wanted with the idea.
Screw The Postal Service. I never really cared for them. Death Cab was always much better.
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Justin said 1:20AM on 1-26-2006
Steve Rhodes, you are completely correct.
go watch MTV (or MuchMusic) and you'll notice they blur all the logos. The 'in the wild' version was probably released on the website or a dvd, etc.
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ian said 3:07AM on 1-26-2006
the version on the subpop website is also blurred, so its not apple.
http://67.88.217.34/downloads/free/Such_Great_Heights275.mov
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Mac Diva said 3:38AM on 1-26-2006
Jeez, Scott. If you had time to write this drivel, you had time to research the issue and find out you didn't know what you are talking about. You are a very lazy blogger.
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gr33n said 6:01AM on 1-26-2006
ok, here's the real deal - they all copied NOLF:
http://bumbieris.wordpress.com/2006/01/26/nolf-vs-apple-vs-thepostalservice/
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Scott McNulty said 7:31AM on 1-26-2006
Wow, Mac Diva, you're starting to sound like LD. ;)
But thanks for the constructive criticism, I guess?
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dave said 7:43AM on 1-26-2006
You know, it's not Apple that is at fault here, but the Ad Agency that pitched / created the ad. I'm pretty sure they mocked something awesome up, noone on the marketing side of Apple saw the thing they were ripping off, and were like, "this is great! so cool!" and bam...
I bet that Agency is now getting this asses reamed by the client. "What the fuck! Can't you come up with a fucking orginal idea on your own?? We're sending out an RFP now!"
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matthew said 9:26AM on 1-26-2006
"I am so tired of hearing about this video.
Let. It. Go."
me too.
Why the hell do these music labels allow videos to be filmed with brand labels in them if they just have to blur them afterwards. Dumb.
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