Audi's "Wiggling Elvis" that gained popularity through the TV ad "The Fan", is really a big hit. Over 340,000 units of the dancing plastic doll have already been sold, according to the German car manufacturer (based in Ingolstadt). Now the company is having to deal with more and more cases of plagiarism. According to the leading German marketing magazine , "w&v", Audi has procured a preliminary injunction against seven companies, including the Rewe supermarket chain.
The manufacturer is being aided in this battle by Saban Computer Products of Cologne. The latter company is responsible for granting the official Elvis Presley license in German-speaking countries. Saban's Director of Licensing, Markus Pottgiesser, reported: "We discovered about eight illegal copies in known warehouse and discount chains."Audi's "Wiggling Elvis" that gained popularity through the TV ad "The Fan", is really a big hit. Over 340,000 units of the dancing plastic doll have already been sold, according to the German car manufacturer (based in Ingolstadt). Now the company is having to deal with more and more cases of plagiarism. According to the leading German marketing magazine , "w&v", Audi has procured a preliminary injunction against seven companies, including the Rewe supermarket chain.
The manufacturer is being aided in this battle by Saban Computer Products of Cologne. The latter company is responsible for granting the official Elvis Presley license in German-speaking countries. Saban's Director of Licensing, Markus Pottgiesser, reported: "We discovered about eight illegal copies in known warehouse and discount chains."Audi's "Wiggling Elvis" that gained popularity through the TV ad "The Fan", is really a big hit. Over 340,000 units of the dancing plastic doll have already been sold, according to the German car manufacturer (based in Ingolstadt). Now the company is having to deal with more and more cases of plagiarism. According to the leading German marketing magazine , "w&v", Audi has procured a preliminary injunction against seven companies, including the Rewe supermarket chain.
The manufacturer is being aided in this battle by Saban Computer Products of Cologne. The latter company is responsible for granting the official Elvis Presley license in German-speaking countries. Saban's Director of Licensing, Markus Pottgiesser, reported: "We discovered about eight illegal copies in known warehouse and discount chains."
Admittedly, Audi had until now insisted that the wiggling doll is not supposed to represent Elvis Presley. "Our doll is blonde for a reason", commented the company's spokesman, Joachim Cordshagen. Now that they are facing the same risk, cooperation is the word of the day. Saban itself is also offering a similar doll in collaboration with EM-TV of Munich. So even Dolls of Elvis get impersonated ...
Admittedly, Audi had until now insisted that the wiggling doll is not supposed to represent Elvis Presley. "Our doll is blonde for a reason", commented the company's spokesman, Joachim Cordshagen. Now that they are facing the same risk, cooperation is the word of the day. Saban itself is also offering a similar doll in collaboration with EM-TV of Munich. So even Dolls of Elvis get impersonated ...
Source: ElvisClub Berlin / updated July 29
Admittedly, Audi had until now insisted that the wiggling doll is not supposed to represent Elvis Presley. "Our doll is blonde for a reason", commented the company's spokesman, Joachim Cordshagen. Now that they are facing the same risk, cooperation is the word of the day. Saban itself is also offering a similar doll in collaboration with EM-TV of Munich. So even Dolls of Elvis get impersonated ...