'Kevin Butler' character not in ads, says Bridgestone

Bridgestone has responded to Sony's lawsuit over the appearance of actor Jerry Lambert, claiming that Lambert's character is not "Kevin Butler" at all and denying the possibility of consumer confusion.

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The character portrayed in a series of ads may be played by actor Jerry Lambert, but he's definitely not "Kevin Butler." That's according to Bridgestone Tires, which is facing a lawsuit from Sony over the use of its intellectual property.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bridgestone claims that Lambert's role was too minor to be akin to Sony's character. "Mr. Lambert is one of the actors who appeared in the commercial as a Bridgestone engineer," a statement from Bridgestone reads. "Bridgestone denies that 'Kevin Butler' appears in the Bridgestone commercial discussed herein and thus denies that he speaks or does anything whatsoever in the commercial."

Even more boldly, Bridgestone denies that Sony has protectable property in the character at all. It plans to fight the suit by claiming that Sony did not register any mark on "Kevin Butler," that the character has not acquired secondary meaning, and that there is no likelihood of confusion. Further, the ads only aired after the agreement between Sony and Lambert's company expired, though Sony alleges that he began working with Bridgestone "in or around February 2012" while still under SCEA contract.

The crux of the case seems to be whether consumers could confuse one character for the other. That could have broad-reaching implications on actors portraying regular characters, especially if they're as successful as Lambert was in creating an identifiable mascot.

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  • reply
    October 9, 2012 10:00 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, 'Kevin Butler' character not in ads, says Bridgestone.

    Bridgestone has responded to Sony's lawsuit over the appearance of actor Jerry Lambert, claiming that Lambert's character is not "Kevin Butler" at all and denying the possibility of consumer confusion.

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      October 9, 2012 10:14 AM

      Riveting.

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      October 9, 2012 10:16 AM

      Sony could claim that "Kevin Butler" is their own property but then after being sued I don't think Jerry Lambert would ever play him again.

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        October 9, 2012 11:38 AM

        Unless he's under contract, in which case he probably has to play him again or else he'll be sued. Again.

        Same way Samsung just got sued into the ground by Apple but they still make a number of iPhone parts for them - it's part of their contract.

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          October 9, 2012 12:21 PM

          Hmmm good point, I guess it's up to the lawyers to look into the details.

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        October 9, 2012 1:13 PM

        George Costanza is sentenced to play Jerry's Butler

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      October 9, 2012 10:20 AM

      This is kind of stupid since the man has been a "commercial guy" longer than he's been Kevin Butler

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        October 9, 2012 12:22 PM

        Also because, as Bridgestone says, there's really no reason anyone would think it was supposed to be Kevin Butler.

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        October 9, 2012 3:35 PM

        I remember his first big break was a series of Geico commercials.

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      October 9, 2012 12:39 PM

      is the "Kevin Butler" character even distinct enough that the public would automatically think it'd be him and Sony?

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        October 9, 2012 1:15 PM

        I saw the commercial about a month ago. At first I was confused, cause there was a Wii and they were playing mario kart or something, but after a few seconds I knew it wasnt the character.

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      October 9, 2012 12:41 PM

      why are people this crazy? I didn't even notice this person in that ad

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      October 9, 2012 12:42 PM

      i think this lawsuit is dumb but i do connect that guy with sony now.

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        October 9, 2012 12:43 PM

        and i actually mentioned it when i saw that ad. buy i said "i guess that guy isn't doing playstation ads anymore."

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          October 9, 2012 1:11 PM

          I think what struck a nerve was he was playing a Wii in those commercials.

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      October 9, 2012 1:25 PM

      Every time I hear Kevin Butler I think of the old Bears kicker.

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