Viagra gets rough with Virgin - forces them to pull ad

Aaah, too many pun possibilities here, pun-overload!

Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R has ticked off Pfizer and Viagra by using their familiar little blue bill shape as a visual in an ad poster for Virgin airlines. In their poster, the pill is inscribed with "Virgin" and the copy reads: "Virgin Upper Class Suite. The biggest, firmest, longest bed in business."

Pfizer didn't see the funny in that and complained saying the diamond shape is trademarked and these Virgin posters are infringing on Pfizer's intellectual property. Virgin has agreed to remove the posters within the next few days. Another Virgin poster they'll no longer run reads: "We're bigger than BA in the bedroom department".

Adland® is supported by your donations alone. You can help us out by buying us a Ko-Fi coffee.
Anonymous Adgrunt's picture
comment_node_story
Files must be less than 1 MB.
Allowed file types: jpg jpeg gif png wav avi mpeg mpg mov rm flv wmv 3gp mp4 m4v.
James Trickery's picture

They trademarked the shape of the pill? Is that even possible?

caffeinegoddess's picture

Hmmm...is it the diamond shape that's trademarked? they should then just turn it so it's a square. ;)

deeped's picture

I don't get it. Why use the blue pill?

Dabitch's picture

They're alluding to... the biggest longest firmest... bah.. Nevermind, I just realized that explaining the funny totally kills it. :))

AnonymousCoward's picture

It is illegal for Pharmaceutical companies like Viagra to advertise their brand, they can only advertise the condition - erectile dysfunction. Therefore they are mutually bound by the governing body to protect their trademark, and not be seen to be permissive of any marketing of their brand or logo.
Bottom line - I doubt there was any wrist slapping despite what the papers might lead you to believe...