Brand Republic: Honda 'Cog' ad at centre of rip-off debate over 1987 film (Subscription required)

According to a story in Creative Review, Peter Fischli and David Weiss are concerned that the "Cog" ad, created by Wieden+Kennedy London, bears a resemblance to their film 'Der Lauf Der Dinge'.

The pair have had their lawyers write to Honda, saying that they are considering legal action against the car company. Fischli and Weiss's 30-minute film shows a series of domino events in their studio and is well known in the arts community. […]

W&K's creative director Tony Davidson has told Creative Review that Fischli and Weiss's film 'Der Lauf Der Dinge' was only one of the inspirations for the ad and argued: "Advertising references culture and always has done."

This looks like one for Rick to investigate.

As an aside, in the week that it broke this Honda Ad was distributed with the Guardian Newspaper. The DVD included additional footage from the 606 takes that it took to make. The important point being that this media buy was fully accepted as "content" and was very well received.