All the way through school and now university we always get warned about plagiarism and the risks it brings so its always funny when you find obvious examples of massive companies copying or 'taking inspiration' from others. For example Ann Summers has been forced to pull a 'Your S&M' promotion after Straight-laced Marks & Spencer got its knickers in a twist after Ann Summers ripped off its logo and slogan.
Bosses threatened to sue the sex toys and undies chain after the Your M&S lettering and Meal Deal offer were used in a saucy send-up. Ann Summers copied the black and lime colours and switched the logo around to promote a Your S&M Squeal Deal for naughty weekends away. The sex shop's £29 Squeal Deal comprises a main course of erotic lingerie, a side dish of an "attractive and discreet bullet sex toy" and dessert of a flavoured lubricant. And in a play on a famous M&S slogan, the promotion boasted: 'It's not just sex - it's Ann Summers sex'. The underwear and sex toy shop even used Marks & Spencer's lime green backdrop and black text.
A spokesman for M&S said yesterday: 'Over the last 127 years, Marks & Spencer has built up a great reputation for quality and trust in the hearts and minds of the British public.When we believe these values are being infringed we do whatever we can to protect our brand and our customers. We therefore are taking legal advice with a view to issuing legal proceedings.'
Last night Ann Summers dropped the promotion - amid M&S fears that it could damage their reputation as a family supermarket and clothes shop. In a statement Jacqueline Gold, the company's chief executive, told the Independent: 'I have nothing but respect for Marks & Spencer. We wanted to take one of the most iconic campaigns and add a humorous Ann Summers twist. Maybe in hindsight it was a squeal too far.' However, earlier she had claimed that they were putting a 'naughty twist' on a well-known M&S promotion. 'We all know this is a respectful nod to the most famous and iconic meal deal marketing campaign,' she said as the campaign was launched. 'You hear the adverts, you see them and we all know who it is; what we wanted to do was add a naughty twist. As with the original meal deal campaign, our "squeal deal" will allow customers to mix and match their favourite products, ensuring a night in is full of squeals of delight.' Ann Summers boss Jacqueline Gold called the parody "a respectful nod" to M&S, adding: "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery."
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