Sony is suing Kevin Butler

**radgamer420** · 10-07-2012

http://kotaku.com/5949607/sony-is-su...ium=socialflow

Following a bizarre turn of events and a highly unlikely TV commercial, actor Jerry Lambert - for years the "face" of the PlayStation brand - is being sued, along with Bridgestone, by none other than Sony itself.

Despite having made something of a name for himself playing the fictional PlayStation executive Kevin Butler, last month Lambert appeared in an advertisement for Bridgestone tyres playing a competitor's product, the Nintendo Wii.

Strangely, the commercial was later edited to remove Lambert from it entirely. Which seemed weird, but it may be explained by the fact that on September 11, Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a suit (spotted by gumby_trucker @ NeoGAF) against both Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, a company registered in 2007 by...Jerry Lambert, who according to California Secretary of State data is also its president (it appears to be the registered name for Butler's handling of his business affairs).

Sony is suing both companies over trademark infringement, I'd wager for their use of Lambert - synonymous now with the PlayStation brand - in a scenario involving video games that aren't PlayStation games. It would also be crazy if the fine print of Lambert's contract with Sony didn't include some mention of not being seen to endorse competing products for some set amount of time.

We've contacted both Sony and Bridgestone for comment on the specifics of the case, and will update if we hear back.

UPDATE - It appears attempts have been made to settle the suit privately, but these have not proved decisive, with the court ordering that both parties commit one way or another to a formal hearing by October 12.

**DarkVincent07** · 10-07-2012

Its lame, but seems fair enough since SURELY there must be something in his contract about advertising competitive products

**Ghost-Rhayne** · 10-07-2012

Lol it's both funny and sad. It's a shame that such an awesome business relationship ended so sour.

*goo · 10-07-2012

So Sony are suggesting they 'own' (infringed trademark) what Lambert looks like? Am I reading into this right?

If so, that's pathetic.

**Nick_Scryer** · 10-07-2012

Originally Posted by *goo

So Sony are suggesting they 'own' (infringed trademark) what Lambert looks like? Am I reading into this right?

If so, that's pathetic.

No, they're saying they 'own' the only videogame system he can be seeing playing in public.

**THUGGEDOUT** · 10-07-2012

Sony needs the money, so they can come out with more useless console incarnations, like the PS3 Slimmer, lol.

**keefy** · 10-07-2012

**Nitey** · 10-07-2012

Originally Posted by THUGGEDOUT

Sony needs the money, so they can come out with more useless console incarnations, like the PS3 Slimmer, lol.

From a monetary point of view, it's anything but.

At least that's what the common sense in me is saying, but you can never be sure with Sony these days

**Kuro** · 10-07-2012

lmao this is so stupid..

**A7MAD** · 10-07-2012

Now this is funneh.

Pity KB was never the VP of Legal Action.

Sony's lawyers, they da best.

**DeviousOne** · 10-07-2012

This is ridiculous and is sony that desperate? I mean this guy was the face you didn't pay him so he moved on with his career wtf....

**A7MAD** · 10-07-2012

What do you mean they didn't pay him?

**DeviousOne** · 10-07-2012

They didn't pay him to continue making commercial or to do promotional appearances. So he moved on

**mickice** · 10-07-2012

Seems kinds odd they choose him and why would he be playing a Wii in a bridgestone ad? Looks like someone was asking for trouble.

**DeviousOne** · 10-07-2012

He's just an actor he has no control over what they have him do in the commercial that's the directors job. Lol and if he didn't do it they could've easily gotten someone else.

Now if he violated his contract then that's a different story however the article makes no reference to that. If there was a provision that prohibited him from appearing in any commercial with any other competing console then he's in the wrong. If that was the case then they should've mentioned it in the initial report or bring it up as a possibility.

**Fon** · 10-07-2012

Originally Posted by mickice

Seems kinds odd they choose him and why would he be playing a Wii in a bridgestone ad? Looks like someone was asking for trouble.

There is a promotional event going on that if you buy a set of tires from Bridgestone, you either get a Nintendo Wii or a $70 gift card.

**DeviousOne** · 10-07-2012

Originally Posted by FonFahbre

There is a promotional event going on that if you buy a set of tires from Bridgestone, you either get a Nintendo Wii or a $70 gift card.

Seriously??

**BoyBettaKnow** · 10-07-2012

kinda relevant

**Soldier 95B** · 10-07-2012

I assume Kevin signed a contract stating that he couldn't present himself with a competing product. Not a big deal really, I am sure this will be old news and out of mind in 3..2..1

**Sufi** · 10-07-2012

This is funnier than their commercials with him.

**Sub-stance1** · 10-07-2012

Didn't see that one coming.

**Sufi** · 10-07-2012

Bad news though since he was the only decent thing the Sony Marketing dept. had.

**DeviousOne** · 10-07-2012

Originally Posted by Sufi

Bad news though since he was the only decent thing the Sony Marketing dept. had.

I enjoyed all his PS3 commercials in a way used to make me proud to own a PS3 since they were awesome commercials lol

**radgamer420** · 10-07-2012

Originally Posted by Sufi

Bad news though since he was the only decent thing the Sony Marketing dept. had.

Yeah thats true. I loved his commercials.

**daLa** · 10-07-2012

I don't understand why some of your call this lame, stupid or anything wrong. I think Sony is doing the right thing, he knows he gained a bit of fame with the ads but of course Sony trademark his fictional character therefore he can't try to make his own business with it and that's what he went and did. So I think it's only fair, may seem like Sony is the villain here but Kevin Butler should have read his contract properly.