Tom Waits files lawsuit against GM and McCann over 'doppelganger' ad

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 19-Sep-05, 09:30

LONDON - Tom Waits has followed through on a threat he made in April to sue General Motors and its ad agency McCann Erickson for imitating his voice in an ad he claims he turned down doing.

The legendary gravelly voiced, singer-songwriter this week filed the lawsuit in Frankfurt claiming that the two parties violated his personality rights under German law.

He seeking damages and any "ill-gotten gains" from profits generated from the ad, which was voiced by a soundalike and was aired in Germany and Scandinavia.

Waits is notoriously anti-commercials, describing it as "an unnatural use of my work". He has previously sued his own record company for licensing 'Heartattack and Vine' for a Levi's commercial without consulting him.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, he said: "Apparently, the highest compliment our culture grants artists nowadays is to be in an ad -- ideally naked and purring on the hood of a new car.

"I have adamantly and repeatedly refused this dubious honour. Currently accepting in my absence is my German doppelganger. While the court can't make me active in radio, I am asking it to make me radioactive to advertisers."

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.