World Gone Mad: Legal Disclaimers in Nissan TV Ad
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: YouTube ::: Nissan Altima Kidzilla Advertisement
WATCHED this US market Nissan advert recently and it struck me as an example of a litigious society gone off the bridge. The TV spot for the 2011 Altima features a li’l devil of maybe four or five who treats a minichamps Altima to a withering round of kid “testing.”
It’s very funny. And a well received metaphor. What isn’t well received – and is frankly pathetic – are the condescending notes from legal.
In very small, barely legible print, these include:
“Dramatization” @ 0:04
“Do not attempt without parental supervision” @ 0:17
No $#!&. Really, can someone explain the substance and relevance of these worthless/laughable disclaimers? If someone wanted to sue Nissan because the ad inspired their kid to eat a toy car, would microscopic print on a screen deter the victim’s legal team?
Consider this post a plea for reason. Failing that, a critique of the profoundly stupid.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
