Anyone else find this ridiculous?

[Che]

Anyone remember the song "Barbie Girl" by Aqua? If you don't, here's a youtube link so that you know what I'm talking about in this thread: YouTube - Aqua - Barbie Girl

As I recall, they were sued by Mattel for this song, and won the case.

Now, I sometimes watch Family Guy before I go to bed, and leave my TV on because I like to have something going on, I can't sleep in silence. I wake up today and hear this Barbie commercial: YouTube - 2009 Fab Girl Barbie Doll Commercial

Isn't it kind of a dick move for Mattel to release this commercial, as it's obviously a ripoff of the Aqua song?

I'm gonna post a poll because polls are fun.

[RagnaToad]

Holy shit. That's a complete rip-off.

I'm wondering if they paid them to use their song.

But then again, if they had done that, they could have just used an unremixed version.

So I'm guessing it's a total rip-off.

[Unknown Entity]

Ew. Young, noobish girls with their own "Barbie Girl" profiles online. *shudder*

And yeah, total rip off. >>;;

[Aerif]

Aqua should totally sue Mattel back. That's what Americans, tends to do, right?

Though Mattel probably gained the rights to the song after the original case. The Official Song is basically identical to the original only the sexual innuendo has obviously been removed and replaced with crap about Barbie 'loving' her friends. Sure turn the little girls into lesbians now... </sarcasm - sort of>

But if they somehow don't own the rights to the song, this got a whole lot more entertaining.

[Josh_R]

I agree with Ragan on this it is a total rip-off and as an american we enjoy sueing people so I think they should try to sue them right back...

[Lily]

Haha I saw that ad last week sometime, and just thought 'wot?' I wonder if they got the rights to it....either way it irritates the socks off me, stupid crappy advert. I'd laugh my head off if they got sued though

[Meier Link]

I actually find this to be very funny, what goes around comes around.

I was suprised Mattel even complained because in all honesty what better publicity can you get then a catchy song for the kiddies and not have to pay a dime to make it or put it out on the radio. Oh well that is all in the past.

And yes that is a total rip off.

[Zerobanshee]

Total, random thought. That song wasn't that bad.

But, there was a foreign version to the song, I can't remember who did it. I loved it, however, because the song was full of win. The male voice that sung in the Barbie Girl song sounded like a crazed Nazi hobo.

[Taco-Calamitous]

Do Aqua have the money to sue Mattel? That tends to be a large factor in whether a lawsuit is successful or not, unfortunately; who can afford the better lawyers, who can afford to go to court, etc. People in bands generally don't have that kind of money; even when they have one decently successful album/hit song. At least not in comparrison to a corporation. So either way, Aqua is probably screwed.

And yeah, that's a rip off. Pretty much sucks. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Sean]

I think the fact that Aqua got sued in the first place is horse shit. I fail to see how making a song about something = infringement, but I digress.

I voted "Holy shit Mattel, really?"

It's a **** move.


Edit: I misunderstood what Che meant, apparently Mattel lost the suit. It went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and it was dismissed there, as well. The song was protected as parody. Oh Wikipedia, I love you!