Vault Boy Delivers Pizza

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Vault Boy Delivers Pizza


There's no question that the Bethesda [http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Vault_Boy] - expected to find him delivering pizzas in Massachusetts.

Vault Boy has displayed many talents over the years. Appearing in numerous Vault-Tec manuals and films, his ever-upbeat mug has been used to illustrate perks, traits and other aspects of the game since the original Fallout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallout_(video_game)]. But recently he's turned up elsewhere, on Expresso Pizza boxes in Billerica, Massachusetts, and it probably goes without saying that his appearance was made entirely without permission, from either Vault-Tec or Bethesda.

Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/16/fallout-3s-vault-boy-now-delivering-pizza-copyright-infringe/] dropped the dime on Expresso to Bethesda and was told that the company does indeed take a dim view of such unauthorized use. "Well, he is a big part of our Fallout brand and is copyrighted, so, yeah, deciding on your own to use him to promote your business or product, or to sell stuff, or whatever, without getting permission from us... not a good idea," a Bethesda rep said. Sounds like fighting words to me!

This obviously isn't the first time a restaurant has used an unauthorized image to promote itself; Snoopy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoopy] used to feature prominently on the sign for an old roadhouse not too far down the highway from here, in fact. Snoopy is a bit more instantly recognizable, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if the guys at Expresso had no idea where this image actually came from. And if they do... well, at least they don't have him pissing on a Ford logo.


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HardRockSamurai

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May 28, 2008
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Even though it's a blatant case of copyright infringement, I do hope they let them keep the logo. It actually looks pretty cool...
 

Quick Ben

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Oct 27, 2008
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HardRockSamurai said:
Even though it's a blatant case of copyright infringement, I do hope they let them keep the logo. It actually looks pretty cool...
You think it's cool? I just think it looks silly and out of place. But maybe that's because I'm so used to seeing it in a different setting...
 

Amnestic

High Priest of Haruhi
Aug 22, 2008
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Wow, they didn't even bother to ask Bethesda if they could use it? That's some Grade A stupid right there. You might have gotten away with it before the Internets, but no longer.
 

theSovietConnection

Survivor, VDNKh Station
Jan 14, 2009
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HardRockSamurai said:
Even though it's a blatant case of copyright infringement, I do hope they let them keep the logo. It actually looks pretty cool...
Depending on the judge, they might be able to keep it. If I recall right, they have to prove that this pizza place would be infringing on their market in order to successfully win the case, and really, I don't think pizza is infringing on the video game market, unless you happen to be not sure if you want Fallout 3 or $60 worth of pizza.
 

War Penguin

Serious Whimsy
Jun 13, 2009
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The next thing you know they'll have the pizza shaped like a vault door and have 101 written in pepperoni.
...
...
... Actually, that sounds awesome! Where's this place again?
 

zerzxes

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Apr 14, 2009
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Fallout pizza, now that just gotta be awesome!

... if not is is made after the war.....

you know, forget it!
 

Vanbael

Arctic fox and BACON lover
Jun 13, 2009
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Sue them all you want, I think its a very fitting image for the vault boy. Come one guys, you need to just relax, enjoy a good slice of cheese pizza and ice cold bottle of Nuka Cola Quantum.
 

setvak

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Sep 6, 2009
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If the pizzeria owners are fans, I say let them keep it. If they're unaware of who Vault Boy is, then let Bethesda reign down their legal might with the wrath of an angry Jehovah.
 

Fasckira

Dice Tart
Oct 22, 2009
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Could be a new marketing angle for them and get their pizza delivery boys to dress up in vault jump suits.
 

Ori Disciple

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Oct 22, 2009
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technically breaking the law, so they should sue them for it...
but, it is the vault boy. hes too damn sexy to belong to just Vault-tec, or Bethesda
 

Kollega

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Jun 5, 2009
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Sueing? Hell naw! Bethesda must expand on the idea and make them a company in Fallout: New Vegas! And make real ones a Fallout-themed pizzeria! It's a perfect idea, i say! Who wouldn't want a Fallout-themed pizzeria?
 

TheRealCJ

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Mar 28, 2009
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setvak said:
If the pizzeria owners are fans, I say let them keep it. If they're unaware of who Vault Boy is, then let Bethesda reign down their legal might with the wrath of an angry Jehovah.
Yeah, that makes sense:

"if they knowingly and willingly commited copyright infringement, they should be let off scot-free"

"if they made the simple mistake of getting the wrong image of of Google Images, let's burn them to the ground!"
 

yourbeliefs

Bored at Work
Jan 30, 2009
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I don't think this is worth a lawsuit. Yes it's obvious copyright infringement, but I doubt Bethesda is going to get a big payday from this small pizza shop. Also, I doubt Bethesda's lawyers work pro-bono, so it'll cost them even to file a lawsuit and go through all the motions. I think a simple "cease and desist" letter to force them to take it down would be more than adequate.