Germans Demand Profits From Nick Fury's Briefcase

[Preacher zer0]

Totally legit case... see what I did there?

But yeah, put it this way... what do you think would happen if Rimowa released a Mickey Mouse case?

Disney would be all over them.

To dismiss this by saying "oh it looks like every other metal briefcase" is nonsense, for every one you show me that is similar I can show you one that is totally different.

You see the point here is the design of this case is a persons work, commission's and paid for by Rimowa.

...and to be frank this does not look like "every other metal briefcase"... because obviously Rimowa is a company that protects it's IP.

 

[ScruffyMcBalls]

Shit. I kinda hoped Marvel would bring that boxset over to us in the U.K. and show a little love. Not gonna happen now, eh?

But Marvel really should've seen this coming and made sure their agreement with Rimowa extended to using the image for promotional purposes and for merchandise. I know why they didn't, it's because they never expected to use the case for that purpose because they were unaware of how popular it'd be. But by the same token, there was plenty of opportunity to ask Rimowa before this got out of hand.

 

[cthulhuspawn82]

It looks like the German company just wants to get themselves a piece of the Avengers pie.

 

[DangNabbit]

What, all of Germany wants a cut of the profit?

Ah wait, it's just a German company, which, because it's not important enough to be American, can just be othered into "Germans".

Raise your game, Escapist, you're better than this.

 

[Albino Boo]

I think this case will largely come down to what agreements the two companies made during production and if whether the briefcase logo was displayed during the film.

That said, it honestly looks like any other stainless steel case. Not sure why they bothered getting some designer one when props probably had dozens of similar models sitting around.

The case companies business depends on exclusivity. You are not going to pay a high price for a stainless steel case when there are cheap plastic versions of it selling a comic book movie. If you are walking into a Frankfurt bank HQ, Avengers fandom isn't not the image that most sober suited German businessmen want to project.

 

[Thomas Mccluskey]

I'm not sure how it is that I keep on ending up in threads about copyright or trademark infringement, but my Blade Runner DVD set from several years back came in a briefcase relatively similar to this one. No Cosmic Cube window, of course, but still the finest packaging I've ever gotten in a collector's edition set.

But I digress. I was just thinking that maybe Marvel should've looked at their licensing agreement with Rimowa before contracting somebody to make knockoffs of Rimowa's design, which is trademarkable, and which in this case was probably violated.

 

[Podunk]

Quick, show of hands- how many people thought that the briefcase "stole every scene it was in, and became so iconic [to The Avengers]"? Because other than this Karloff fellow and possibly the guy who designed the packaging for the DVD collection, I don't know anyone who thinks that. I saw the movie twice, and although I remember Nick Fury had a briefcase, I could not tell you what it looked like.

 

[Thomas Mccluskey]

What, all of Germany wants a cut of the profit?

Ah wait, it's just a German company, which, because it's not important enough to be American, can just be othered into "Germans".

Raise your game, Escapist, you're better than this.

I may be nitpicking, here, but so are you. It's a headline, which is the one place in an article where hyperbolic statements are somewhat acceptable. For example, if a newspaper said, "WORLD AT WAR," following, say, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand or perhaps sometime after, this would be generally acceptable, despite the fact that a number of countries weren't involved due to geography, and Switzerland just sat that one out.

It's also a bit more terse than, "Kindly briefcase designers from a large European nation (the identity of which doesn't matter, as that would be lumping them into a demographic group, which we tend to do, as they are not Americans) seek recompense from the Disney Corporation for their usage of said briefcase makers' design without permission to do so." That would totally be a better headline.

 

[Podunk]

What, all of Germany wants a cut of the profit?

Ah wait, it's just a German company, which, because it's not important enough to be American, can just be othered into "Germans".

Raise your game, Escapist, you're better than this.

I may be nitpicking, here, but so are you. It's a headline, which is the one place in an article where hyperbolic statements are somewhat acceptable. For example, if a newspaper said, "WORLD AT WAR," following, say, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand or perhaps sometime after, this would be generally acceptable, despite the fact that a number of countries weren't involved due to geography, and Switzerland just sat that one out.

It's also a bit more terse than, "Kindly briefcase designers from a large European nation (the identity of which doesn't matter, as that would be lumping them into a demographic group, which we tend to do, as they are not Americans) seek recompense from the Disney Corporation for their usage of said briefcase makers' design without permission to do so." That would totally be a better headline.

Hang on, let me try.
"RIMOWA DEMANDS PROFITS FROM NICK FURYS BRIEFCASE"
There.

 

[Sovereignty]

Quick, show of hands- how many people thought that the briefcase "stole every scene it was in, and became so iconic [to The Avengers]"? Because other than this Karloff fellow and possibly the guy who designed the packaging for the DVD collection, I don't know anyone who thinks that. I saw the movie twice, and although I remember Nick Fury had a briefcase, I could not tell you what it looked like.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Except I'll be completely honest I had NO freaking idea Nick Fury had a briefcase AT ALL.

Seriously. If it was there I ignored it simply because guys in suits in those movies ALWAYS carry some kind of case. Disney could edit the case out of the whole movie and I guarantee it'd not be any different.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

And so, Earth's greatest heroes found themselves battling a foe they had never imagined facing...copyright infringement. It would prove to be a most fearsome foe indeed....

 

[Seagoon]

YOU FELL FOR THE OL' FAKE JOKER GAG, BATS!

 

[Kojiro ftt]

I saw the movie. I barely remember the briefcase. Not sure what all the hubbub is about.

 

[SomebodyNowhere]

Since Marvel is now backed by Disney and their troop of lawyers able to bend copyright and trademark laws to their whim I can see this becoming a serious non-issue.

 

[faefrost]

I'm not sure how it is that I keep on ending up in threads about copyright or trademark infringement, but my Blade Runner DVD set from several years back came in a briefcase relatively similar to this one. No Cosmic Cube window, of course, but still the finest packaging I've ever gotten in a collector's edition set.

But I digress. I was just thinking that maybe Marvel should've looked at their licensing agreement with Rimowa before contracting somebody to make knockoffs of Rimowa's design, which is trademarkable, and which in this case was probably violated.

I'm more suspecting that Rimowa should have read the paperwork more carefully before seeking to do product placement in a movie with a studio that are masters at merchandising. Note we have no idea what was actually in the agreements. We have no idea if the case in question was a custom made model specific to the movie or a standard off the shelf item. We have no idea what the material value of the advertising from prominent placement in one of the worlds most seen and most profitable movies would be (which balance the other side of the equation).

Honestly Rimowa are fools. They obviously have cool and stylish products. They rather clearly have benefited from the exposure. And quite frankly the small plastic DVD case version of the briefcase is NOT something that in any way dilutes their customer base or drives off their customers. If anything it is just more advertising. If they had played it right, they should have quietly raised the issue behind the scenes with the Marvel merchandising people regarding the DVD collection case. Agree that there was an unintentional infringement, and balanced the books with a small settlement, and getting Marvel to spit out even more product placement and free advertising in other movies. Iron Man 3 is in production. And that's all about the Briefcase.

But by seeking such a big payout in such an obnoxious and public way. Well they're toxic. They live off the wallets of the trendy and stylish. The trendy and stylish live off the wallets of those like Disney. Plus no other studio or production will go near their products ever again. They will lose far more than they have any hope of gaining. Even in a German court.

 

[vid87]

So between this and the losses from John Carter, Disney would technically be breaking even on the Avengers at this point?

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

that case looks just like a cheap travel case i got at walmart for 20 bucks
get the fuck over it, germans

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

German Company vs. Marvel, Marvel Cinematic, Disney, Samuel Jackson, a multi-billion dollar franchise, and a global fanbase.

Name 3 things that Rimowa is doing wrong.

 

[Caffeine_Bombed]

Should have just gone with that sweet fan-made Helicarrier!

 

[J-meMalone]

They designed and made the briefcase, they should be entitled to the royalties associated with the case, I'd say that's fair. I do feel asking for triple the proven damages is a bit much though...

Also, come on, you can do better headlines than that! Don't lump all the Germans together, it's not like they all work for the company. Not yet anyway!