THINKING OUTSIDE THE BUN LEADS TO LEGAL ACTION THE STORY OF 50 CENT VS. TACO BELL
In 2008, rapper 50 Cent filed an unlikely lawsuit against the fast-food chain Taco Bell. Was it an endorsement deal gone wrong? Quite the opposite. According to the rapper, the company had implied an endorsement deal in the media when there was none. Taco Bell, known for their quirky and humorous ads, had released a print ad formatted as a faux “letter” to 50 Cent, requesting that 50 Cent change his name to 79, 89, or 99 Cent as a part of their latest promotion. The letter reached the national press and even television … except for 50 Cent’s actual mailbox. In fact, 50 Cent had no idea Taco Bell used his name. By releasing the letter, 50 Cent became the face of Taco Bell’s whole campaign, too. The letter was part of a larger hip hop- themed campaign, and customers could
go to the Taco Bell website and participate in a “Rap Name Creator” to discover their rap name. They also had a “Why Pay Mo’ Rhyme Generator” that played hip hop music and a montage of “hip hop-themed scenes,” according to the rapper’s lawyer, Peter D. Raymond. As soon as 50 Cent found out about the letter on the news, he wasn’t happy. On July 23, 2008, 50 Cent — whose real name is Curtis Jackson — filed a federal lawsuit saying they featured the rapper in an ad campaign without his permission and profited directly from his celebrity status without paying him a multimillion-dollar fee. Raymond said his client sought $4 million in damages.
made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89 or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice.” In the end, both sides settled, keeping the terms of the settlement confidential and paying their own legal fees. So, it’s possible that 50 Cent was paid after all, but we’ll never know the exact terms of their legal agreement, except “both sides are satisfied,” according to Raymond. Since then, more companies have been careful about using celebrity names in their marketing without permission. It pays to think inside the bun, after all.
In response, Taco Bell Corp. spokesman Rob Poetsch issued a statement saying: “We
Once the Leaves Begin to Change Colors It’s Time to Prepare for Fall
The first day of fall is Sept. 22. Do you know what that means? It’s time for more safety tips. On top of getting your fall decor out and decorating the inside and outside of your home, you should ensure that your house is ready to handle the colder weather ahead. This month is the perfect time to begin preparing because it’s not too hot or too cold. Here are three safety tips for transitioning your home from hot summer days to cool fall and winter nights. 1. Check for drafts. Have you ever noticed that during the colder months, your heating bill may rise sometimes? This can be because cold air and moisture enter our home through your doors and windows. To check if you have a draft issue, close a door or window on a strip of paper. If the paper slides easily, you need to update your tension seal. Another way to keep your heating bill down is to close doors in the rooms you don’t use and place blankets over your windows and doors to keep cool air out. 2. Schedule an HVAC tuneup. Now is the perfect time to test your HVAC system and ensure everything runs correctly. It’s probably been a long time since
you used your heating system, but soon, you will be cranking the heat up. Schedule your tuneups months before you use it to protect your system from unexpected failures. A technician can examine your system, make repairs, and remove any debris or buildup. You don’t want to live in a home without heat, so schedule your tuneup today! 3. Clean or replace your gutters. Your gutters’ primary purpose is to drain gallons of water and debris from your roof all year long. But sometimes, there may be too much buildup in your gutters, and they may not work properly. You don’t want to notice a problem or error later that requires action once we reach freezing temperatures. So, it’s best to check your gutters now and ensure they aren’t clogged or damaged. That way, if they are damaged and need repairing, you can schedule an appointment to have them replaced sooner rather than later. As the leaves begin to change and we pull out our sweaters, make sure your home is ready for the changing weather so you can peacefully enjoy the season. Have a happy and safe fall, everyone!
2 COUNTYCIVIL.COM
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