Advertising: A Tale of Two Princes

A Tale of Two Princes

"Prince, in concert," says the announcer in the 30-sec. rock video, amid flashing lights and screaming crowds. Moments later the viewer sees what all the cheering is about. It is not for Prince, the rock star, but Prince, the tomato sauce, in concert smotheringly with Prince spaghetti. Lawyers for Prince, the singer, were grated. They sent a letter to Joseph Pellegrino, the Lowell, Mass., pasta company's president, complaining that the ad gave the impression that their client had endorsed Prince products. The lawyers asked the 73-year-old spaghetti maker to forthwith stop using the 26-year-old rock star's name in twain.

The commercial...

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