Apple Isn't Laughing at Ellen's iPhone Commercial Parody

After airing a send-up of an iPhone commercial on Mondays Ellen DeGeneres Show, the comedienne apologized for the parody at the behest of, well, Apple.

According to DeGeneres, Apple was none too pleased with her spoof, which depicted the actress fumbling with the device, trying (and failing) to send a text message. The people at Apple didnt think it was so funny, she said on her show. They thought I made it look like its hard to use and I just want to say Im sorry if I made the iPhone look like it was hard to use.

Putting aside for a minute the rather Johnny-Come-Lately nature of the parody (even a faux iPad commercial would seem like old news at this point), Apples reaction and DeGeneress subsequent apology bring up some interesting questions about freedom of speech and the media.

By now its common knowledge how protective Jobs and Co. are of their empire — iPad developers and Gizmodo can certainly attest to that — but there are limits. Is it reasonable to think that DeGeneress joke would affect the publics opinion of the iPhone? (Its seriously doubtful that the company would have any kind of case if it were to seek damages — thanks Hustler Magazine v. Falwell!) Should a comedian apologize for parody?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• commercial
• advert
• Ellen
• DeGeneres
• Show
• Apple
• iPhone
• G4
• 3G
• 3GS
• Steve
• Jobs

[skymountainsea]

Ellen doesn't do anything with evil intentions, it's just for laughs... Seriously...

[haimasoph]

@skymountainsea Steve Jobs palying unconvinced. Which is more funny and creates lots of buzz around iphone.

[minasemnick]

It's funny to do jokes about pc's, but when it comes about your own products its wrong...c'mon apple... stop being so hypocrite!

[cikDANCE]

I'm on an iPad lol

[cikDANCE]

:)

[cikDANCE]

I laughed :(

[osbely]

Yes, kneel before the great APPLE.

[trish711trish]

I freeeaking love Ellen

[chiongcliffe]

Apple doesn't need to get mad at this joke. Everyone knows how great Apple is!

[whimsy27]

Mr. McKintosh...hahahahah

[kayalroy]

come on apple can't you take a bit of joke

[IDKDemiLovato]

@MIT2004 ME Fag you don't know me dude If you don't find something funny just don't comment!

[123barnsey]

Yeah it was funny but i see why apple didn't like this.