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Topic: Apple

Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

Summary: Apparently Apple used a stock photo of a Lion that was previously used in Belgium for the Vlaams Blok campaign -- a nationalistic political party.

Jason D. O'Grady

By for The Apple Core |

Belgian news site De Standaard noticed that something looked familiar about the Lion used in Apple's latest marketing materials for its upcoming Mac OS 10.7 - a.k.a. "Lion."

Apparently Apple used a stock photo of a Lion that was previously used in Belgium for the Vlaams Blok campaign -- a nationalistic political party. And if it was used by Vlaams Blok, I wonder how many other organizations have used it?

Well, at least Apple didn't have to edit out the blood droplets around its mouth, like it did for the Snow Leopard photo.

Update: Gizmodo reports that the stock photo—titled "The King", by Ronnie Howard—was available at Shutterstock and Fotolia, but it has been removed.

Tip: Geert Matton

Topics: Apple, Banking

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20 comments
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  • What is the issue??

    Do you know the definition of stock photo? As long as Apple pays for it, they can use it as they please.

    So why are you b1tch1ng about it??
    wackoae
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

      @wackoae : I agree but still. You don't want to have a big martketing blitz to find out the picture at the center of the campaign has been used before [and by a nationalist political party]. Luckily for apple, only Dutch people have seen the two. On the otherr hand, I'm sure most won't notice.
      Gis Bun
      Reply Vote

      • No issue here

        @Gis Bun By definition, using a stock photo means it probably has been used before (unless you the first to license it after it's been made available.) Oh, and it was the Belgians who would have seen it previously, not the Dutch.
        snberk341
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

      @wackoae I agree with you. As I read the article, I thought the photograph was a copyrighted one used only by one organisation. Then when I found out it was a stock photo, I rolled my eyes and thought "Geez, does Jason O'grady not understand what stock photo means and furthermore the Belgian nationalist political party IS NOT COMPLAINING." The title of the post is VERY VERY misleading.<br><br>Does anyone feel like slapping Jason O'grady? Geez!<br><br><img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="happy">
      thibaulthalpern
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

    They have to find something to slam Apple about no matter how lame or how much a non-story.

    Yes, aren't stock photos wonderful.

    Sheesh :roll:
    MacCanuck
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

      @MacCanuck : Jeez. The article are from two Apple bloggers. It wasn't from 2 Windows bloggers. Looks like you seem to get defensive anytime anytime someone goes after your true God [Steve Jobs] or his Church [Apple].
      Gis Bun
      Reply Vote

      • Just because he thinks this is stupid doesn't make him a shill

        @Gis Bun
        It gets so old having people attack Apple users as zealots just because they call something stupid, STUPID! This was a stupid, pointless article. That opinion has nothing to do with thinking Apple is perfect or that Jobs can walk on water, it is just pointing something out. Coming to a conclusion that someone wanted to say anything just to say something bad about Apple is not an unreasonable assumption. Now that doesn't mean the person saying the thing hates! Apple, it is just common knowledge that inflammatory articles about Apple, bring lots of hits. This is because both people who like and hate apple read them. And often times the Windows wonks make dismissive comments toward the Apple users with no substantial arguments.

        So to show everyone you are not that person, tell us why this piece of trivia was note worthy for the tech world seeing as nobody did anything wrong or even really controversial.
        DougPetrosky
        Reply Vote

  • ooops

    Unfortunate coincidence. I'm sure it was pulled from the stock library because Apple would have paid for exclusive use - either for a period of time or outright - to keep other tech firms from using the same image to sell their stuff, and confusing the public.

    I believe they did the same for the Snow Leopard image - that is buying the image outright.

    For those that don't know stock libraries.... they are libraries of images. A client "rents" an image to use. The very cheapest rentals don't include any exclusive rights. So, you use the image - and the business across the street can use the same image at the same time. However, if you want to get exclusive rights to the image you can pay for those. These can be exclusive to an industry, a region, a time period, etc etc. I suspect Apple has bought the exclusive rights to the image for either a long period of time (5 to 20 years) or just outright and for all time. Regardless, the photographer has been out shopping for gear.... exclusive rights are not cheap.
    snberk341
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

    Lol, Apple is always stepping in shlt! I thought they had a good marketing/ad dept?

    http://www.TheWorldFrenzy.com
    ALISON SMOCK
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

      @stebidri - quit being such an idiot... everyone here would certainly appreciate it. your comment made no sense.
      Pederson
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

      @stebidri The article is nothing more than click bait and you comment is obvious trolling. They used a stock photo - so what? I guess this gives you Apple Hating trolls something to fall back on when your other tirades are exposed as the crap they are.
      athynz
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

        @athynz
        No doubt, I guess they all think Jobs should be out there amongst some lions taking photos for his next marketing campaign.
        observer1959
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

        @athynz Exactly.

        Besides, do we expect Apple to NOT use stock photo and rather hire safari photographers to take their own? I don't think so.
        thibaulthalpern
        Reply Vote

  • Never Mind, You Wouldn't Get It Anyway

    Why bother.
    yobtaf
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

    Er...The Standaard.DE is a site for the belgian newspaper not a dutch news site.

    Just saying

    J?rgen
    jorgen.endert
    Reply Vote

  • Not just a nationalistic Party

    A ultra rightist xenophobic organisation.
    rhon@...
    Reply Vote

  • Good grief! Who cares?

    It looks like umpteen other three-quarter profile photos of a lion anyway.
    Laraine Anne Barker
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

    I buy my clothes at thrift stores. Buy generic foods. Keep my automobiles until they almost rust back into the earth. Don't upgrade my computers, until at least 5 years. And i thought i was cheap. Not anymore.
    blackjack861@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

    I think almost everyone missed the point. In Belgium the issue is that Apple used a photo to advertise Lion ( whether or not it was a stock photo is irrelevant ) that was also used as symbol in Belgium by a political party of questionable political beliefs. In fact the Belgian party in question is a direct political descendant of the Belgian Nazi party of WW2. That's why it's an issue in Belgium. Apple thinks its ok to use the same symbol as the Belgian "Nazi" party? Who runs Apple's PR in Belgium? It may not matter in North America but it left people in Belgium, Holland, northern France, and western Germany scratching their heads.
    Goldie07
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple gets bitten for using Lion stock photo (updated)

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    jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812
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