# Product non-placement in films **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-non-placement-in-films/290198 "2005-02-15T15:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-non-placement-in-films/290198/21 "2005-02-16T17:33:03Z")
A producer could very well not want to appear to be endorsing a particular product. People can be very influenced by what they see onscreen. There could be a conflict with other brands that have paid for placement, so you perhaps you wouldn’t see Pepsi and Minutemaid in the same kitchen, even if they’re different types of products. The talent might have a contract to promote a product outside of that particular movie or TV show. I doubt you’d find Royal Pudding in the Cosby kitchen. And the talent might hope to land an endorsement contract in the future. “Sorry, fella, you drank Spud Beer in ‘Revenge of the Blockbuster’ and you want to be the new spokesperson for Boors?” ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-non-placement-in-films/290198/22 "2005-02-16T17:40:13Z")
Oh, I forgot to add this in the post above, Parts of _Passionada_ were filmed in my hometown. The production company used a local motel and replaced all the existing signs with fake ones. (Then they repainted them back to their original name, so the owner’s property got spruced up in the deal.) They also shot in a cemetery and brought in their own fake gravestones and covered the real ones that would have shown. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-non-placement-in-films/290198/23 "2005-02-16T17:46:42Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > What happens if you want to use a product that is distinctive even without the logo? Nothing happens. If you’re using a car as a car, for characters to drive around in, then you’re free to use it. You can even crash it or run people over with it. > [@](#): > > And what happens if you try for a product placement, the maker says no to a deliberate placement, and there are no alternative products that do the same thing? Can you still use the product? Yes, you can. Imagine if a manufacturer had the right to prevent use of an image of his product – absolutely everything appearing in a movie, from clothing to carpets to furniture would have to be shown with permission – or else the props department would be employing armies of people to make fake stuff. > [@](#): > > How does this apply to places? I mean, say your location is a strip plaza. There are going to be stores around. Do you have to blank out or replace all the logos that you don’t have specific permission to use? No, you don’t. The fact that the logos are in a public place means that you’re free to photograph them. They’re part of the street. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-non-placement-in-films/290198/24 "2005-02-16T17:52:44Z")
> [@VernWinterbottom](#): > > They also shot in a cemetery and brought in their own fake gravestones and covered the real ones that would have shown. In _Cut Up_ we needed a ‘cut up’ (ref: Bryon Gysin) message painted in blood on a crypt. We couldn’t actually deface a crypt, so we made a plywood mock-up of one wall and painted it to match the rest of the crypt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-non-placement-in-films/290198.md?page=1)