The Deceptive Marketing of Morbius: Can Sony be Sued for False Advertising?

TLDRSony's marketing for the movie Morbius misled consumers with false connections to Spider-Man and the MCU. This could potentially be considered false advertising. While it is difficult to determine if substantial harm was caused, a case could be made for unfair practices. A current lawsuit against Universal Pictures for a similar situation raises questions about the legality of movie trailers. However, suing movie companies over trailer deception is challenging and often unsuccessful.

Key insights

:camera:Sony's marketing for Morbius created false connections to Spider-Man and the MCU to generate hype.

:warning:Deceptive practices may have misled consumers into expecting certain elements in the movie that were ultimately not included.

:scales:Determining substantial harm caused by the deceptive marketing is subjective and challenging to measure.

:money_with_wings:Successfully suing movie companies for false advertising in trailers is rare, as it is challenging to prove damages and win the case.

:balance_scale:A current lawsuit against Universal Pictures over a similar situation involving a deceptive movie trailer raises legal questions.

Q&A

Can Sony be sued for false advertising in the Morbius marketing?

Technically, it is possible to sue Sony for false advertising. However, winning such a case would be challenging, as substantial harm and damages must be proven.

Did Morbius's marketing deceive consumers?

Yes, the marketing for Morbius created false connections and expectations, leading consumers to believe certain elements would be present in the movie that were ultimately absent.

What is the likelihood of winning a lawsuit against a movie company for false advertising?

Winning a lawsuit against a movie company for false advertising in trailers is rare, as it is difficult to prove damages and demonstrate that the deception caused substantial harm.

What legal considerations surround deceptive movie trailers?

Deceptive movie trailers may be considered as unfair practices under consumer protection laws. However, each case is evaluated based on factors such as the level of harm caused and whether the deceptive information was withheld until after purchase.

Are other movie studios involved in lawsuits for deceptive movie trailers?

Yes, there is a current lawsuit against Universal Pictures regarding a similar situation where an actress appeared briefly in the trailers but was not in the actual movie. The outcome of this case may provide legal clarity on the matter.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Introduction: Sony's marketing for Morbius created false connections to Spider-Man and the MCU to generate hype.

03:25Deceptive practices may have misled consumers into expecting certain elements in the movie that were ultimately not included.

06:50Determining substantial harm caused by the deceptive marketing is subjective and challenging to measure.

08:00Successfully suing movie companies for false advertising in trailers is rare, as it is challenging to prove damages and win the case.

10:10A current lawsuit against Universal Pictures over a similar situation involving a deceptive movie trailer raises legal questions.