Thursday, 24 May 2012

Marmite brings British National Party to its knees

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 | Updated: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 8:54 pm | By Matthew Chapman

The far-right British National Party is reportedly facing financial ruin after agreeing to pay up to £170,000 in compensation after infringing Marmite’s copyright.

Unilever launched Hight Court proceedings after the BNP launched an election broadcast that ripped off the Marmite brand’s ‘Love it or hate it’ strapline.

The TV stunt featured party leader Nick Griffin next to a huge jar of Marmite with a strap line reading “Love Britain Vote BNP”. Griffin defended the election broadcast by saying it was meant as a humorous response to a Marmite campaign that allegedly mocked the BNP. The far-right party claims Marmite’s online and TV ads, featuring a ‘Love Party’ and an opposing ‘Hate Party’, overtly based the leader of the Hate Party on Griffin.

Insiders report the BNP have agreed to pay Unilever between £70,000 and £170,000 after settling out of court. Unilever confirms a settlement has been agreed but will not reveal the terms of the confidential agreement. It is believed the large settlement could spell financial ruin for the controversial party after former national organiser Eddy Butler revealed the BNP is “on the brink of bankruptcy”.

This story first appeared on pitch.

Readers' comments (21)

Anonymous | Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:14 pm
Well, I won,t be buying marmite again, or any other unilever products if I can help it
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BERT | Tue, 20 Jul 2010 9:33 am
The actual figure figure agreed between the BNP and Unilver was less than £5,000, which was a small price to pay for the publicity that was generated.

It was Unilveer who insisted that the BNP did not divulge the amount of the settlement as they felt they had had enough negative publicity and the last thing Unilever wanted was endless articles about just what it is they are upt o around the world.

And what did the BNP achieve for the cost of a few thousand pounds? Continued ongoing publicity, growing public support, whilst showing companies like Unilver that the BNP will always respond to attacks on them.

So now you know.
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Dan | Tue, 20 Jul 2010 9:55 am
BERT,

What wonderful inside knowledge you give. One can only assume you are better connected than any jouranlist in the world and have managed to turn yourself into a fly, and rest on the walls that these meetings took place inside.

"growing public support"

I can only assume you have not seen the results of the general election?

Regards
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BIZ | Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:22 am
BERT | Tue, 20 Jul 2010 9:33 am - Load of crock!!! If it was that little the BNP would have said something about the "Marxist" press spreading their vile lies, although, they probably wouldn't disclose how much. Usually with the BNP, it's the bits that they don't tell you that you have to look out for...and this is one thing that a total buffoon like Nick Griffin, especially on the verge of a leadership contest, would not want to advertise!
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Anonymous | Tue, 20 Jul 2010 3:38 pm
Im off to go and buy some marmite right now .....laughing out loud as I go!!! LOVE MARMITE HATE THE BNP!!!
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Anonymous | Tue, 20 Jul 2010 3:46 pm
Well done BERT. There was ONE factually correct piece in your comment: the correct spelling of BNP. Keep going with the attempts at Unilever & the numeracy.
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Cliff Smith | Thu, 22 Jul 2010 0:44 am
Fascism fails before the power of the mighty Marmite. Absolutely priceless. I'm off to enjoy some yeasty Marmite goodness on toast, and hope for the long overdue demise of the racist BNP.
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Simon Bennett | Sun, 25 Jul 2010 4:46 pm
As a named defendent on the High Court Injunction served on myself and Griffin. I can state for a fact that the amount Unilever were seeking was "Not less than £15,000 plus legal fees and costs".

The £5,000 figure is a nonsense and is very likely to be closer to the £170,000 as stated in my informed opinion!
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The Love Party | Fri, 30 Jul 2010 2:49 pm
I don't like Marmite, but now I LOVE IT!

I never forget the phone conversation Nick Griffin had with a voter on Radio 4 who said his great-grandmother wasn't British but the rest of his family were, does that make him British? Nick Griffin's answer,

"I can't SEE you down the phone."
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Christian Hirlemann | Fri, 6 Aug 2010 3:47 pm
Whats the difference between marmite and the BNP?

There is nothing wrong with liking marmite, in fact that can be called personal preference. However if you like the BNP that could be called ignorance or even poor judgement.
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