ACT made to pull copy cat ad

ACT has changed a television commercial which ripped off a Green Party ad.

The ACT Party attack ad used the Greens ad where a young girl stands on a wharf but with a different voice-over.

Special Group made the ads and when launching its campaign last month co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the featured girl, Aila - whose father was the photographer - was environmentally aware.

The Greens campaign focuses on the planet and society's future and what it offers children.

The ACT ad used the Green Party image of the little girl but has a different voice-over saying: "If you really want to vote for me you'd give me opportunities not regulations, choices not controls, you wouldn't tell me what lightbulbs to use, or showers or how many children I could have because if you do I probably will go overseas and all there will be is empty space."

After a legal letter ACT pulled the ad.

Another version of the ad where the child's face is different is on ACT's website.

ACT Party president Garry Mallett said the image was changed enough so there was now no copyright breach. Mr Mallett was double checking legal issues before it screened on television.

He said the Greens should be happy ACT were recycling.

Greens co-leader Russel Norman was unimpressed.

"ACT seems to have taken that image without any permission and they've used it in their TV ad which is illegal of course ... It seems to me that ACT which is supposed to be the party of private property has nicked someone's private property," he said.

"It's kind of a compliment that ACT can't come up with its own advertising campaign so they kind of have to nick ours."

Dr Norman understood that legal action would be taken.

 

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