Mitsubishi dealer for Bulgaria to alert European HQ over copycat ad by Ataka
Balkan Star Motors, official distributor of Mitsibushi in Bulgaria, is to inform its European office about plagiarism by ultra-nationalist party Ataka which used a copy-cat version of a Mitsubishi advert for the far-right party’s campaign in the 2014 European Parliament elections.
The original advert was for a Mitsubishi model launched in 2011. Three years later, Ataka used the image, adding the colours of the Bulgarian flag to it and replacing the original text with its own slogans.
The Ataka version follows on imagery used in its campaign against foreigners being allowed to buy land in Bulgaria.
A notice on Facebook said that the company was categorically against any joint action with the Ataka party. It said that it had been informed about the use of the advert by fans and customers of Mitsubishi and by stories in the electronic media.
“Mitsubishi Motors’ representation in Bulgaria and its dealerships in the country were not asked about possible permission to use the advertising image, neither by Ataka and nor by the contractors carrying out its advertising campaign.”
Copyright of the image belonged to MMC Automotores do Brasil LTDA.
“As the general distributor of the brand for Bulgaria, we are also obliged to inform Mitsubishi Motors Europe,” the post on Facebook said.
No comment has yet been forthcoming from Ataka.
The party, generally seen as having no chance of winning seats in Bulgaria’s European Parliament elections on May 25, previously was penalised by the Central Election Commission for including in a campaign video a scene from a couple’s church wedding, without their knowledge or permission.
