Sep 14, 2024 08:00:00

What exactly is Apple's 'No Bad Actors Clause'?

When talking about the history of Apple products, it is essential to know how they are advertised. In the past, commercials with titles such as '

Think Different ' and ' Get a Mac ' were aired all over the world and contributed to the popularity of Apple products, but ' Crush! ', which aired in 2024, attracted attention in a negative sense because of its content of destroying musical instruments and cameras. Samantha Stutzman of the weekly magazine People explains the 'industry rules' surrounding the advertising of such Apple products.

Apple's 'No Villain Clause' for iPhones On-Screen: All About the Alleged Rule
https://people.com/apple-no-villain-clause-for-iphones-onscreen-8701882

Apple has a unique rule known as the 'No Villain Clause,' which is a myth that Apple does not allow villains to use its products in television, movies, or advertisements.

This policy is not explicitly stated in the ' Apple Trademark and Copyright Guidelines ,' but the guidelines state that 'Apple products should be displayed in the best possible light that reflects favorably on Apple products and Apple Inc.' The Japanese version of the guidelines also states the same thing.

While this alone does not make it clear whether the no-villain clause actually exists, Rian Johnson, the film director behind films such as '

Star Wars: The Last Jedi ' and ' Looper, ' hinted at the existence of the no-villain clause in a 2020 interview with monthly magazine Vanity Fair, saying, 'Apple lets us use iPhones in our movies...and this is very important, but if you've ever seen a mystery movie, you'll understand. Bad guys can't have iPhones.'

In addition, when Heidi Collet, who specializes in prop creation, appeared on a podcast in 2024, she said, 'Apple is very special. I once had a script where an actress was driving while drunk and was looking at her smartphone and got into an accident, and we had solidified the image of the character with an iPhone, but Apple interfered. Apple sent me emails with their wishes, such as how they wanted the iPhone to look and what kind of case they could put on it. I don't think they'll ever work with me again,' and her co-star can be seen saying, 'There's no movie where the villain has an iPhone.'

Stutzman said he has seen

scenes in several movies and TV shows, including Johnson's 'Knives Out ,' in which the villain has a different smartphone than everyone else, except for the iPhone.

For example, in the TV show ' Media King: The Magnificent Family ,' most of the characters use iPhones, but the villains Logan Roy, Jerry Killman, and Tom Wambsgans are never shown using Apple products. Also, in the popular TV show ' 24, ' which began airing in the 2000s, the good guys seem to use Macs, while the bad guys use other PCs.

On the other hand, it has been pointed out that there are exceptions to the 'no villains' clause, such as the man who kills the main character John's dog and steals his car in ' John Wick ' using an iPhone, and the serial killer character played by Josh Hartnett in M. Night Shyamalan's film ' Trapped ' using Apple products.

'While the exact requirements for using Apple products are unclear, it's fun to look for iPhone Easter eggs on the screen,' Stutzman concluded.

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