Okay, I am going to spread this virus because the virus itself is interesting.

The story to date in case you missed it:
Subpop band (and personal favorite) Postal Service makes a video for their February 2003 release "Such Great Heights"

Apple makes a commercial for their new Intel based Macs.

The two works are for all intents and purposes the exact same thing. The Apple commercial is a shot for shot remake of the Postal Service video - shot by the same director.

Some people notice the similarity. *update - a better look at the two works side by side

Some people start investigating.

Sub pop, Postal Service and the Internet community pipes up in (feigned?) outrage.

Apple promotes the postal service video on iTunes and it becomes the top downloaded video for 5 or more days.

Why is this interesting? Apple, Sub Pop, Postal Service, iTunes, Intel and the commercial/video director are getting huge mileage out of a 30 second spot that I've never actually seen on television. Every part of this story is an ad. An ad for everyone involved. And the more this story is retold and the more layers of it are revieled the more mileage the ad gets. And not only is it an ad, but its an ad that is generating real (direct) revenue by selling the original Postal Service video on iTunes.

If someone actually dreamed this up and predicted the outcome they are a genius. Viral marketing taken to Such Great Heights.

andre

p.s. I'm sure this whole story isn't hurting sales of Death Cab for Cutie's recent album either. All a coincidence? I think not.