The family might have a problem with you using his likeness without permission.

While I do agree that it is generally a good strategy to be timely and relevant, I think this kind of marketing is pretty tacky. Personal opinion.

This is terrible news, even though I wasn't a huge Robin Williams fan, he was extremely talented, and he always seemed so happy. It sounds bizarre to me that he would commit suicide, I'd never heard that he was depressed.

If anyone's looking for a great movie to watch, which Robin stars in, check out "The Dead Poet's Society" ... truly a classic, and appropriate, now more than ever.

That's a bit of a morbid thought to have after somebody just died.

Interesting, Brian.

Say we take out the picture and just use his name. Is that trademark infringement?

His name and picture is on the headline of every news site. It'll be the headline of tomorrow's paper and on the entertainment magazines next month. Plus, it'll be on the magazines that sell rumors.

If using his name and pictures to sell is infringement, wouldn't all these magazines and newspapers be getting sued all the time? They'll be using Robin Williams in their headlines to "sell" their magazines and newspapers.

Now you really got me curious on trademark infringements.

So sad. Talented, funny and seemed like a nice guy to boot.

Relevance for us marketers?

1.) Money can't buy you happiness, so don't sell your soul.
2.) Cocaine will f-ck you up. Look at our boy Billy Mays (the tv pitchman). Who knows how healthy Robin's brain chemistry might've been without all the years of coke (and alcohol)?

Hmmm one of my close friends is something of a local celebrity, maybe I can adapt this strategy as a local marketer when he kicks the bucket.

He's a little young though... Anyone here know how to make Ricin?

Here are my thoughts: You think like a parasite. Your thought process represents all the things that are wrong with marketers.

The DAY Robin Williams dies and you're already thinking in terms of how companies could exploit the man for profit? Show some god damned respect. Jesus.

And here's another thing, there's no such thing as a "suicide company." Ok? Those are often state sponsored or community funded organizations and charities. Not "for-profit" companies.

Absolutely that kind of thinking belongs in the gutter and unfortunately for you, will always stay there unless you come to your senses.

I agree with Brian there are probably legal issues from using someones name like this you'd have to be prepared to have deep pockets if the families lawyer comes after you. (Newspapers have been successfully sued for less (I'm thinking UK news)).

I don't think the "idea" would work.

For many reasons.

All the ones already stated.

And we live in a celebrity obsessed culture.

Many do or try to do what they do.


Steve

Yeah. I'm gonna have to say that it doesn't sound like a good idea. Also comes off as being insensitive.

As someone who went down that route and stood on the edge of that particular hole after my divorce in 2005. I have to say that not even phone calls off family helped. You have to dig yourself out of that one alone.

If anything the knowledge that it worked for him and he didn't end up a vegetable (the biggest fear when you're about to do it)... would of given me the strength to go ahead with it.

James

Yes, many may feel that Robin seemed to have everything you could want in life but very sadly just couldn't beat the demons.

And someone in an awful depressive situation may feel "If he couldn't what chance have I got?"

Thank god many do recover.

But for others it is all too much.

If you were to promote a possible "technique, cure or remedy" which may help - you have to do it very, very carefully.


Steve

Thanks. It's really a nice technique to drive attention. But I am confused whether it is ethical or not.

Every day someone dies from depression it's probably by design in the meds, I almost went and they do it on purpose I think, we just don't hear about it if it's a nobody. It's a shame Robyn seams to have been a nice guy, to bad.

Sean Fry, I should have said "Suicide Prevention Hotline." The ads would be to gain awareness, not profit.

Steve The Copywriter, "And someone in an awful depressive situation may feel "If he couldn't what chance have I got?" Great point. Never thought about that.

JamesDLayton, I feel ya about the divorce situation. Many blacked out months.

A great deal of what society does is really just picking up the egg shells. Police, medical staff, fire departments, hotlines for suicide...

They all react to something that's pretty much already taken place.

Didn't the writer of Bringing Out The Dead say that being a Paramedic was mainly about bearing witness?

Rather than saving anyone.

The fact is. If you are ready to do it. No amount of pressure (and that's all it is.... a mentally ill person sees help as pressure) will stop you.

In the same way that a person hell bent on NOT doing it could never take a phone call and decide "Meh screw it." BANG!.

It could of been festering for years or decades. And it's like addiction, any ARP class will tell you addiction is for LIFE.... there is NO cure. You can train yourself to control the triggers but it never goes away. I know this first hand.

I hope to heaven my thoughts I had in 2005 don't bubble to the surface again. I have a good lady who helps me a lot now in ways hard to describe. But it never goes away. Once that thought is planted it just waits for an opportune moment.

You have to be on guard 24/7.That's all suicide is, it's just a little guy sitting on your shoulder waiting to pull the trigger for you. Should you turn and look at him by mistake.

Peace
James

I agree you could cash in on the topic, but provide some good insight on it. Robin would approve.

Banking on the issue on this unfortunate event is hard to swallow for me. I can't believe that people have the fortitude to gain profit from this mess, but I say, to each his own.

I would like to add to the discussion that comedians did their best to make us laugh, but deep inside their hearts they are very lonely people.

There should be awareness built upon this. We don't need another Marilyn Monroe, Heath Ledger, etc. to follow. They are all but entertainers,yet they are people too. They have brightened up our lives with laughter, now it's high time we commit ourselves to treating our lives with dignity and respect with the lessons they have taught us on the silver screen.

Cringeworthy and scummy.

Well, this thread shows how EMOTIONS really sell. How people
can get emotional about a subject rather than reason it through.

I've seen this same topic in the main forum before (using bad news
for marketing) and the same "ethical" and "feelings" side come through,
but if you THINK about it all marketing is taking advantage of
human suffering/incapability.

By the reasoning of some in this thread undertakers should all close
down because they are making money from people's death.

I wonder if it was Bin Laden instead of a loved figure such as Robin
Williams the reasoning would be the same?

There are whole industries built around the misfortunes of others.
Insurance, Legal system, hospitals, .. the list goes on.

-Ray Edwards

P.S. BTW, I love Robin Williams and his unfortunate death is sad indeed.

We'll that would be a disaster if you do that. Robin Williams = Happiness, and having him a suicide usp is really bad. That is what my opinion is.

[DELETED]

Guys, the OP never said anything about banking in on the event. He was talking about not-for-profit marketing to prevent other suicides, as he's said many times throughout this thread...

Based on the wording of the OP, I can see where people get that, but he's offered that clarification more than once. Geez

Raydal, emotions sure do sell. That's why funeral directors can sell the top-of-the-line caskets and services. They hit the emotional buttons.

Thanks, Cam Connor! This goes to show we all have different opinions on different matters.

And, thanks everyone for sharing your opinions!

Oh, and JameDLayton, take care of yourself. Keep moving forward!

Ray,

I understand what you're saying.

I just don't think the celebs name should be mentioned.

Anyway as Rick said legally it would be fraught with problems.

And I mentioned my "concerns" on threads 16 and 19.

Of course any marketing that could prevent anyone from committing suicide would be good.

You just have to know that it wouldn't have a catastrophic effect on others.


Steve

I think you might have to reference Williams a little more subtly, or your target audience is likely to be very turned-off. Not in a "Oh those commercials are so irritating but I buy anyway," sort of way, but in a, "Gross I'm not buying this," sort of way.

Of course there's only one way to know for sure...

I think that OP is coming from the right place, it's just that the idea (IMO) isn't all that good.

[DELETED]

This is so tragic. The only ethical "marketing" I can see come out of this is to create more awareness of how insidious depression can be -- and how hard it can be to detect in our loved ones. Many people still view mental illness as a character flaw, not a disease. Education over marketing.

There's only ONE angle this would work for me. If Robins kids, spouse came on air 24hrs after it all happened and URGED people to not put others through the pain they are suffering, then it would work. Anything less than this and you're coming off as shitty.

As I said.... been there done that, past that.

James

As a footnote: I decided to NOT do it even though my wife walked out, my mother died, my landlord evicted me and my family turned their backs. All in about..... 5 weeks of each other.

10 years on, 2 kids (from a previous relationship) and a future life in the US with Trish (girl in my profile pic) I can say I made the right choice.

But nothing less than a sobbing screaming wife/daughter of someone right in my face would of convinced me. I had to convince myself.

So even with this heart felt plea I probably would of done it.

Anyway.... money to be made... laters.

James

Over here in the UK - everybody thought it was "Robbie Williams" that had died

So I guess the same could be done over on these shores - in a similar way