Photo: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce is a name that means a lot of things in today’s world. Wikipedia alone lists 13 different entries for the moniker (and just one of them is in the business of making cars) and that, of course, can lead to confusion from time to time.
Over the past few weeks, one of those many companies, Rolls-Royce plc, has been very busy in releasing statements. This Rolls-Royce company is in the business of making engines for civil aerospace and military aircraft and ships, and it’s quite good at it.
But not good enough, apparently, so that people (especially those working for news outlets) know the difference, and as a result images of the carmaking Rolls-Royce ended up being used to lead stories about the aerospace company's exploits.
Of course this is not something that only happened recently, and we’re pretty sure if we dig deep enough we'll find years-old examples of that mix-up.
Knowing that Rolls-Royce (the carmaker) has reached the end of its patience and reacted today (June 11) by asking people to stop using images that are tied to the cars it makes to whatever Rolls-Royce (aerospace company) is up to.
The Brits “kindly asked” media in particular to stop using things like the carmaker’s recognizable symbols (logo, the Spirit of Ecstasy, or the signature grille on Rolls cars) to illustrate stories that are not related to its carmaking business.
"Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has issued a statement in response to continuing media confusion and misreporting concerning its assumed or implied connection to Rolls-Royce plc,"
“The use of these images to illustrate stories relating to Rolls-Royce plc together with copy that unnecessarily confuses or conflates the two companies, is incorrect and leads to public confusion,” the carmaker said in a statement.
That’s a common-sense request, to be honest, but even if the message gets through to all interested parties, it’s doubtful “public confusion” will decrease because of this.
But not good enough, apparently, so that people (especially those working for news outlets) know the difference, and as a result images of the carmaking Rolls-Royce ended up being used to lead stories about the aerospace company's exploits.
Of course this is not something that only happened recently, and we’re pretty sure if we dig deep enough we'll find years-old examples of that mix-up.
Knowing that Rolls-Royce (the carmaker) has reached the end of its patience and reacted today (June 11) by asking people to stop using images that are tied to the cars it makes to whatever Rolls-Royce (aerospace company) is up to.
The Brits “kindly asked” media in particular to stop using things like the carmaker’s recognizable symbols (logo, the Spirit of Ecstasy, or the signature grille on Rolls cars) to illustrate stories that are not related to its carmaking business.
"Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has issued a statement in response to continuing media confusion and misreporting concerning its assumed or implied connection to Rolls-Royce plc,"
“The use of these images to illustrate stories relating to Rolls-Royce plc together with copy that unnecessarily confuses or conflates the two companies, is incorrect and leads to public confusion,” the carmaker said in a statement.
That’s a common-sense request, to be honest, but even if the message gets through to all interested parties, it’s doubtful “public confusion” will decrease because of this.
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