In seems like that in almost every major budget motion picture, there are one or two paid product spots. Sometimes, these product sports are simple and woven into the movie’s plot. In other examples, the product placement is so obvious that it is almost disruptive to the flow of the motion picture. In any event, this process is growing in popularity and is big business for advertisers.
This practice has been going on in some time. Do you remember the movie E.T.? Product placement for Reese’s pieces were heavily involved in the movie, and although the product was never mentioned by name, it is obvious that the Reese’s pieces brand benefited from the association.
Critics of this practice make arguments against product placement based upon the concept that the process is misleading to consumers, or are unfair and non-competitive to smaller businesses without the capital to invest in this type of marketing. Others argue that due to it’s effectiveness at targeting children, this practice is ethically questionable. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with product placement, except that it can be annoying at times.
Some other funny and interesting examples of product placement in movies can be found here. With the growing integration of the business and entertainment world, this practice continues to grow. What are your thoughts on the practice? What do you think are the implications of this practice in the future?
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