Coca-Cola Stole My Brain
In
my novel Syrup, the hero comes up with an idea for a new
cola called “Fukk,” which comes in a jet black can. He sells the concept
to Coca-Cola (well, kind of), and the company releases it.
I’m hoping there will be a Syrup movie in the not-too-distant future, but Coke is making me nervous by releasing products that are increasingly like Fukk. The latest is “Blak.” It’s a black bottle, not a can, but still: I’m becoming convinced that their plan is to creep toward a Fukk-like product, then sue me for stealing their idea.
Incidentally, I visited the Blak web site and noticed it has a “Spread the Word” section. Coke is clearly excited about this, because if you visit any of the other sections, you see a big link back to “Spread the Word.” It turns out that Spreading the Word is sending e-mails to your friends to tell them about Coca-Cola Blak. I would be very interested to know if the number of people who use this facility is greater than zero.
Update: They do sell it in a black can! Aaargh!
Comments
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Cameron Government (#166)
Location: melb-au
Quote: "There once was a man from Nantucket"
Posted: 6187 days ago
John (#477)
Location: Seattle
Quote: "Did I do that?"
Posted: 6187 days ago
Thanks, Max, for turning me into a corporate whore. I may never forgive you.
spinne (#427)
Quote: "I'm not here to cock around."
Posted: 6187 days ago
Helen (#362)
Location: UK
Posted: 6187 days ago
Picto (#64)
Location: United Kingdom
Quote: "Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light? - Maurice Freehill"
Posted: 6187 days ago
Coke sucks anyway, the only nice one is Diet Coke at a push. Coca Cola Blak.. isn't that racist in these politically correct times? I'm pretty sure that removing the 'c' doesn't make a lot of different.
Heh, perhaps somebody at Coca Cola has read the book, read your blog and is inconspicuously conspiring against you so that they make mega bucks and you make zilch. Or maybe they've read the book and are planning to get to a stage where they can buy "Fukk" off you, because, if they can get away with Blak, then in years to come they'll get away with Fukk.
On other note, I think the whole Baa Baa Black Sheep thing is got out of hand too. I mean, it's been a nursery rhyme for many years and to say we can't say "black" is stupid.
To finish? The irony is actually funny; two guys in a white van for Window Insulation just turned around outside my house (bottom of the street) and the passenger is drinking a Coca Cola Blak, or something scarily similar.
Picto (#64)
Location: United Kingdom
Quote: "Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light? - Maurice Freehill"
Posted: 6187 days ago
Phill Sacre (#1822)
Location: London, UK
Quote: "Computers are like air conditioners. Both stop working, if you open windows."
Posted: 6187 days ago
What the Fukk?
Nathan Ives (#20)
Location: Sydney
Quote: "Bad is always where you forget to look - Willie Trombone"
Posted: 6187 days ago
Hobbie (#1359)
Location: Cornwall, England
Quote: "There was a little man in his hair!"
Posted: 6187 days ago
Yenzo (#829)
Location: Secret underwater pyramid base in the Pacific
Quote: "In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe (Carl Sagan)"
Posted: 6187 days ago
Wait a sec... They should get Lewis Black to do the commercials for that stuff! Lewis Blak! Whatcha think, how much can I make with that idea?
Hobbie (#1359)
Location: Cornwall, England
Quote: "There was a little man in his hair!"
Posted: 6187 days ago
http://www.nationstates.net/blak-cola
And bang! Already a Nationstates... well... nation. The assimilation has begun.
John Doe (#797)
Location: Live from Omicron Persei 8
Quote: "You're just jealous because the little voices only talk to me."
Posted: 6187 days ago
Marc (#1168)
Location: SF
Posted: 6187 days ago
http://www.cybercandy.co.uk/aaasmt/index.php/url_pmet3/xlc_2526/xdbc_blak/dbtc_1/pic_1/add_custsearch/stc_0/scope_short#2526
Sorry Max, looks like they're closer to Fukk in a can than you thought
Rod McBride (#688)
Location: Gardner, KS
Quote: "www.MidwestRockLobster.blogspot.com"
Posted: 6187 days ago
My first thought when I first saw it was you Fukk-like it was. Then I heard it was Coke with coffee in it, something which could only have developed from an industrial accident or a monumental dare.
Oh, and I think the Coke guys were worried that no one would use the e-mail thing, because they have two buttons for doing it: one for 'spread the word,' another for 'in the know,' both of which bring up identical screens to allow you to generate spam for the Coca-Cola Company.
But they were smart enough not to expect French people to do anything that dumb. I think, I'm far from fluent, but if you lie and say you're in France, you get a a different animation, one that insults your intelligence in French.
Sophie (#891)
Location: Devon
Posted: 6186 days ago
This blog has just given me a huge craving for coffee-flavoured cola beverages, darn you!
Chris (#1228)
Location: London, UK
Posted: 6186 days ago
Location: Fremont, California
Quote: "www.caffeinatedmuslim.com"
Posted: 6186 days ago
This drink came out last week and I tried it. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first but I had it again and I think I like it. It has a bit of an aftertaste because of the artificial sweetner and it's got twice the caffeine of regular soda. They released it in France first with more of a coffee taste but they toned it down for the U.S. I don't know why they think we can't handle the true drink.
Ok, so I didn't use the 'Spread the Word' option, but I did tell my coworkers about the site, if only the hear the lady talk about 'Coke effervescense.'
Jason (#1193)
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Quote: "The bulwark of the suggestion box has failed."
Posted: 6186 days ago
Zoomy (#1546)
Location: Outside Glasgow
Posted: 6186 days ago
shabooty (#637)
Location: D.C./V.A/M.D.
Quote: "I will shake your foundation. I will shake the f**cking rafters. Nobody'll be the same -Danny Bonaduce ....& go visit my blog @: http://www.shabooty.com"
Posted: 6186 days ago
:)
Justin (#2009)
Location: Halfmoon, NY
Quote: "Max(x) is awesome!"
Posted: 6186 days ago
That is all. :-)
Greg Karber (#1568)
Location: gregkarber.com
Posted: 6186 days ago
talk less. say more. (#1942)
Location: tampa, florida
Quote: "talk less. say more."
Posted: 6186 days ago
John Perkins (#1915)
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Quote: "Nothing says love like cash."
Posted: 6186 days ago
Michael Landing (#2311)
Location: Tallahassee FL
Quote: "I <3 max's books"
Posted: 6186 days ago
Eric (#1761)
Location: "The seat of Capitalist Power
Posted: 6186 days ago
Oh and by the way max, Your nation states has competator too. http://www.cybernations.net
Michael Ricksand (#2212)
Location: Terra
Quote: "You do not have a right to be stupid."
Posted: 6186 days ago
Cupie (#1396)
Location: Seattle-ish
Quote: ""You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think." -Dorothy Parker"
Posted: 6186 days ago
Keely (#1602)
Location: easy-peasy-24.livejournal.com of course!
Quote: "I always wanted to see the lights of Broadway... but then you get there and they're really kind of annoying."
Posted: 6186 days ago
And this is after the tattoos of companies, the selling of names to corporations--both names, apparently (( http://www.startribune.com/804/story/358012.html ))--the impossibly small availability of new nike shoes, etcetera?
Tomorrow we'll find out that the popular _______ business-management-guide series was developed through a simulation of a real company environment.
These people are ripping you off, Max. Either that, or you're practically a prophet. If that last paragraph comes true, I think I'm gonna convert to Max Barry-ism.
Keely (#1602)
Location: easy-peasy-24.livejournal.com of course!
Quote: "I always wanted to see the lights of Broadway... but then you get there and they're really kind of annoying."
Posted: 6186 days ago
...for coffee-flavored Coca-Cola. Thanks a lot, Barry.
Colette (#324)
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Quote: ""The good Earth â we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy" -- Kurt Vonnegut"
Posted: 6186 days ago
Proud supporter of Fukk.
Tyler Cooper (#1889)
Location: Olympia, WA
Quote: "Welcome intrigue. Welcome sophistication. Welcome Blak."
Posted: 6186 days ago
"Welcome intrigue. Welcome sophistication. Welcome Blak."
Yeah, that's definately my new quote for this site.
Joseph (#1825)
Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA
Quote: "With a gun barrel between your teeth, you speak only in vowels."
Posted: 6186 days ago
I think they read your book and took some minor changes to your Fukk. Now only if they could get a catchy slogain like "Fukk, in a can!"
Kori (#2258)
Location: Rochester, MN
Quote: "And then Jesus said, 'Let them eat cake.'"
Posted: 6186 days ago
Michael Landing (#2311)
Location: Tallahassee FL
Quote: "I <3 max's books"
Posted: 6186 days ago
i'd worship him XD
Location: Brossard, Qc, Ca
Quote: "Smile, Tomorrow Will Be Worse... - Murphy"
Posted: 6186 days ago
Your book is "old" enough and, of course, has been read enough to be used as a proof that you had this idea first! And btw, keep on going! Don't let this "little" cap corporation slow you down for your movie! ;-)
Location: Fremont, California
Quote: "www.caffeinatedmuslim.com"
Posted: 6186 days ago
Andrew (#1279)
Location: Texas
Posted: 6186 days ago
Grace (#1225)
Location: Melbourne aka The Cliffs of Insanity
Quote: "I refuse to have a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed."
Posted: 6186 days ago
Roll with it Baz.
P.S. No offence, but I hope nothing else you have written about comes to pass!
Emily (#609)
Location: New York
Quote: "When in doubt, fuck it. When not in doubt, get in doubt!"
Posted: 6186 days ago
I suppose in a weird way this is one up on you. Now you have to live your life out like your book! Good luck.
Proud Non-Supporter Of Coke,
-Em
Katy (#2345)
Location: Los Angeles
Posted: 6186 days ago
I just read your short 3,000 word story about babies. It's hilarious. Excellent ending. Had to post it. People may not care. But that story is fuuunnnnyyyyy.
wolverine (#1261)
Location: Australia
Quote: "People who take you at face value will always be your true friends. Truth + laughter = good friendships."
Posted: 6186 days ago
http://members.dodo.net.au/~grindercom/cokezero.jpg
Apparently a mostly white can is the norm, but there is the almost-completely black one. (Search it up if the link doesn't work, I think it's the Australian version of it.)
Wolverine.
natti (#2125)
Posted: 6186 days ago
SilverCloud (#2038)
Location: SANTA MONICA ,CA.U.S.A.
Quote: "Fortune Favors the Brave"
Posted: 6185 days ago
the focus was Subliminal Advertising(divert(the energy of a primitive impulse, esp. sexual) into a culturally acceptable activity. Psychol. of a stimulus below the threshold of sensation or consciousness.
What I see from the cola site is one big penis surrounded
by big and small breasts. For the trained eye it's sex in a bottle. They didn't say Fukk they ILLUSTRATED it.
It's like your Chinese book cover, those lips are dripping with sex and add the word Syrup....and POW there it is... Fukk.
If they added chocolate to the mix then it would really be sex in a bottle. Speed, Sugar and Endorphins=the WOW factor.
Glad to hear you and yours are doing well.
Silver Cloud
You must be a very Sexy guy.....
Location: Morristown, Indiana
Quote: "Why do I blog? Simple, because Max Barry blogs."
Posted: 6185 days ago
SOMEDAY...I WILL BE CREATIVE ENOUGH TO HAVE SOMETHING STOLEN FROM.
Perhaps I should write about some fake product that's so creative that a company may want to steal the idea. How about...(drum role)...the automatic soap dispenser. It sounds lame at first, but after you think about it, it begins to make sense. In all American Bathrooms there are automatic sinks, paper towel dispensers, toilets, and blow dryers because people are afraid of germs. I don't see how or why we have overlooked the most important part of keeping germs from spreading, soap, for so long. But no more! Just wait, Automatic Soap Despensers(or ASD's) will be "flooding"(this is a pun...the lowest form of humor) the bathrooms of the United States in just a few months. You just wait...and remember I was the genius behind it.
-adam
PS...I'm an idiot.
DaveK (#2146)
Location: New Jersey, USA
Quote: "Do we have free will, or do the mass media and our culture control us, our desires and actions, from the moment we are born? - Chuck P."
Posted: 6185 days ago
Not only a Max rip-off, as Sophie 891 posted, a Pepsi rip-off (the failed Pepsi Kona).
And spread the word by sending an e-mail to friends? That's no friend sending that e-mail.
Wedding Crashers movie had the "Crash this Trailer" viral marketing that worked. If you're going to be part of the problem, you better entertain the e-mail recipient. I was entertained for, at least, the first 20 or so Crashed Trailer e-mails, depending on who's head went on who's body.
http://www.weddingcrashersmovie.com/crashthistrailer/
Note: I do not necessarily endorse the movie, just the marketing.
Adam (#1094)
Location: Wisconsin
Posted: 6184 days ago
Location: Morristown, Indiana
Quote: "Why do I blog? Simple, because Max Barry blogs."
Posted: 6184 days ago
-adam(#24)
Dinko Hristov (#1065)
Location: Darwin, Australia
Quote: """No one is fool enough to choose War over Peace. In Peace sons bury fathers, but in War fathers bury sons."- Herodotus"
Posted: 6184 days ago
Here's my general opinion regarding Coca-Cola:
PEPSI rules! That's why they don't need to advertize...because they KNOW they're 110% better than Coke. All hail the Pepsi Gods! Amen
Mozel (#2357)
Posted: 6183 days ago
If I were the type to buy soda online, I might consider trying it.
http://store.yahoo.com/soda-pop/fukolacola.html
Adam (#1094)
Location: Wisconsin
Posted: 6183 days ago
Michael (#1299)
Location: Northern California
Quote: "Chugachugachoochoo"
Posted: 6183 days ago
Dammit Max, don't you know what you're doing!? You're "Spreading The Word" about Coca Cola BLAK! If they aren't paying you for your ideas, they should at least be paying you for your promotional efforts.
You almost got me there...
Willz. (#2364)
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Quote: "Never judge a book by its movie."
Posted: 6180 days ago
*zing.*
*except... not*
That would actually be pretty awesome if they did make Fukk, though.
It would have to be you approved, of course, but still. I'd drink it.
Deb Cupples (#489)
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Quote: "Deb finds cool stuff"
Posted: 6180 days ago
Location: 127.0.0.1
Quote: "That's not change! That's more of the same!"
Posted: 6179 days ago
Alex Jackson (#2352)
Location: Auburn, Washington
Quote: "How am I not myself?"
Posted: 6179 days ago
John Morris (#346)
Location: Penn Valley
Quote: "to be or not to be"
Posted: 6174 days ago
Mindy Beth (#2341)
Location: Tualatin, OR
Posted: 6157 days ago
toothling (#2675)
Location: home
Quote: "passion is inversely proportional to the a mount or real information available."
Posted: 6034 days ago
Uncle Wiggles (#1091)
Location: Vancouver, BC
Quote: "In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move."
Posted: 6023 days ago
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