New Wave Nigel
New Wave Nigel is a plastic toy figurine distributed with McDonald's Happy Meals in 2008 as part of an American Idol-themed promotion. The figurine sports an "energy dome," a hat made famous by the 1970s and 1980s band, Devo. Devo's Gerald Casale has claimed the energy dome is trademarked, and claims the band is suing McDonald's.1
Fast Facts
- Placed in Happy Meals
- Figurine wears hat trademarked by Devo1
- Figurine plays song described by band as "Devo-esque"
- Devo is suing McDonald's for copyright infringement1
Devo is...
New Wave Nigel's Devo-ness
Casale claims that not only is the "energy dome" trademarked, but that when a button is pressed on the side of the figurine, it plays a "Devo-esque" song. Casale points out that Devo's is "doubly offended" because the band's message is severely at odds with the mass-marketing campaigns of American Idol and McDonald's.1
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