Paddy Power has evoked the ire of one of Britain’s longest standing institutions after their latest stunt. Paddy’s work with Blippar to animate bank-notes has been brought to the attention of the Bank of England and they’re apparently none too happy about it. According to The Drum, the bank has requested the firm withdraw the app as it breaks the law and we assume there’s a danger they might actually have to crack a smile at it if it stays around.
A spokesperson for Paddy Power confirmed: According to the Bank of England we’ve broken the law.”
They added: “We’re not so sure about that but given the absence of decent footie this month we’ll happily retire The Queen from punditry duties, for now.”
According to the Bank of England, Paddy Power infringed the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, which states: “…it is a criminal offence for any person, without the prior consent in writing of the Bank of England, to reproduce on any substance whatsoever, and whether or not on the correct scale, any Bank of England banknote or any part of a Bank of England banknote.”
The app, which uses augmented reality to bring the Queen to life, first came to our attention during last month’s European Football Championship when the Queen predicted results if you held your smartphone up to any ten pound note. From the outset this was another of Paddy’s marketing ploys and once again it seems to have worked brilliantly and when word is out it’s likely to spread like wildfire that it’s been banned
Given the fact that banking is right now going through its biggest crisis of confidence in some time we’d have thought they had something better to do than go after Paddy. In the mean-time look forward to Paddy’s next publicity stunt and enjoy some fine words from Elizabeth Regina II. Take it away, maam.
