OK Go says Apple ripped off their music video

In speaking with Bloomberg Businessweek, OK Go manager Andy Gershon said he believes that Apple copycatted the band's unique visual style seen in their hit music video for its song, "The Writing's On The Wall."

On Sept. 8th, Apple's product launch announcement opened its keynote speech with a beautiful video created specifically for the event, Perspective. The video, and its title, reminds the audience that new innovations stem from a unique 'perspective,' or approach. However, the video's incredible visual style is anything from unique, according to OK Go.

Apple's iPhone 6 launch video, Perspective.

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Using a similar concept seen in OK Go's music video released this summer, Perspective incorporates inspirational quotes painted onto walls and shapes that can only be read properly when the 'viewer' reaches the right 'perspective.' OK Go's music video's style was so impressive, it won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects this year and has more than 10 million views on YouTube.

OK Go's music video, "The Writing's On The Wall."

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Gershon told Businessweek that Apple had approached the band to create their iPhone launch video, and in that meeting the band pitched the unique visual concept to the tech giant. OK Go, for over a decade, has been renown for its high-concept music videos.

According to Gershon, Apple declined OK Go's visual concept, and so the band used their idea for their own music video. After OK Go's music video had become a huge success, Apple hired the same video director and the same production company that created The Writing's On The Wall, 1stAveMachine, to make the iPhone launch video.

"The videos speak for themselves, and you can draw your own conclusions," Gershon told Businessweek.

This isn't the first time Apple has been accused of stealing ideas from artists. In 2006, many people had pointed out that an Apple iMac ad looked nearly identical to The Postal Service's hit music video, "Such Great Heights," released in 2003.

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In yet another incident, Louis Psihoyos filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2007, claiming Apple refused to pay him for an image he had created. The image depicted a wall of television sets. Apple had been negotiating a deal with Psihoyos, chose not to pay him, and then used the image anyway in an Apple TV ad, according to the complaint. Psihoyos has since dropped the suit.

Gershon says OK Go is "exploring its legal options," but it might not have any. U.S. copyright law clearly states that it does not offer protection to ideas and concepts, so Apple's adaptation of the band's concept might not be seen as a violation.

What's your take on this? Did Apple steal the idea, or was it fair game? Let us know in the comments below.