A Quebec cop drama series no longer features iPhones due to Apple restrictions regarding depictions of its devices in media.
As reported by La Presse, Antigang, a production from Radio-Canada’s ICI Télé, has had to switch to exclusively using Android phones like Samsung’s Galaxy devices. The reason for that? Apple is very particular about iPhones being used by criminals in media.
Notably, this lines up with what we heard from Knives Out director Rian Johnson a number of years ago. When breaking down a scene from his first Benoit Blanc mystery film, Johnson said Ransom, the character played by Chris Evans, wasn’t allowed to use an iPhone because he is eventually revealed to be the villain. Ransom’s mother, however, Jamie Lee Curtis’ Linda, was able to use one since she was ultimately innocent.
Of course, this is a pretty silly restriction on Apple’s part. Most people wouldn’t even pay attention to what phone a character is using, and fewer still would nonsensically link iPhone usage with criminality. It’s also funny when you consider that per Statcounter data cited by La Presse, 65 per cent of Canadians use an iPhone, so statistically speaking, a criminal would be more likely to be on iOS than Android.
La Presse provided some other interesting details about Apple’s rules when it comes to iPhone usage in media. This includes requirements that the Apple logo must be visible, the phone can’t be damaged, hacked or used while driving, and the model used in a given scene must align with the time period in which it takes place, even in flashbacks. Related Apple logos like FaceTime and iMessage are also included.
With all of that said, it should be noted that, per La Presse, Antigang producers didn’t actually make these changes in response to an Apple complaint. A Radio-Canada spokesperson also told the publication that it generally tries to avoid using commercial brands unless there are specific agreements in place.
Image credit: Radio-Canada
Source: La Presse Via: iPhone in Canada
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