See that? No, not the #brands so conspicuously splattered across the press conference backdrop. Look closer, at the headphones... the Beats headphones draped around San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The logo has been taped off after the QB received a $10,000 fine for brandishing it just last week.
Colin Kaepernick tapes over Beats logo to appease #brands
is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.
LoadingColin Kaepernick is wearing the pink Beats by Dre with tape covering the logo. He was fined $10K last week. He is appealing.
Of course, Kaepernick is himself an extremely valuable #brand, as is SAP, Gatorade, Levis, the NFL, and the San Francisco 49ers. A struggle between marques that plays out like a scene from Snow Crash where businesses have become autonomous nation-states and the scenery is nothing but advertisements. It’s brands vs. brands on the marketing gridiron and the only loser will be you.
From the archives: Our interview with Beats Music’s Ian Rogers.
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