Why is it that sometimes TV shows and movies use real operating systems (ie: Windows, Mac OS or Linux) and computers but then sometimes hide the logos or use a fake OS with an unrealistic GUI?
1 Answer
It could be for dramatization, or it may be caused by legal and/or financial issues. Some of the reasons are listed:
- OSs and software interfaces are considered intellectual property, and are therefore copyright protected. Most of them are or also represent a brand. It would require a paid or unpaid agreement by the copyright holder or brand owner to depict them. In 24 (TV series) for instance, CTU has been using Apple Displays most of the time while the software shown was proprietary. Apple remained uncredited. In later seasons however, 24 made heavy use of "Cisco Teleconference Systems", and showed their logo frequently. The credits revealed that there was financial support by Cisco accordingly.
- Product placement is still not legal in many countries without a "proper warning" (e.g. in Germany).
- Most OSs or familiarly known software apps don't do as quickly and easily what a screenplay requires them to do. They also don't look as spectacular and certainly not lucid enough to display the necessary clarity and/or impressiveness for a quick cut to their interface in order to reveal at a glimpse what the machine is currently chewing on.
- There is an image problem. It has been a strong habit for the last decade to show the good guys using Apple Macs vs. the bad guys using Windows PCs. It's certainly not a problem that the bad guys use Windows, but it is a problem if the good guys win, because the bad guys used Windows (hacked their system or something fictional that wouldn't -- or actually would! -- work in reality). If you look closely, you will often find Apple computers with the logo rendered unrecognizable, while the case design is obviously non-PC. (source)
And sometimes movies/TV shows don't show the real logo or operating system just to hide the real product because they are not getting paid for it. I mean the producer/director is not willing to do free advertisement.
For more details on fake brand endorsing in movies and TV shows, refer to the following questions:
1) Are fictional trademarks or brand names used in movies and TV legally held?
2) Why do so many movies & TV shows feature recognizable, un-branded or re-branded products?
May this answer help you in some way.
answered Feb 15, 2013 at 18:47
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And there are clearly shows where a technology is prominently featured. For example "Hawaii Five-0" where Microsoft hardware and software products are very obvious. I believe there is also an explicit credit about this in the roll. Commented Dec 16, 2016 at 15:34