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| No catchphrase for you! Seinfeld's Soup Nazi in a stew over gunmaker Serbu | No catchphrase for you! Seinfeld's Soup Nazi in a stew over gunmaker Serbu |
| (7 days later) | |
| A firearms manufacturer in Florida has fallen foul of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi, after it adapted his catchphrase for a campaign against stricter gun laws in New York state. Larry Thomas, who played the Soup Nazi, was furious after he found his face and his catchphrase, "No soup for you!", on T-shirts sold online by Serbu. | A firearms manufacturer in Florida has fallen foul of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi, after it adapted his catchphrase for a campaign against stricter gun laws in New York state. Larry Thomas, who played the Soup Nazi, was furious after he found his face and his catchphrase, "No soup for you!", on T-shirts sold online by Serbu. |
| The "No Serbu for you!" shirts were part of an effort to protest a New York state law that bans defined assault rifles for civilian use. Serbu used to sell its assault weapons to the New York Police Department, but because of the 2013 NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, which bans civilian use of assault weapons, Serbu no longer cooperates with the NYPD. | The "No Serbu for you!" shirts were part of an effort to protest a New York state law that bans defined assault rifles for civilian use. Serbu used to sell its assault weapons to the New York Police Department, but because of the 2013 NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, which bans civilian use of assault weapons, Serbu no longer cooperates with the NYPD. |
| "Unfortunately, we have a policy of selling to state law enforcement agencies only what is allowed to be sold to private citizens in that state," company founder Mark Serbu said in a statement. | "Unfortunately, we have a policy of selling to state law enforcement agencies only what is allowed to be sold to private citizens in that state," company founder Mark Serbu said in a statement. |
| While the NYPD does not seem to have been bothered by the campaign, Thomas demanded the company stop selling the shirts. | While the NYPD does not seem to have been bothered by the campaign, Thomas demanded the company stop selling the shirts. |
| "I own the rights to my image as the Soup Nazi. Serbu did not ask my permission, and Facebook won't take the image down," Thomas said. "Not only did they do this without my authorization, but also I am an advocate of gun control." | "I own the rights to my image as the Soup Nazi. Serbu did not ask my permission, and Facebook won't take the image down," Thomas said. "Not only did they do this without my authorization, but also I am an advocate of gun control." |
| The Soup Nazi character is a cult hero among Seinfeld fans. Although not particularly famous as an actor, Thomas has managed to draw enough attention to the issue to have Serbu withdraw the shirts. The company has since designed a replacement, which offers a more direct attack on the state of New York. | The Soup Nazi character is a cult hero among Seinfeld fans. Although not particularly famous as an actor, Thomas has managed to draw enough attention to the issue to have Serbu withdraw the shirts. The company has since designed a replacement, which offers a more direct attack on the state of New York. |
| This isn't the only time the Soup Nazi has been embroiled in legal controversy – in 2009 the real-life inspiration for the Seinfeld character, Al Yeganeh, was engulfed in a legal battle over a faulty licensing deal. | This isn't the only time the Soup Nazi has been embroiled in legal controversy – in 2009 the real-life inspiration for the Seinfeld character, Al Yeganeh, was engulfed in a legal battle over a faulty licensing deal. |
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