Are Ad Firms Ripping Off Indie Rock Bands?

Pitchfork reports that two new ads, one for a Spanish sports equipment company Kipsta, and another for Troy University, sound suspiciously like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, respectively. This comes shortly after a Sigur Rós website posted two sets of videos that seem to borrow directly from the Icelandic band. The Troy ad has since been taken down - no word if it was in reaction to the piece.

This is clearly a big no-no. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, imitation purely in the pursuit of profit is uncreative and immoral. I've reached out to Troy University, Kipsta, Grizzly Bear and Fleet Foxes for comment and will update this post if I hear back.

Update: Fleet Foxes and its label, Sup Pop, have declined to comment on the story.

Update: Troy University has indeed pulled the Grizzly Bearesque ad.