Has MINI USA Gone “Counterfeit” with their Advertising again?

We came across a link that caught our eye today, to a site titled “MINI Ripoff“. The instant reaction was that it must have been a site belonging to an unsatisfied customer, or maybe another “I hate the BMW MINI” style vent.

But no. It belongs to artist David Hornstein, who is claiming that MINI USA (via Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners) have ripped off an award winning idea of his with their recent “Parking Amulet” magazine pull out.

There are both common themes as well as clear differences between the “Parking Buddha” and “Parking Amulet”. So what is this? A coincidence? Were they both struck by the same divine inspiration? Or are MINI asking for some serious bad car-ma by stealing from a starving artist?

Who are we to say? Why not take a look here and decide for yourself, comment on the MINI2 forums.