Green Party Candidate Ralph Nader Wins MasterCard Suit

— -- MasterCard is the latest corporate behemoth to take on Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader and lose. The credit card company sued him over a campaign ad that parodied its popular “Priceless” ad campaign.

By Rebecca BershadkerABCNEWS.comWASHINGTON, Sept. 13

— Green Party presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader has slain another corporate giant, this time defeating — at least for now — MasterCard’s attempts to quash his presidential campaign ads.

U.S. District Court Judge George Daniels ruled Tuesday that MasterCard failed to show how it was harmed by the broadcast of a Nader campaign ad that parodies the credit card Goliath’s famous “Priceless” ads.

MasterCard had accused the Nader 2000 Primary Committee of trademark infringement and unfair competition and was seeking up to $5 million in damages.

The court did not release a written ruling, but Bloomberg news service reported that Daniels, in denying a temporary restraining order, said: “Given the impending election and the limited period of time it is being used, I find the arguments are weak that it will cause irreparable harm with regard to MasterCard.”

Nader Campaign Manager Teresa Amato called the ruling a “big win” but admitted that it could be just “round one” if MasterCard appeals.

Currently, the ads are only running on Nader’s Web site. But Amato said the ruling “gives us the option to put it back” on television.

Chris O’Neill, vice president of global marketing for MasterCard, said the company would proceed with a full preliminary injunction hearing within two to three weeks.

Nader himself had dismissed the suit as “foolish” and “frivolous.”

“They should lighten up,” Nader said last month. “They’re taking their name ‘Master’ too seriously. This is America.”