There is a series of advertisements on British TV for smart energy meters, featuring an actor made up to look like Albert Einstein. The message is clear: Einstein was smart, so it would be smart to get a smart meter. But as each ad ends, a caption flashes on-screen: “ALBERT EINSTEIN rights licensed by H.U.J. / CMGWorldwide.com.”
This raises two questions. Why, 71 years after Einstein’s death, does anyone need permission to use his image, any more than they would Shakespeare’s or Jesus Christ’s? And what on earth is “H.U.J.”?
