Netflix Sent the Best Cease-and-Desist Letter to This Unauthorized Stranger Things Bar

Netflix seemingly can do no wrong when it comes to its marketing. Even its cease-and-desist letters are creative enough to get glowing reviews.

Evidence for this comes from Chicago, where an unauthorized Stranger Things bar recently opened and has since become quite popular. Naturally, Netflix wasn’t OK with this. But instead of firing off a nasty, sharply worded missive, it sent a quite adorable letter to the owners in the style of the Stranger Things universe.

“Danny and Doug,” the letter started out…

My walkie talkie is busted so I had to write this note instead. I heard you launched a Stranger Things pop-up bar at your Logan Square location. Look, I don’t want you to think I’m a total wastoid, and I love how much you guys love the show. (Just wait until you see Season 2!) But unless I’m living in the Upside Down, I don’t think we did a deal with you for this pop-up. You’re obviously creative types, so I’m sure you can appreciate that it’s important to us to have a say in how our fans encounter the worlds we build.

We’re not going to go full Dr. Brenner on you, but we ask that you please (1) not extend the pop-up beyond its 6 week run ending in September, and (2) reach out to us for permission if you plan to do something like this again. Let me know as soon as possible that you agree to these requests.

We love our fans more than anything, but you should know the Demogorgon is not always as forgiving. So please don’t make us call your mom.

That this kind of writing is coming out of Netflix’s legal department shows not just that creativity is valued across the company, but that there’s a refreshing awareness that cease-and-desist letters are marketing materials too—and usually ones that, if made public, don’t reflect too well on the brand.

Right, Nutella?

Tim Nudd

@nudd

Tim Nudd is a former creative editor of Adweek.