In the States, we’re not so familiar with the stand-up comedy of Micky Flanagan, who has seen some somewhat mainstream success as of late. No matter. What’s going on with his career now is relevant to all of us who love comedy and respect the craft of writing jokes.

We learned from the Guardian and from our from the UK’s comedy authority Chortle that Flanagan is seriously considering suing a directory assistance company called 118 118 for producing and running television ads that Flanagan claims steals from his stage act.

From Chortle

His agent Christian Knowles has already complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that the commercial in which an animated character talks about going ‘out, out’ ripped off his stand-up routine.

But the ASA said such copyright claims were beyond its remit, prompting Knowles to consider legal action…However, 118 118 said Flanagan did not invent the idea of going ‘out out’ and that the idea of repeating words reinforced the repetition in its own number.

Check out Micky’s bit and the television commercial below and tell us what you think. Did they steal Micky’s joke?