Adlaw By Request : Advertising & Marketing Lawyer & Attorney : Reed Smith Law Firm : AdLaw By Request & KidAdLaw

Excite News: 'Wardrobe malfunction' fine to be reconsidered

A federal appeals court will re-examine the FCC fine it threw out against CBS over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

Adage: How Jeff Bridges Voice-overs Imperiled Hyundai's Oscars Blitz

Kim Basinger, Richard Dreyfuss and Others Helped Hyundai Comply With Oscars Rules at the Last Second

Hyundai Motor America was all ready to bombard this year's Oscars with a raft of commercials -- seven different spots were locked, loaded and ready to go. With just a few weeks to go before the March 7 ceremony, however, the company was told its commercials were unfit for air.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: New York soda tax proposal pours a big glass of controversy

At first glance, it doesn't sound like much: A tax of one cent per ounce on sodas in New York. But the line item in New York Governor David Paterson's budget reverberates from Albany, N.Y., to Washington, D.C., and down to Atlanta. Ripples could be felt across the country.

NY Times: A Cover Ad That Mimics a Newspaper’s Front Page

The entire first page of The Los Angeles Times on Friday was an ad that looked, in part, like the front page of The Los Angeles Times, as the newspaper again tested the accepted limits on where ads can be published and how they can blur the boundary with news.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

NY Times: Anger Leads to Apology From Google About Buzz

Google moved quickly over the weekend to try to contain mounting criticism of Buzz, its social network, apologizing to users for features that were widely seen as endangering privacy and announcing product changes to address those concerns.

Adweek: Gauging Customer Loyalty

Consumers approve of rewards programs ... sort of

Getting new customers is expensive, which is why sensible marketers toil to keep the ones they've already got -- and to get them buying as often as possible. As such, loyalty programs have become a conspicuous part of the marketing landscape. But how do consumers feel about such programs? A recently released survey by the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council takes a close look.

Excite News: Privacy group files FTC complaint on Google Buzz

A privacy watchdog group complained to federal regulators on Tuesday about Google's new Buzz social networking service, saying it violates federal consumer protection law.

Brandweek: Behavioral Targeting to Grow

With the effective mixing and mining of audience data becoming increasingly important to online advertisers, the role of behavioral targeting has grown more central, according to eMarketer.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

NY Times: FTC Moves May Signal Start of 'Greenwashing' Crackdown

The Federal Trade Commission is expected to crack down on "greenwashing" when it updates its environmental marketing guidelines for the first time since 1998.

MSNBC: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig settle over ad

A weighty battle between the two companies over ad campaign

Jenny Craig has agreed to end an ad campaign featuring actress Valerie Bertinelli as part of a legal settlement with Weight Watchers International, the dueling companies said Friday.

NY Times: Of Dr. Seuss and Coal Gasification

The company that protects the copyrights on the works of Theodor Geisel, better known as the children’s book author Dr. Seuss, has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a Massachusetts company looking to get into the coal business under the name Lorax — the title character of a story published in 1971.

Portfolio.com: NFL: The Kia Ad Should Have Stayed in Vegas

The casino conglomerate MGM Mirage pulled off an end run around the NFL’s ban on Las Vegas advertising during Sunday’s Super Bowl thanks to a Kia Motors ad—and the NFL is not pleased.

DIRECT Mag:  Digital Marketing Growth Will Be Fueled By Social, Mobile, E-mail: Study

The boom areas for marketing should come as no surprise: Mobil, e-mail and search engine marketing growth will spur a 17% increase in digital marketing spending, according to a study from e-mail and marketing firm ExactTarget.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

NY Times: A Little ‘i’ to Teach About Online Privacy

A LITTLE blue symbol is carrying big implications.

Trying to ward off regulators, the advertising industry has agreed on a standard icon — a little “i” — that it will add to most online ads that use demographics and behavioral data to tell consumers what is happening.

Forbes: FTC To Silicon Valley: Tech Companies Should Protect Consumer Data

Washington wants to know: Why can't technology protect consumers' privacy instead of violating it?

The Federal Trade Commission met today in Berkeley, Calif., with corporate technology leaders and privacy advocates, challenging them to create ways to protect consumer privacy online. The FTC is encouraging technology companies such as Facebook and Apple to come up with self-regulatory tactics that will protect consumers without squashing corporate innovation.

NY Times: F.D.A. Aims at Doctors’ Drug Pitches

In the rarefied world of fashion magazines, beauty editors have often relied on a coterie of prominent dermatologists and plastic surgeons to keep them current on advances in cosmetic medicine. This symbiotic relationship has benefited magazines eager for beauty scoops and doctors seeking visibility — and patients.

But now the Food and Drug Administration has cracked down on one of the most widely quoted cosmetic doctors, sending shudders through the ranks of opinion leaders in fashion publishing and vanity medicine.

Multichannel Merchant: Live from NRF: Consumers Want Cross-Channel Synergy

As a merchant, you may consider yourself to be multichannel. But the customer views your bricks-and-mortar stores and Website as one entity, according to a survey shown Monday at the National Retail Federation's Annual Convention and Expo.

ABC News: Google's Digital Book Settlement Still Under Fire

Google's digital book settlement ripped by rivals, critics trying to get judge to reject deal

Google Inc.'s bid to secure the digital rights to millions of books remains under attack from rivals and other critics trying to block a revised legal settlement that would unlock a vast electronic library.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leader: 72% of UK Consumers: Give Us Carbon Footprint Labels on Food

New research from the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University suggests that nearly three-quarters of UK shoppers are in agreement with government plans to go forward with a voluntary carbon footprint label on food items.

Environmental Leader: Taiwan Working on Carbon Footprint Labeling for CPGs

Taiwan is the latest nation to float a plan to label the carbon footprint of common consumer packaged goods, following in the footsteps of the UK and Sweden.

TV Week: Longform Ads Pull in Revenue but Raise Ethics Questions

The package is presented like something you’d see on the local news rather than like a traditional infomercial. Sometimes it resembles a lengthy feature story; other times it’s an interview with a local doctor or businessman, or a roundup of local tourist destinations.

Excite News: 4 nations clear hurdle for non-Latin Web names

Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the first countries to win preliminary approval for Internet addresses written entirely in their native scripts.

Environmental Leader: Wal-Mart, Best Buy, HP, Dell, Toshiba Establish ‘Green’ Electronics Label

Retailers Wal-Mart and Best Buy, together with electronics suppliers Dell, HP, Intel and Toshiba, have banded together to create a system to help consumers identify “green” electronics, according to a press release.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

NY Times: Judge Lifts Some Tobacco Ad Limits

A federal judge in Kentucky issued a mixed ruling Tuesday in the first significant legal challenge to the new federal law regulating tobacco products.

DIRECT: Smartphone Users Will Buy, If Site Allows: Survey

Here’s good news for marketers who have invested in mobile marketing platforms: Smartphone users will make purchases using their handheld devices. But here’s some bad news: Potential customers will hang up if a retailer’s mobile site functionality is poor.

NY Times: Coat Maker Transforms Obama Photo Into Ad

A garment company in New York known for publicity stunts has seized the attention of the Obama administration.

Environmental Leader: UK Government Calls for Food Labels to Show Carbon Footprint

Supermarket food in the UK will be labeled to show its carbon footprint, country of origin and animal welfare standards as part of the government’s new food strategy for the next 20 years, reports the Telegraph. The voluntary “green” food labels will show how much carbon was produced in the manufacture and transportation of food, according to the article.

Environmental Leader: Finnair Green Ad Banned

The Advertising Standard Authority (ASA), the UK’s advertising watchdog, has banned a Finnair ad claiming that it is eco-smart for travelers to use the Finnish airline, reports Electric News. ASA also recommends that airlines choose their ad words carefully when promoting their green credentials, according to the article.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leager: 85% of Americans Expect to Reduce Household Energy Use in 2010

As New Year’s Day 2010 approaches, more Americans say they are resolved to improve household energy consumption and recycling, according to a survey by Tiller LLC.

Environmental Leader: Survey Reveals Ethical Sales Tripled over Decade in UK

Consumer spending on “ethical” products ranging from Fairtrade goods to “green” products for the home has almost tripled in the UK in the past decade, according to the Co-operative Bank’s Ethical Consumerism Report 2009, which measures ethical spending in Britain, reports The Guardian.

Brandweek: BrandShield Tool to Debut

As the Web becomes more fragmented, and as more and more online advertising is sold through third and fourth parties via networks and exchanges, major brands are taking extra steps to ensure that their campaigns run exactly as planned.

FTC.gov: FTC Approves Two Reports to Congress on the National Do Not Call Registry

The Federal Trade Commission, as required by The Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007, has approved two reports to Congress: a biennial report focusing on the use of the Do Not Call Registry by both consumers and businesses, as well as the impact that new technologies have had on the Registry, and a one-time report on enforcement efforts and consumers’ perceptions of the Registry’s effectiveness.

Environmental Leader: Save the Earth Sues Honda Over Trademark Infringement

Environmental group Save the Earth Enterprises, claiming that a Honda Civic commercial infringes upon its logo, filed suit Dec. 23.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Brandweek: IRI Unveils Service for Measuring Online Ad Effectiveness

Research firm Information Resources Inc. has introduced a new platform for measuring the effectiveness of online advertising against offline sales. The move comes as packaged goods marketers spend more ad dollars on the Web, but keep a close check on ROI.

Brandweek: Packaged Goods Makers Ramp Up Green Investments

According to research by food and grocery expert IGD, 85 percent of consumer packaged goods manufacturers have either increased their investment in sustainability or kept it the same during the recession, in spite of the fact that just over two-fifths (42 percent) think the issue isn’t a high-enough area of concern for consumers.

Google News: House votes to turn down volume of noisy TV ads

The House on Tuesday voted to level off the abrupt spikes in volume felt by television viewers during commercial breaks.

Environmental Leader: Business Leaders Launch TV Ads Supporting Energy, Climate Legislation

We Can Lead, a network of 150 U.S. companies and business leaders, have put in motion a $1 million television advertising campaign in support of comprehensive energy and climate legislation.

Excite News: French court rules against Google in books case

A Paris court ruled Friday that Google Inc. is breaking French law with its policy of digitizing books, handing the U.S. Internet giant a euro10,000 ($14,300)-a-day fine until it rids its database of the literary extracts.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Adweek: Do Ads Motivate You to Switch?

A majority said ads rarely or never prompt them to switch brands of a product they usually use

Let's call it a backhanded tribute to the advertising industry that relatively few respondents to an AdweekMedia/Harris Poll said ads "never" sway them to switch brands of a product they usually use.

NY Times: Seeking a Symbol for ‘This Ad Knows About You’

With a lot of prodding from the Federal Trade Commission, the Internet advertising industry has committed to telling Web site users about how they collect and use data to customize the ads they display. And it has agreed to find a more prominent and clear way to do this than the cryptic privacy policies you can find if you click a tiny link at the bottom of many Web pages.

NY Times: Yahoo Launches Tool Allowing Users to Control Targeted Ads

Yahoo on Monday rolled out a new tool to allow users of its advertising networks to control what targeted ads they receive, in response to growing demand from consumers.

NY Times: Groups Far Apart on Online Privacy Oversight

IF online privacy was once an obscure policy subject, it has come front and center. That much was apparent at the standing-room-only roundtable on privacy and technology that the Federal Trade Commission held here on Monday.

Adweek: TV's Popularity on the Rise

34% of Americans cite TV as favorite medium, up from '08

Even though Americans are pushing domestic box-office revenue to new highs, an increasing number of them are indicating they'd rather save money and watch television.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Excite News: Government delays new ban on Internet gambling

The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve are giving U.S. financial institutions an additional six months to comply with regulations designed to ban Internet gambling.

Adweek: Ad Groups Fight Tobacco Act

ANA, 4A's and AAF claim regulations are unconstitutional

Three key industry groups have mounted a challenge to new tobacco laws.

The Association of National Advertisers, the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the American Advertising Federation filed a "friend of the court" brief in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

InfoWorld: Court orders 'spam gang' network to pay $15.2 million

The international operation sent billions of spam e-mail messages, the FTC says

A U.S. district court judge has ordered the largest "spam gang" in the world to pay nearly $15.2 million for sending unsolicited e-mail messages marketing male-enhancement pills, prescription drugs, and weight-loss supplements, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Monday.

Reuters: EBay fined by Paris court over LVMH sales

A French court fined eBay Inc 1.7 million euros ($2.6 million) for violating a 2008 injunction that prevents French users of the online auction site from buying or selling LVMH perfumes and cosmetics on any eBay website.

Mediaweek: Nielsen Accelerates Single-Source Meter Rollout

Urged by clients to move faster, Nielsen responded Tuesday (Dec. 1) with a plan to accelerate the rollout of the Internet meter to its national people meter sample. The plans call for Nielsen to complete the roll out by Aug. 31, 2010, instead of some time in 2011.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Google News: Google, Yahoo call for expanded online drug ads

Google, Yahoo and other Web companies joined the pharmaceutical industry Thursday in urging federal regulators to make it easier to pitch drugs in online advertisements.

Excite News: Swiss privacy watchdog to sue Google Street View

Google Inc.'s unstoppable drive to map and photograph the world has run into an immovable object - Switzerland's strict tradition of personal privacy.

Excite News: Twitter to scrap controversial suggested user list

Social-media site Twitter plans to scrap its hand-picked list of "suggested users" to follow after controversy erupted over the selection of people on the list, a company executive said Monday.

Media Decoder: N.F.L. Blows Whistle on Promotion for Liquor Brand

The National Football League is calling a halt to a promotion for Captain Morgan rum after a player struck a pose during a game that invoked the rum’s brand character.

Media Daily News: Star Power: Celeb Endorsements Click With Younger Demos

A new worldwide report by Mediaedge:cia says 30% of 18- to-34-year-olds would try a product promoted by a celebrity. Older consumers are much more resistant. Conversely, consumers 35-54 years old are moved only 14% of the time by celebrity endorsers. That number is steeper -- at 11% -- for those 55 plus.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Broadcasting & Cable: ATSC Makes Progress On Loudness Problem

Approves recommended practice for broadcasters to follow

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), the U.S. digital TV standards body, has formally approved technical guidelines that networks and stations can follow to avoid wide variations in volume between different programs and excessive loudness in commercials.

Excite News: FDA warns Web companies not to sell flavored cigs

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it has warned several companies to stop selling banned flavored cigarettes to U.S. consumers online.

ClickZ: EU Adopts Law Requiring User Consent for Cookies

The EU has passed a law requiring internet users' consent before cookies can be placed on their machines. The development could have huge implications for the online advertising industry, much of which uses cookies for functions such as ad targeting and audience segmentation.

Adweek: Good Old Longevity! It Has Appeal in Ads

With the recession driving companies out of business, some of the older ones that have survived (so far) make a point of mentioning their longevity in their ad campaigns. While this assures consumers they're not fly-by-night outfits, does it also make such companies seem stodgy and/or old-fashioned?

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Dow Jones Newswire: FTC To Target Advertisers, Not Bloggers, In New Guidelines

The Federal Trade Commission doesn't intend to bring individual cases against bloggers or tweeters who accept cash or gifts to tout a company's products or services, an FTC official said Wednesday.

Excite News: Book scanning prompts review of EU copyright laws

The European Commission said Monday it may revise copyright law to make it easier for companies like Google Inc. to scan printed books and distribute digital copies over the Internet. 

Environmental Leader: Samsung Pays $205K for False Environmental Claims About Keyboard

Samsung, having advertised that its keyboards were antimicrobial and could inhibit germs and bacteria, found itself in the cross-hairs of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Environmental Leader: Sweden Mandates Carbon Emissions Labels on Food

New labels listing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the production of foods, from whole wheat pasta to fast food burgers, are appearing on some grocery items and restaurant menus in Sweden, which is expected to cut the nation’s emissions from food production by 20 to 50 percent, reports the New York Times.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Multichannel: Now Hear This: House Subcommittee Approves Commercial Loudness Bill

CALM, Passing By Voice Vote, Referred To Full Energy & Commerce Committee

The House Communications Subcommittee has approved a bill that would require the broadcast and cable industries, which includes satellite and other multichannel video providers, to regularize the volume of advertisements and the programming surrounding them.

CNET: Yes, new FTC guidelines extend to Facebook fan pages

Prominent users of Twitter and Facebook won't be exempt from controversial new Federal Trade Commission guidelines that keep tabs on blogger freebies and giveaways, according to Richard Cleland, associate director for the FTC's advertising division. The agency absolutely plans to keep tabs on social networks as well as blogs in accordance with revised regulations that could see violators fined up to $11,000, he said.

Environmental Leader: ‘Valuable,’ ‘Smart’ Among Top Descriptors Associated with Energy Efficiency

When consumers think about energy efficiency and energy conservation, “value” and “smart” are the adjectives that most come to mind, according to “Green Gap Redux: Green Words Gone Wrong,” a report from EcoAlign. The report is based on results from the EcoPinion Survey.

Mediaweek: Web Users Prefer E-mail Interaction With Marketers, Says Study

Web users are far more willing to share personal information with marketers via email than on social networking sites, according to new research commissioned by lead generation specialty firm Pontiflex.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leader: E-Waste Recycling Bill Floated in Senate

As more and more states institute electronics recycling programs, a U.S. Senator has proposed federal legislation that would standardize the recycling of electronics devices, reports Circuits Assembly.

Brandweek: Social Net Ads: Fewer Clicks, More Engagement

Conventional wisdom holds that social media advertising does not perform nearly as well as ads running on non-social sites, at least by standard measurements like clicks.

Reuter: U.S. lawmakers urge delay in Internet gambling rules

U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank and other lawmakers on Friday urged regulators to delay the December 1 implementation of financial rules to enforce a ban on Internet gambling.

Washington Post: FTC Sets Endorsement Rules for Blogs

Bloggers who offer endorsements must disclose any payments they have received from the subjects of their reviews or face penalties of up to $11,000 per violation, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

MediaPost: Publicis Warns Online Publishers To Be Vigilant Against Rogue Insertion Orders

In an effort to head off potential liabilities and threats to its clients' reputations from rogue media buyers posing as legitimate online marketers, Publicis Groupe last week sent letters to publishers putting them on notice that they must take steps to manually confirm any requests for insertion orders they receive from a Publicis agency that looks questionable or comes from a source they are not familiar with. "We have read with increasing alarm the press surrounding rogue software and malicious advertising that is being placed on Web sites by individuals pretending to represent legitimate insertion requests," reads a copy of one of the letters from Publicis' Starcom unit, a copy of which was obtained by OnlineMediaDaily.

PC World: Facebook Will Shut Down Beacon to Settle Lawsuit

Facebook has agreed to shut down its much maligned Beacon advertising system in order to settle a class-action lawsuit.

BNET: FDA to Hold Hearing on Social Media, Web 2.0; Long Overdue Guidance Could Be On Its Way

The FDA is to hold a public hearing on how drug companies use the web and other social media to promote pharmaceuticals. The news will be greeted warmly by the industry which for years has been complaining that brand managers do not know how far the FDA will allow them to go in media such as Google ads, Twitter, Facebook, and even on their own web sites.

Environmental Leader: New York Launches Green Hospitality Certification Program

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has launched a new initiative to certify lodging establishments as "green" for employing environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. Forty-three hotels and inns have signed on as initial participants for the certification process.

Environmental Leader: ‘Natural,’ ‘Recyclable,’ ‘Renewable’ Terms Resonate Most with Consumers

About 84 percent of consumers think of "green" products as those that are made of recyclable or reusable material, or include such packaging, according to new research from Grail Research.

Adweek: Ad Tracking Widely Opposed, Study Says 60% of U.S. adults don't want to be shown ads based on their interests

It has long been an article of faith among advertisers that consumers want more relevant advertising. Yet a new academic report finds that most Americans are opposed to marketers tracking them to tailor ad messages.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leader: Consumers Identify with Environmental Impact Issues

Consumer awareness of the environmental impact generated by various products has risen significantly since 2004. In particular, more consumers have begun to realize that the impact of appliances, electronics, and electricity is important, according to the Natural Marketing Institute.

Excite News: Congress weighs landmark change in Web ad privacy

The Web sites we visit, the online links we click, the search queries we conduct, the products we put in virtual shopping carts, the personal details we reveal on social networking pages - all of this can give companies insight into what Internet ads we might be interested in seeing.

DIRECT: Florida AG Sues Systemax Over Rebate Allegations

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has sued Systemax, and its subsidiaries, Tigerdirect and Onrebate, over allegations the companies failed to pay advertised rebates to consumers.

Environmental Leader: ANSI Approves Green Seal for Restaurants

Restaurants seeking to be “green” have another measure of confidence now that the American National Standards Institute has approved the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Restaurants and Food Services (Gs-46).

NY Times: Media Group to Research New Methods for Ratings

Tacitly displaying their frustration with the country’s chief source for television ratings, 14 media companies and advertisers said Thursday that they had formed a research organization to pursue new methods to measure audiences.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Brandweek: 'Green' Consumers Out to Save Money

Green consumers are more concerned about saving money than saving the planet, according to new research from advertising agency the Shelton Group. The study found that while 59 percent of green consumers identify the economy as their top concern in making purchases, a mere 8 percent consider the environment. 

DIRECT: Alleged Supplement DMers Fined Nearly $70 Million

A federal district court has ordered the marketers of two dietary supplements –Supreme Greens and Coral Calcium – who claimed the products would cure ailments ranging from cancer and Parkinson’s disease to heart disease and autoimmune diseases to pay nearly $70 million for deceiving consumers about the products’ effectiveness and safety, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

FTC.gov: FTC Settlement Bars Seller's Deceptive 'Biodegradable' Claims

A retailer of rayon towels will be barred from making false claims that mislead consumers into thinking that its products are "biodegradable," under a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Environmental Leader: Green Meetings and Events Guidelines Drafted

To help businesses conduct more environmentally conscious meetings and events, a new set of guidelines has been drafted by members of the Convention Industry Council.

LA Times: Tobacco firms R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard sue to block marketing restrictions

The companies and others joining the suit allege provisions in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act violate the 1st Amendment.

Two of the three largest U.S. tobacco companies sued Monday to block marketing restrictions in a law that gives the Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco, alleging the provisions violate their right to free speech.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leader: EU: Nearly 4,000 Airlines Must Reduce Emissions or Face Ban

The European Union (EU) has released a list of nearly 4,000 companies including commercial airlines, private jet operators and air forces around the globe that must reduce their emissions or face a European airport ban, reports DW-World.de.

DIRECT: Reward Program Communication Lacking: Study

Don’t be surprised to find your loyal customers are greeting their rewards statement with a shrug. According to a recent study, more than two-thirds of all consumers rate their satisfaction with their statements seven or lower on a scale of one to ten.

Excite News: Facebook agrees with Canada on privacy controls

Facebook agreed Thursday to give users more control over the information they share with third-party applications like games and quizzes in response to concerns raised by Canadian privacy officials.

Excite News: FTC to ban most telemarketing 'robocalls' Sept. 1

Many of those annoying prerecorded telemarketing calls will be history starting Sept. 1.

The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday that it is banning these "robocalls" to consumers, unless the telemarketer has written permission from a customer that he or she wants to receive these calls.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

PCMag: Web Ad Group Pushes For Ethical Blogging

The Federal Trade Commission is currently investigating fair blogging practices, but an advertising group is one step ahead, and has forced two companies to clearly disclose their relationship with the health-related products they promote via blogs and Web sites.

Environmental Leader: UK Food Label Would Show Items’ Environmental Impact

The UK may implement a food labeling scheme that details elements such as the number of miles from the source to the UK - a.k.a. food miles - as well as the amount and type of chemicals used on the product.

Environmental Leader: FTC Charges Clothing Firms With ‘Bamboo-zling’ The Public

Four companies selling clothing marketed as made from bamboo have been charged by the Federal Trade Commission with deceptive advertising and marketing claims.

Environmental Leader:  Green Guide Helps Businesses Prevent Greenwashing

Firms that want to prevent customers frustration over green claims that can be misconstrued as “greenwashing” should develop a framework that incorporates more effective communication that aligns with the true impacts of their environmental initiatives, according to a new report.

Environmental Leader:  Good Company Seal: Responsible Firms Only Apply

A new seal of approval is intended to steer consumers to companies that operate under best practices in corporate social responsibility, including the environment.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leader: Consumers Want More Green Info at Retail Level

About 40 percent of shoppers say they are left wanting when it comes to green information at the retail store level, according to a new report from Miller Zell.

Broadcasting & Cable: Ad Industry Gears Up for Battles With Washington

Health care, behavioral marketing and kids' TV among myriad fronts

Up to now, advertisers and agencies have dodged a bullet on one of the administration's marquee issues: health-care reform. They've mounted a successful campaign to block an amendment that would help pay the tab for health care with billions in new taxes on TV drug ads. But the battling has only begun, and a years-long war over ad-related issues that could threaten billions of dollars in spending is on the horizon.

NY Times: Notice Those Ads on Blogs? Regulators Do, Too

BLOGGERS, be warned. Advertisers, you too.

Two of the National Advertising Review Council’s investigative units plan to announce Tuesday their first decisions involving blogs. Their recommendations call for clear disclosure when a company is sponsoring a site or paying for product reviews.

BBC News: Rivals bid to snatch green domain

Rival environmental groups are lining up supporters to try to take control of a new net domain aimed at green groups.

At least two consortiums are known to be preparing bids to control .eco.

In March this year, former US vice president Al Gore backed a bid by the California group Dot Eco to operate the proposed "top level domain" (TLD).

But now a Canadian environmental group known as Big Room has launched a competing bid to manage the TLD, which is similar to .com or .uk.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

FTC.gov: End of the Line for Financial Telemarketer Who Violated Do Not Call Rules

Court Order Imposes Five-Year Ban on Telemarketing to Consumers

A financial services telemarketer who allegedly violated several requirements of the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Rule – from calling hundreds of thousands of consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry to failing to transmit accurate caller ID information – has settled the government’s charges and is banned from telemarketing to consumers for five years.

Environmental Leader: USDA ‘BioPreferred’ Label Intended for Retail Shelves

A new federal ‘BioPreferred’ label would give marketers of certain products - those composed “wholly or significantly of renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials” - a new way to present their products on retail shelves. Additionally, companies using the items in their operations might be able to claim a certain level of environmental stewardship.

NY TimesFresh Views at Agency Overseeing Online Ads

Most of the online world is based on a simple, if unarticulated, agreement: consumers browse Web sites free, and in return, they give up data — like their gender or income level — which the sites use to aim their advertisements.

The new head of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission, David C. Vladeck, says it is time for that to change. In an interview, Mr. Vladeck outlined plans that could upset the online advertising ecosystem. Privacy policies have become useless, the commission’s standards for the cases it reviews are too narrow, and some online tracking is “Orwellian,” Mr. Vladeck said.

InternetNews.com: Facebook Tightens Ad Guidelines

The social media site folds privacy policies into ad guidelines, warning that violators will be booted from the site.

Attention Facebook advertisers: If you don't follow the rules, you'll be banned.

The social networking giant this week updated its guidelines for advertisers to include stricter privacy policies, curtailing the potential for behavioral ad targeting.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Broadcasting & Cable: Ad Community Concerned About New Financial Services Agency

Agency would police the financial services and products markets in the wake of the financial meltdown

The House Financial Services Committee is holding a hearing next week on a bill that has the advertising community worried. The bill is the administration-backed H.R. 3126, which would create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

Excite News: Jackson Browne, Republicans settle lawsuit

Jackson Browne has settled a lawsuit and received an apology from Sen. John McCain and the Republican Party over use of his song "Running on Empty" during last year's presidential campaign.

Adweek: Poll Finds Ad People, General Public Out of Sync

If an ad makes you "stop and think," is it apt to be very effective? How about if it gives you "new information"? In a LinkedIn Research Network/Harris Poll, majorities of professionals involved in decision-making about ad campaigns thought such advertising would work quite well. Alas, their opinion was not shared by the general public. For that matter, few kinds of advertising were regarded as highly by consumers in general as they were by ad people.

Environmental Leader: Lower-income Shoppers More Likely to Pay Small Premium for Green

Lower-income shoppers, including Gen Yers and Millennials just coming into the broader economy, are more likely to pay up to 10 cents more for green products, according to a new report from Miller Zell. In total, the report found that half of all shoppers are willing to pay a premium for green items.

Environmental Leader: 62% of Shoppers Respond to Green Item Impulse Buys
Showing the power of impulse buys, about 62 percent of shoppers say that the availability of green product options can impact unplanned purchases, according to a new report from Miller Zell.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Washington Post: Rosetta Stone Sues Google Over Trademarks in Searches
Rosetta Stone, the Arlington language-learning software firm, said yesterday it has filed a lawsuit against Google for trademark infringement, alleging the Internet search giant allowed other companies to use Rosetta Stone's trademark brand for online advertisements without permission.

Reuters: Power.com countersues Facebook over user data
Power.com, a San Francisco based aggregator of social networking sites, on Friday sued Facebook in a California court to try to resolve who owns data on social networking websites -- users or the sites.

Environmental Leader: Consumers Say Green Products Don’t Define a Firm’s Sustainability
A slight majority of consumers think a company can be environmentally responsible without making green products, according to research from the Natural Marketing Institute.

Adweek: Consumers Don't Hate Ads After All, Survey Says
They may not quite be grateful for advertising. But consumers realize it pays the bills for much of the content they enjoy -- and, for that matter, that it helps the economy to function. Those are among the significant findings of a newly released global survey by Nielsen, AdweekMedia's parent company.

Excite News: Watchdog: Facebook violates Canadian privacy law
Canada's privacy commissioner says the online social networking site Facebook breaches Canadian law by keeping users personal information indefinitely after members close their accounts.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Brandweek: Consumers Trust Real Friends, Virtual Strangers the Most

Recommendations from personal acquaintances or opinions posted by consumers online are the most trusted forms of advertising, according to the latest Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey of over 25,000 Internet consumers from 50 countries.

Brandweek: Does the CEO Make an Ad More Credible?

Good news, relatively speaking, for CEOs who'd like to get their faces on TV: In polling conducted among LinkedIn members for AdweekMedia, relatively few respondents said seeing the CEO in a company's advertising makes the message less credible -- though well under half said it makes the ad more credible.

Office of the Attorney General: Attorney General Cuomo Announces Legal Action Against Social Networking Site that Raided Email Address Books, Stole Identities, and Spamed Millions of Americans

Tagged.com Engaged in Deceptive Email Promotions, Identity Theft, and Invasion of Privacy

Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he has served the social networking site Tagged.com (“Tagged”) with formal notice that his office intends to sue the company for deceptive email marketing practices and invasion of privacy. According to Cuomo’s notice of intent, Tagged devised an illegal plan to lure new members and artificially inflate traffic on its site. Consumers who visited Tagged were tricked into providing the company with access to their personal email contacts, which the company then used to send millions of promotional emails. Tagged disguised these solicitations to make them appear as if they were coming from a personal contact, when they were actually spam.

Brandweek: Americans Less Worried About Wasteful Packaging

Sustainable packaging is not as high a concern to Americans as it is to many others around the world, according to new Datamonitor report.

Internet regulator mulls cybersquatting block

The Internet's key oversight agency is considering a centralized database of trademark holders, to cut down on questionable registrations of new Internet addresses.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Brandweek: Offline WOM Beats the Online Variety

As brands scramble to get favorable word of mouth on social-media sites, a Harris Poll released this week finds that offline word of mouth -- i.e., words spoken by actual mouths -- exerts more influence on consumers' purchase decisions.

Excite News: High court won't block remote storage DVR systems

Hollywood studios and television networks lost their bid Monday for the Supreme Court to block the use of a new digital video recorder system that could make it cheaper and easier for viewers to record shows and watch them when they want, without commercials.

Excite News: Jay Leno wins right to Web name for his new show

Television host Jay Leno has won control of a Web address using the name of his new show.

Excite News: Companies pledge more openness about Web tracking

Companies that track consumer behavior online for advertising purposes are vowing to make their practices more transparent and to give people a way to decline being shadowed.

Adweek: Nielsen: Consumers Trust Online Opinions

When it comes to trust, personal recommendations and consumer opinions posted online are most valued by consumers worldwide.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Environmental Leader: FTC on Greenwashing: Is That All There Is?

The Federal Trade Commission in mid-June charged three companies, Kmart Corp., Tender Corp. and Dyna-E International, with making false and unsubstantiated claims that their paper products were “biodegradable.”

Environmental Leader: House Narrowly Passes Climate Bill - Reaction Roundup

The House narrowly passed landmark climate change legislation (H.R. 2454) with a 219-212 vote, delivering a major victory for President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), reports Roll Call.

Excite News: High court won't block remote storage DVR systems

Hollywood studios and television networks lost their bid Monday for the Supreme Court to block the use of a new digital video recorder system that could make it cheaper and easier for viewers to record shows and watch them when they want, without commercials.

Excite News: Facebook tries to simplify privacy settings

Facebook is overhauling its privacy controls over the next several weeks in an attempt to simplify its users' ability to control who sees the information they share on the site.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Excite News: NY court hears Salinger's suit over spinoff book

An author who's being sued by J.D. Salinger for copyright infringement is asking a Manhattan judge to let his book be published.

Bloomberg: House Considering $37 Billion Drug Tax, Rangel Says (Update3)

The House is considering imposing a $37 billion tax on drugmakers by denying deductions for prescription-drug advertising, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel said.

Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers Blast Internet Data Collection

House Privacy Bill Would Give Consumers More Control Over Their Online Information

Internet companies came under fire on Capitol Hill on Thursday, with lawmakers questioning how well the companies protect information that they collect online about consumers for advertising purposes.

Excite News: FTC plans to monitor blogs for claims, payments

Savvy consumers often go online for independent consumer reviews of products and services, scouring through comments from everyday Joes and Janes to help them find a gem or shun a lemon.

Excite News: Obama, citing his smoking woes, signs tobacco law

Lamenting his first teenage cigarette, President Barack Obama ruefully admitted on Monday that he's spent his adult life fighting the habit. Then he signed the nation's toughest anti-smoking law, aiming to keep thousands of other teens from getting hooked.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers Make Noise About Loud Commercials

Some members of Congress want broadcasters to turn down the volume on television commercials.

A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D., Calif.) would require the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to "preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany."

Brandweek: Being Green More Valuable Than Price

Although some recent consumer research indicates that you’ll still need a crowbar to pry open the majority of shopper’s wallets, the ORC Guideline reports that many Americans are willing to part with their precious dollars to support eco-friendly initiatives.

Environmental Leader: Greenwashing Lawsuits, Climate Change Deception on the Rise

Lawyers, environmentalists and marketing groups say they’ve seen an increase in greenwashing suits over the past year, according to the National Law Journal. These groups are questioning everything from household cleaners to automobiles for their eco-friendliness.

CNET News: 'Spam king' could face criminal charges in Facebook case

In a move that could land Sanford Wallace in jail if convicted, a federal judge on Friday referred a lawsuit Facebook filed against the "spam king" to the U.S. Attorney's office for possible criminal proceedings.

NY Times: Tobacco Regulation Is Expected to Face a Free-Speech Challenge Top of Form 1

The marketing and advertising restrictions in the tobacco law that Congress passed last week are likely to be challenged in court on free-speech grounds. But supporters of the legislation say they drafted the law carefully to comply with the First Amendment.

NY Times: Microsoft Sues Three in Click-Fraud Scheme

AFTER an investigation that took more than a year, Microsoft has filed its first lawsuit over click fraud, where people manipulate clicks on a Web advertisement.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Reuters: US warns of TV drug ads' distracting music, images

Television ads for drugs and medical devices should avoid distracting images and music that can reduce viewers' comprehension of potential side effects, U.S. regulators advised in guidelines proposed on Tuesday.

Broadcasting & Cable: Senate Launches Investigation Of Deceptive Online Marketing

Commerce Committee looking into "mystery charges" on Web surfers' credit cards

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (WVA) has launched an investigation into an online marketing practice he says results in "mystery charges" on Web surfers credit cards.

NY Times: Cigarettes in Popular Films Are Target of Health Groups

The advocacy arm of the American Medical Association unveiled a summer-long campaign on Wednesday intended to publicly shame movie studios for depicting images of smoking in their mass-appeal movies.

Excite News: Minn. regulators drop bid to block online gambling

Minnesota regulators have withdrawn a request that Internet service providers block access to hundreds of online gambling sites.

Brandweek: Senate Passes Bill for FDA to Regulate Tobacco

In a 79-17 vote yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill giving the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over the tobacco industry.

The vote sends the measure back to the House, which passed a similar version in April. If the House accepts the Senate version, then the bill would go directly to President Barack Obama, who supports the action. (Note: another industry media outlet reported the bill was on its way to the President already.)

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

BuisinessWeek: Blogola: The FTC Takes On Paid Posts

The Federal Trade Commission wants bloggers to disclose when they've been wooed with cash or freebies from companies they cover

This summer, the government agency is expected to issue new advertising guidelines that will require bloggers to disclose when they're writing about a sponsor's product and voicing opinions that aren't their own. The new FTC guidelines say that blog authors should disclose when they're being compensated by an advertiser to discuss a product.

Environmental Leader: Bottled Water Firms Sue NY over “Bottle Bill”

Recycling advocacy groups met recently to push a bill to expand the five-cent bottle deposit in New York State to include non-carbonated beverages and sports drinks. Now a coalition of bottled water companies is suing New York to block the expanded bottle deposit law scheduled to take effect next month, arguing that the law, which imposes a deposit fee on bottled water sold in New York State, is unconstitutional, reports the New York Times.

Excite News: Cigarette makers lose appeal in landmark case

A federal appeals court on Friday agreed with the major elements of a 2006 landmark ruling that found the nation's top tobacco companies guilty of racketeering and fraud for deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking.

Excite News: SAG, AFTRA approve ads contract

Three-year deal ratified by landslide vote

SAG and AFTRA members have given overwhelming approval to a three-year commercials contract with a 93.8% endorsement -- a marked contrast with the current bitter battle within SAG over the feature-primetime contract.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Reuters: Google eases trademark restrictions on some U.S. ads

Google Inc is lifting restrictions on the use of trademarked terms in its U.S. online advertising system, a move that could increase friction between the Internet giant and brand owners.

ClickZ: "Strong Nudge" from FTC May Lead to "Draconian Measures"

When behavioral ad-related privacy worries arise, online ad industry execs often point to the fact that they only store and apply non-personally identifiable data in ad targeting. However, as far as government regulators are concerned, that may not matter. The Federal Trade Commission signaled as much earlier this year in its revised principles for behavioral ad targeting, and reiterated its stance yesterday.

Excite News: Court turns away appeal over Steinbeck copyrights

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a son of author John Steinbeck over the publishing rights to "The Grapes of Wrath" and other early works.

NY Times: New Mood in Antitrust May Target Google

For decades, the nation’s biggest antitrust cases have centered on technology companies. And they have all been efforts by the government to deal with powerful companies with far-reaching influence, like AT&T, the telephone monopoly; I.B.M., the mainframe computer giant; and Microsoft, the powerhouse of personal computer software.

Reuters: Woody Allen wins $5 million in lawsuit over his image

American Apparel Inc settled film director Woody Allen's lawsuit over the company's use of his image in advertising for $5 million, Allen said on Monday as the case was about to come to trial.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Brandweek: YouTube Unleashes Product Placement Police

In recent months, YouTube has set off some jangled nerves among several of its more popular content producers. The company issued written notifications to several producers who have inked branded integration deals directly with advertisers, gently reminding them that according to its Terms of Service, users are not to post commercial videos on YouTube without permission.

Brandweek: Sustainability Matters, But Green Is Not Everything

Shoppers are thinking green, but not always buying that way, according to a new study released today by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Deloitte. The study found that while 54 percent of shoppers indicate that environmental sustainability in a factor in their purchasing decisions, they actually bought green products on just 22 percent of their shopping trips. The survey is the basis of the GMA-Deloitte report released today titled Finding the Green in Today’s Shoppers: Sustainability Trends and New Shopper Insights and was based on interviews with over 6,400 shoppers.

Mediaweek: Cali Lawmakers Halt Digital Billboard Ban Legislation

On April 30, California lawmakers shot down legislation that would have amounted to a de facto ban on digital billboards in the state. The bill, AB 109, had been sponsored by California assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles).

Reuters: U.S. objects to General Mills' Cheerios health claims

* Cheerios boxes carried unapproved drug claims - FDA

* Did not fit authorized claims for heart health - FDA

* Company says claims well supported

General Mills made unauthorized claims about the heart-related benefits of Cheerios on cereal boxes and a website, U.S. regulators said in a letter released on Tuesday.

Environmental Leader: Consumers Buying More ‘Green’ Since Start of Recession

Countering some other research, a new study shows that consumers in the United States, UK and Japan have placed more emphasis on buying so-called “green” items than they did before the recession began, among other attributes they consider during purchasing.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

The Hollywood Reporter: Commentary: The growing use of DVRs

Study: About 16% of commercials will be skipped by 2011

About 6% of TV commercials in the U.S. are fast-forwarded because of DVRs, reflecting about $5 billion in what some consider wasted spending. By the end of 2011, about 16% of commercials will be skipped.

Environmental Leader: 54% of Grocery Shoppers Consider Product Sustainability

Fifty-four percent of shoppers consider environmental sustainability characteristics in their buying decisions; however, only 22 percent actually buy green products on their shopping trips, according to a new study released by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Deloitte. The study also reveals that sustainability considerations are a tie-breaker when deciding between products.

Environmental Leader: Green Ads on the Rise

TerraChoice has found that the amount of advertising of green claims is on the rise.

Looking at 18,000 ads in recent issues of Time, Fortune, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated and Vanity Fair, TerraChoice found that more than 10 percent of all ads in 2008 made some sort of “green” claim. That’s up from about 3 percent in 2006.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

DIRECT: FTC Offers Insight Into Mobile Marketing Practices 

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a report on mobile marketing, which offers insight into how the organization views the burgeoning channel.

The report, “Beyond Voice: Mapping the Mobile Marketplace,” includes the following findings:
Cost disclosures about mobile services continue to generate consumer complaints. The FTC staff will continue to monitor cost disclosures, bring law enforcement actions as appropriate, and work with industry on improving its self-regulatory enforcement.

BBC News: Facebook users say yes to changes 

Facebook users have voted to back changes which give them control over data and content they post on the site. 

Early results suggest 75% of those who voted support the proposals. 

The vote was triggered by changes Facebook made to its terms and conditions in February.
The move drew fire because it appeared to hand the social network site ownership of images, videos and data that users posted on profile pages.

Excite News: FCC 'fleeting expletives' policy in - for now 
       
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the government could threaten broadcasters with fines over the use of even a single curse word on live television, yet stopped short of ruling whether the policy violates the Constitution.

Reuters: FTC says Internet firms near "last chance"

Companies that track consumer behavior on the Web for targeted advertising without proper consent are near their "last chance" to self-regulate, the head of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Monday.

Reuters: Online gambling bill coming: Frank 

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, said on Tuesday he would introduce a bill next week to overturn a three-year-old U.S. ban on Internet gambling.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

NY Times: Pepsi Suing Coca-Cola Over Powerade Ads

PepsiCo Inc. sued rival Coca-Cola Co. on Monday over ads for a new version of Coca-Cola's sports drink Powerade, saying the campaign makes false claims that could hurt its Gatorade brand.

Brandweek:  Recession Dampens Green Enthusiasm

Is the recession taking a bite out of environmentalists’ unwavering passion to buy green? GfK Roper’s latest green study suggests so.

In a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults (ages 18 and older), the market research firm found that consumer concern for the environment over the economy fell from 69 percent in 2007 to 55 percent in 2008. The decline represents a shift from “broad-based green thinking to more practical green action.”

Reuters: Burger King to scrap ad after complaint by Mexico

Fast food giant Burger King apologized on Tuesday for an advertisement featuring a squat Mexican draped in his country's flag next to a tall American cowboy and said it would change the campaign.

NY Times: US lawmakers target deep packet inspection in privacy bill

U.S. lawmakers plan to introduce privacy legislation that would limit how Internet service providers can track their users, despite reports that no U.S. ISPs are using such technologies except for legitimate security reasons.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

WSJ.com: Fed Features: Ads at Movies Warn Against Scams

The Federal Reserve is coming soon to a theater near you.

The subject won't be the drama inside the central bank or its role in the current financial crisis. Rather, Fed officials plan to launch advertisements in movie theaters to warn homeowners about foreclosure scams.

Reuters: UPDATE 2-US online gambling crackdown a breach of WTO - EU

* EU Commission: U.S. Internet gambling laws hamper trade 

* Commission seeks negotiated solution with U.S. 

A U.S. Justice Department crackdown on European online gambling companies violates U.S. commitments under the World Trade Organization, the European Commission said on Thursday in a draft report.

Reuters: Jennifer Lopez wins cybersquatting case at UN agency

American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez has won a cybersquatting case against a U.S. web operator who registered two Internet addresses that used her name for commercial profit, a U.N. agency said on Thursday.

NY Times:  Front of Los Angeles Times Has an NBC ‘Article’

In a move that raised questions about how far newspapers would go to please advertisers, The Los Angeles Times ran a front-page ad on Thursday that resembled a news column.

Excite News: EU to sue Britain over Internet privacy 

The European Union started legal action against Britain on Tuesday for not applying EU data privacy rules that would restrict an Internet advertising tracker called Phorm from watching how users surf the Web.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Yahoo! News: Feds sue Dish Network over do not call complaints

The nation's second-largest satellite TV provider — Dish Network — is being sued by the government for alleged violations of the national Do Not Call Registry.

NY Times: 8 Hours a Day Spent on Screens, Study Finds

IN a world with grocery store television screens, digitally delivered movie libraries and cellphone video clips, the average American is exposed to 61 minutes of TV ads and promotions a day.

Adage: Georgia-Pacific Sues P&G for False Advertising by Bounty

Claims that New Paper Towels are Thicker are False, Says Marketer

Brawny paper-towel marketer Georgia-Pacific Corp. is suing Procter & Gamble Co. for falsely advertising "25% thicker quilts" on its Bounty towels.

Reuters: EU threatens action to defend Web users' privacy

Some Internet companies are abusing consumers' personal data and this cannot be allowed to continue, a top European Union official will warn the industry on Tuesday.

Mediaweek: SAG, AFTRA Reach Commercials Contract

SAG and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said early Wednesday that they have reached a tentative new three-year commercials contract.

Reuters: House votes to grant FDA authority over tobacco

A measure giving the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of cigarettes cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Reuters: Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008

Companies and celebrities ranging from Arsenal football club to actress Scarlett Johansson filed a record number of "cybersquatting" cases in 2008 to stop others from profiting from their famous names, brands and events, a United Nations agency said on Sunday.

The New York Times:  Many See Privacy on Web as Big Issue, Survey Says

As arguments swirl over online privacy, a new survey indicates the issue is a dominant concern for Americans.

More than 90 percent of respondents called online privacy a “really” or “somewhat” important issue, according to the survey of more than 1,000 Americans conducted by TRUSTe, an organization that monitors the privacy practices of Web sites of companies like I.B.M., Yahoo and WebMD for a fee.

FTC.gov:  FTC Order Bars Firm From Failing to Provide Timely Rebates

Company Sold Phones and Services at Stores Including Office Depot, Staples, and CVS

A company that sold telephones and telephone services through retailers nationwide has been barred from failing to provide the rebates it promised to consumers in a timely manner. The Federal Trade Commission charged the company with deceptive marketing by promising consumers they would receive their rebates within eight weeks of submitting properly completed forms. In reality, tens of thousands of consumers did not receive their rebates within the time promised, and some had to wait up to a year or more for their checks.

Adage:  Feds Push for FDA Oversight of Tobacco, but What's Left to Regulate?

With Anti-Smoking Marketing Goals Achieved, Critics Say Agency Has Other Priorities

Fourteen years ago, Clinton administration Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler proposed that his agency regulate tobacco and impose unprecedented marketing curbs. Since that time, much traditional tobacco marketing has become all but illegal, and Congress is readying to finally grant his wish.

Environmental Leader:  Study: Green Packaging Wins Out for Most Shoppers

Brand marketers are focusing more attention on environmentally friendly packaging, but environmental considerations for shoppers generally are secondary to overall package appearance and functional concerns, says Scott Young, president, Perception Research Services (PRS), in an article written for Packworld.com.

Adweek:  Discovery Sues Amazon Over Kindle

Claims the book reading device employs Discovery-patented technology

Discovery Communications is suing Amazon.com, claiming the online retailer’s popular electronic book reader the Kindle employs a Discovery-patented technology. 

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Excite News:  Obama nominates friend, adviser to head FCC 

President Barack Obama on Tuesday named Julius Genachowski, a friend from Harvard Law School, as his nominee to chair the Federal Communications Commission.

Adweek: Nielsen: Social Nets Overtake E-mail - As online paradigm shifts, advertisers must find a way to add value, rather than follow the 'push' model

Social networking has overtaken e-mail as the most popular Internet activity, according to a new study released by Nielsen.

Active reach in what Nielsen defines as "member communities" now exceeds e-mail participation by 67 percent to 65 percent. What's more, the reach of social networking and blogging venues is growing at twice the rate of other large drivers of Internet use such as portals, e-mail and search.

Brandweek:  FTC Takes On Freecreditreport.com

Maybe that tuneful trio that shifts from lousy job to lousy job really will have something bad to sing about now. The Federal Trade Commission, tomorrow, will take aim at the popular Freecreditreport.com ad campaign. The government organization is releasing two online videos (at www.ftc.gov/freereports and www.YouTube.com/FTCVideos) that explain that AnnualCreditReport.com is the only site where consumers can truly get their credit reports for free.

Brandweek:  Recyclable Packaging Ranks Highest With Consumers

Here’s the tricky thing about sustainable packaging: While it’s not a primary purchase motivator for most people, a blatant disregard for it may turn off consumers, who have increasing expectations for brands to incorporate green business practices.

BBC News:  Al Gore says domain .eco logical - The former US vice president, Al Gore, is backing the creation of a new green .eco domain name.

Dot Eco applied to create the domain which would then be used to host sites supporting environmental causes.

"This is a truly exciting opportunity for the environmental movement and for the internet as a whole," said Mr Gore.

Environmental Leader:  Consumer Survey: Growth of ‘Green’ Consumption On Hold 

At 36 percent, the number of Americans who say they “almost always” or “regularly” buy green products remains unchanged, according to recent Mintel consumer survey data. This lack of growth comes after tripling from 12% in 2007 to 36% in 2008.

Reuters:  U.S. privacy bill on Internet companies coming

A top U.S. lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday said he is working to develop a bill to impose mandatory guidelines on Internet companies to protect user privacy, because the current voluntary approach is falling short.

• Email This
• Print
• Share Link