Law change threat to stop binge drinking – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 18th, 2008 in advertising, alcohol abuse, news by sally

“Ministers are threatening to change the law to stop supermarkets advertising beer and wine at bargain prices in a bid to tackle the epidemic of binge drinking sweeping Britain.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Watchdog criticises credit advert – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2008 in advertising, consumer protection, news, women by sally

“A leaflet produced for a fashion and home catalogue has been criticised by the advertising watchdog for encouraging women to get into debt.”

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BBC News, 9th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FSA rejects call to name and shame firms using misleading advertising – The Times

Posted November 29th, 2007 in advertising, consumer protection, news by sally

“The Financial Services Authority came under fire yesterday after refusing to name 19 firms that were preying on consumers with misleading online advertising.”

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The Times, 29th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Renault withdraws newspaper ad after complaints of racism – The Independent

Posted November 23rd, 2007 in advertising, news, racism by sally

“Renault has withdrawn an ad over fears that its use of the term ‘the N-word’ could cause offence.”

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The Independent, 23rd November 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Kommunikationsbehörde Austria v Österreichischer Rundfunk (Case C-195/06) – WLR Daily

Posted October 22nd, 2007 in advertising, law reports, media, telecommunications by sally

Kommunikationsbehörde Austria v Österreichischer Rundfunk 

The offer by a TV broadcaster to viewers to participate in a prize game by immediately dialling a premium rate telephone could constitute ‘teleshopping’ and ‘television advertising’ within Directive 89/552.”

WLR Daily, 22nd October 2007

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note: once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Bluetooth spam on the way as watchdog gives marketers green light – Out-Law.com

Posted October 8th, 2007 in advertising, internet, news, privacy by sally

“The Information Commissioner will no longer regulate the use of Bluetooth mobile technology, prompting fears of a wave of ‘bluetooth spam.’ ”

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Out-Law.com, 8th October 2007

Source; www.out-law.com

Watchdog sees red and tells companies to come clean when they try to go green – The Times

Posted October 8th, 2007 in advertising, environmental protection, news by sally

“A clampdown on fake and exaggerated ‘green’ claims has been launched by Britain’s advertising watchdog after a flurry of complaints about unsubstantiated environmental boasts by some of the world’s best-known companies.”

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The Times, 8th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Childline leaflet “broke rules” – BBC news

Posted September 12th, 2007 in advertising, child abuse, news by sally

“A Childline leaflet referring to child abuse broke advertising rules by failing to make clear it was marketing material, a watchdog has ruled.”

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BBC News, 12th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

All of world’s biggest firms hit by typosquatting – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 29th, 2007 in advertising, internet, news by sally

“The world’s 500 biggest companies have all fallen victim to typosquatting. OUT-LAW research has found that the fast-growing trend of making ad money from web domains similar to famous brands affects all the world’s biggest firms.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 29th August 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Gambling ad ban hits overseas operators – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 9th, 2007 in advertising, gambling, internet, news by sally

“Online gambling companies based outside of the European Economic Area are to be banned from advertising in the UK. The Gambling Act will be used to bar the advertising of over 1,000 websites.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th august 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Government alarm over web ads – The Guardian

Posted August 6th, 2007 in advertising, internet, news by sally

“The government’s central advertising body, the Central Office of Information, has reportedly tightened up its web advertising guidelines following last week’s row over major brands advertising alongside contentious content on Facebook.”

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The Guardian, 6th August 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Food manufacturers target children on internet after regulator’s TV advertising clampdown – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2007 in advertising, children, internet, news by sally

“Some of the world’s leading food manufacturers have begun marketing to children on social networking websites and internet chat programs.”

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The Guardian, 31st July 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Google in court for “misleading its users” on paid links to advertisers – The Times

Posted July 13th, 2007 in advertising, internet, news by sally

“Google, the world’s most popular internet search engine, is being taken to court for allegedly deceiving millions of users over links that are paid for by its advertisers. In the first legal action of its kind, Australia’s competition watchdog is seeking an injunction to stop Google from displaying search results that did not ‘expressly distinguish’ advertisements.”

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The Times, 13th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New ASA boss targets bogus web sites – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 4th, 2007 in advertising, internet, news by sally

“The new boss of the advertising watchdog has said bogus web adverts and websites need better regulation and conceded that current rules are not far-reaching enough.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd July 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd. and Others v. Vetplus Ltd – Times Law Reports

Comparative advertisements must not be misleading

Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd and Others v Vetplus Ltd

Court of Appeal

“No interim injunction would issue to inhibit comparative advertising, whereby one trader promoted his goods over those of a rival, unless the claimant could show the advertising was misleading and he would probably win a permanent injunction at trial.”

The Times, 27th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only availble free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Negative advertising harder to block, lawyers warn – The Times

Posted June 25th, 2007 in advertising, freedom of expression, news by sally

“Businesses will find it harder to protect brands from the negative effects of comparative advertising – in which one company promotes its products by drawing comparisons with rivals – after a landmark ruling this week, lawyers have warned.”

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The Times, 22nd June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd. and ors v. Vetplus Ltd. – WLR Daily

Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd. and ors v. Vetplus Ltd. [2007] EWCA Civ 584

“Where a trader sought to publish in comparative advertising the results of tests of a rival trader’s product, an important issue of freedom of expression was engaged, even though the comparative advertising would be aimed at diverting trade from one trader to another; and therefore the court would not grant an interim injunction to prevent such publication unless the court was satisfied that the applicant would succeed at trial in obtaining a final injunction.”

WLR Daily, 20th June 2007

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Judiciary under fire as conduct of duo is questioned – Legal Week

Posted June 14th, 2007 in advertising, dispute resolution, indecent exposure, judges, news by sally

“The judiciary has come under fresh scrutiny this week after a retiring senior judge’s details appeared prematurely on a mediation website and another continued working until days before his high profile trial for indecent exposure.”

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Legal Week, 14th June 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com