First there were the unauthorized PUMA ads (background here, here and at this point, everywhere). Now we have ads disavowed by NOKIA and by VICTORIA’S SECRET. Bear in mind that there are differences in degree to ad parodies. There are ad parodies clearly presented as parodies (WACKY PACKS, for example). There are
Terrance Brennan is a noted Manhattan restaurateur who recently opened TERRANCE BRENNAN’S SEAFOOD AND CHOPHOUSE. The NY Times (registration required) reports that he prevailed yesterday in a lawsuit brought by the Brennan’s Inc, described as “the company that runs the 53-yr old restuarant in New Orleans.” Showing how much he learned during this experience, Terrence
This should take your mind off things for at least 30 seconds.
Domain name renewal was not complex enough, so now be on the look-out for a scam email from mailto:noreply@melbourneit.com.au which advises people that if they renewed domain names through MSN or Yahoo or other resellers, then they need to renew through Melbourne IT. Melbourne is the true registrar for MSN and Yahoo and
Now here’s ambush marketing. Pepsi owns the naming rights to an arena in Albany that will host part of the NCAA Tournament. Coke is sponsoring the Tournament itself. The Pepsi signage will be covered up.
South Bend Tribune on trademark issues inviolving the HUMMER and the Jeep and the Avanti XUV. Interesting history of the Jeep.
Don’t know what to make of this. NameProtect offers trademark policing and monitoring services. I assume that in order to monitor usage of a trademark on the Internet, it must employ some type of spidering software (or ‘bot). Little Green Footballs is a blog that writes on political issues. It keeps track of ‘bots and in
This NY Times article (registration required) discusses the possible effect of a war on American brands. The article also announces the debut of the McARABIA, a new sandwich from McDonalds consisting of chicken and salad in a bread pocket. Last week, someone attempted to firebomb a McDonalds in Saudi Arabia. No word on whether
As a new revenue source, you might want to offer bloggers libel and advertising injury insurance.
I was mulling the ramifications of the scraping decision in Texas this week as I was standing in my driveway removing my home-delivered NY Times from its blue plastic wrapper, when the thought occurred to me: “Jeez, when is this winter going to end?” Also: if the NY Times printed a shrink-wrap license on this