Articles in Channel: Advertising Law

Regulation Spreads to Advertisements on Corporate Websites and Social Networking Sites

September 01, 2010 12:47

The Advertising Standards Authority, ASA, announced on the 1st September 2010 an extension of its regulatory remit, from March 2011, which will give the Regulator jurisdiction over all marketing communications on the Internet including those on corporate websites and social media networks such...

Google's New Trade Mark Policy - Buyers Beware

August 25, 2010 15:06

Google’s new trademark policy comes into play from the 14th September 2010 in UK, Ireland and Canada, and effectively most of Europe. The change has been received with differing views. One view is that it will ultimately result in a better surfing experience for users; the other is that...

Intercontinental's "passing off" hangover

August 13, 2010 09:41

At the end of July, Intercontinental Brands ("ICB") lost their appeal against the High Court ruling that their "VODKAT" brand was being passed off as genuine vodka. In an important case, which will have an effect on advertisers' choices for product names, the court...

One in the Eye for Specsavers

August 06, 2010 14:11

   Last week the Chancery Division dealt a blow to Specsavers when judgment was given in its trade mark infringement claim against Asda. Keen-eyed observers will also see that Specsavers were represented by the aptly named Adrian Speck. Asda ran an in-store advertising campaign for its...

Abortion Services Advertisement Cleared by the ASA

August 04, 2010 09:38

The first television commercial for post conception advice by Maris Stopes led to the Advertising Standards Authority receiving almost 5,000 complaints, fueled by attacks from anti-abortion groups. Apparently the ASA also received a petition against the advertisement from the Society...

Video on Demand Advertising: new rules and regulator

August 02, 2010 13:27

Ofcom has today designated that, from 1 September 2010, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) will be the appropriate regulator for advertising on video on demand (VOD) services notified to the Association for Television on Demand (ATVOD), thus maintaining the ASA as the one...

STV: off scot-free? Ofcom investigates programme sponsorship by Scottish Govt

August 02, 2010 09:48

Ofcom recently investigated 57 programmes broadcast on STV in 2008 and 2009, all of which were sponsored either by the Scottish Government or its agencies. This followed allegations in the press that the Scottish Government had influenced the content of STV's programming. 39 of the...

DMA's new industry code requires Parental Consent

July 30, 2010 11:30

  Companies directly marketing to customers must not use the Internet to gather data about children. That's according to a new code of practice published by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), which says companies must seek parental consent for children under 12 years old, The Register...

Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice: Advertising to Children

July 28, 2010 10:11

The new coalition government has stated that one of its priorities is the protection of children from excessive commercialisation. This policy aim reflects a general perception in the UK among the governing and chattering classes that advertising is at the root of both this problem and...

Tracking the Surfers but beware of the Sharks. On Line Ad Companies face Stricter Control and Enforcement

July 27, 2010 16:02

Earlier this month I reported on the fiasco of the Article 29 Working Party's Opinion which favoured prior opt in before cookies are attached to your PC or laptop to track future on line activity. Now a new system to police privacy abuses by companies that track consumer' on line behaviour...