Model Claims Filmed Orgasm Tarnished Wholesome Image

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Now here's something pretty stupid. AdFreak has the story of a woman that performed a faux orgasm in a video ad for an online jeweler Szul.com. She's now suing Szul and its production company, Q2 Entertainment, for $5 million because she claims the ad looks pornographic and has harmed her wholesome image. As always, there's two sides to every story. What? You think Adrants is heavily biased and only reports stories with a one-sided viewpoint? OK, maybe that's true but not this time.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 3-08    
Topic: Policy, Racy, Video



Come On Now, Even Wales Got Schooled in Existentialism

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Here's an ad for Brecon Five vodka that got people's panties in a twist because it plays on the stereotype that Welsh people are stupid. (We never heard that, but we did hear they were cannibals.)

Brecon Five is a label under the Welsh Whisky Company. It's not the only vodka ever to poke fun at its heritage to make itself look better.

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by Angela Natividad    Dec-13-07    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Policy, Trends and Culture



MoveOn Calls Bush Legacy a Calling Card for WWIII

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Since its debatable* big win over Facebook's Beacon, we've developed an almost unhealthy interests in other ad campaigns it's trying to drum up money for.

Here's the latest one. (If it's too big for your browser, just click on the image and scroll down with your arrows.) We like how it says "dramatization" in the corner. As if!

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by Angela Natividad    Dec-13-07    
Topic: Cause, Online, Policy, Spoofs



Get Your HuffPo Democrat '08 Stocking Stuffers Today!

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The Huffington Names/Slogans/Events campaign for Democrats '08 is allegedly so convicting that the campaign has decided to release stocking stuffer posters. Yes. Get your elongated 24x36" lithograph for $20 a pop.

Meanwhilst, the campaign enjoys some parody, courtesy of Michelle Malkin and friends, and gets compared to Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Gotta love our political climate.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-12-07    
Topic: Packaging, Policy, Poster



Dentsu/Biegel Mud Wrestling Match Continues

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And so for Steve Biegel it seems suing Dentsu for forced participation in hot tub action isn't enough. He's now adding religious discrimination to his list of apparent transgressions foisted upon him by the ostensible monsters who run Dentsu. Biegel claims he and other Jewish Dentsu employees were discriminated against based on their religion.

In a statement regarding alleged treatment of Dentsu America President Doug Fidoten, Biegel said, "Defendants have openly discussed firing Mr. Fidoten, as well as removing his responsibilities. Mr. Fidoten is quite literally a token Jew, presented as a fig leaf to hide the simple fact that Mr. Andree and his fellow gentile managers have in one year eliminated every Jew in the creative department at Dentsu."

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by Steve Hall    Dec-11-07    
Topic: Agencies, Policy



Gigantic Marketing Expands Trademark Litigation to Include MDC

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In early October, Gigantic Marketing went after MDC Parnters agency WeAreGigantic for trademark infringement. Launched alongside an MDC consolidation of MFP and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, We Are Gigantic is headed by Neil Powell who formerly was a partner at the now defunct MFP which suffered significant client loss.

Today, after Niel Powell failed to appear two times in front of Magistrate Judge Ellis, Gigantic Marketing President Bernard Urban has expanded its litigation to include WeAreGigantic parent company MDC Partners.

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by Steve Hall    Dec-11-07    
Topic: Agencies, Policy



Hey Dude, BYU Doesn't Wanna See Your Thong

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Cowabunga!

Gotta admire the strides Brigham Young University takes to protect the modesty of its Christ-centered scholars. Check out the policy on thongs and hemlines.

BYU grad Dooce piously laments, "I would have loved to have cartoon turtles call me 'dude' and remind me that 'piercings aren't acceptable, bro!' Would have brought me closer to Jesus."

See more here.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-29-07    
Topic: Policy, Poster



Etology Ceases to Serve Ads to BitTorrent Sites

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The online advertising company Etology has announced it will cease to serve ads to BitTorrent sites on December 1 claiming the sites pose a risk to their advertisers. In a letter to their customers, Etology wrote, "Due to the legal implications involved with sponsoring torrent sites, our management team has made the decision to remove from our network torrent sites that promote copyrighted content."

At issue is advertiser association with sites that host/deliver/enable the sharing of copyrighted material and the potential lawsuits that might arise from such associations. The whole file sharing/borrowing/streaming/downloading thing is certainly a slippery slope and one that will likely see moves like this occur from time to time.

by Steve Hall    Nov-28-07    
Topic: Online, Policy



RJ Reynolds Kills Print Ads in 2008, Bullshit Sifted

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Following intense negative reaction to its Camel No. 9 campaign which likened the brand to a fashion accessory, RJ Reynolds yesterday announced it would cease all print advertising in 2008.

Downplaying the Camel No. 9 furor, R.J. Reynolds spokeswoman Jan Smith said the cut is "an effort by the company to enhance and sharpen the effectiveness and efficiency of its marketing programs." Hmm. We just threw up...a tiny bit...in our mouth.

Getting more truthful, Smith added, "Obviously tobacco industry issues are in mind with every decision we make. A result of this is there should be less controversy over cigarette advertising in magazines and newspapers, because we won't be doing it."

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by Steve Hall    Nov-28-07    
Topic: Brands, Cause, Opinion, Policy



Loose Identities on MySpace Compared to Handing Predators 'Loaded Guns'

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Here's another cautionary tale for the MySpace scandal scrapbook. Last year, a girl named Megan Meier met a boy on the social network, fell in love, then killed herself after he told her the world would be better without her.

A year later, Megan's parents have come forward to say a couple months after their daughter's death they discovered the boy was the invention of some neighbors they know -- not other kids, mind you, but other adults, trying to find out whether Megan herself spreads rumors about their own spawn.

The incident naturally sparked talk about whether MySpace and the 'net in general should endure more regulation.

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by Angela Natividad    Nov-20-07    
Topic: Bad, Online, Policy