Garfield Web Site Operator Referred to FTC: CARU
The Children's Advertising Review Unit has referred advertising for Web sites operated by Paws, Inc., to the Federal Trade Commission after the company refused to participate in a self-regulatory process. ...
ESA Sues Over Oklahoma Gaming Law
The Entertainment Software Association has filed its ninth lawsuit as part of its fight against legislation regulating violent video game sales to minors, this time against the state of Oklahoma. ...
Feds Make Arrests in Fraud Marketing Schemes
The U.S. Department of Justice has made 565 arrests internationally in an operation to crackdown on fraudulent mass-marketing schemes that bilked $1 billion from 2.8 million victims....
Pepsi to Change Life Water Packaging in Glaceau Settlement
PepsiCo, Inc. has agreed to change the look of its new Life Water drink to settle a lawsuit filed last month by Energy Brand claiming that the Life Water packaging looked a bit too much like its Vitaminwater. ...
MasterCard Sues FIFA over VISA Sponsorship
Visa International's newly signed $200 million sponsorship of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup soccer events may be in jeopardy following a complaint filed by MasterCard International claiming the soccer body breached its agreement. ...
New Bill Would Improve Nutritional Quality of School Foods
The school foods reform movement sweeping across the country has reached the nation's capital. A new bipartisan bill was introduced yesterday that calls on the U.S. Agriculture Department to update its nutrition standards for foods sold on school grounds. ...
Energy Brands and Pepsi Duke it Out Over Nutrient Water Packaging
Energy Brands, Inc., the maker of Vitaminwater, has filed a trademark lawsuit against PepsiCo, Inc. claiming that the packaging on Pepsi's new nutrient water, Life Water, looks a bit too much like Vitaminwater's. ...
ANA Responds to FTC Over Buzz Marketing Concerns
The Association of National Advertisers has sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking that it reject a request by Commercial Alert to investigate buzz marketers for deception and institute further regulations governing the advertising tactic. ...
Pepsi and Coke Settle Over Sports Drink Lawsuit
PepsiCo's Gatorade has reached a settlement with Coca-Cola's Powerade Option, resolving a lawsuit filed last Monday that asked the courts to halt an ad campaign that Pepsi claimed was false and deceptive ...
Pepsi Sues Coke Over Powerade Ad
Pepsi and Coke are at it again, this time taking false ad claims to the courts....
Federated Settles with NY Attorney General Over Sales Promotions
Federated Department Stores this week settled a claim by the New York attorney general over misleading sales promotions and ads. ...
Valassis Settles with FTC Over FSI Competition
Marketing giant Valassis Communications, Inc., has settled with the Federal Trade Commission over charges that it tried to collude with its only FSI rival, News America Marketing, to eliminate competition between the two. ...
FTC Warns Mandatory Responses Likely on Food Marketing Practices
The Federal Trade Commission has asked the public for its comments regarding the food industry's marketing practices targeting children and adolescents. In its public notice released last month, it also issued a warning to food and beverage companies that...
Anti-Tobacco Lawsuit Escalates
Tobacco rivals last week offered their support to Lorillard Tobacco Co. in the appeal of its four-year-old lawsuit against anti-tobacco marketing group American Legacy Foundation. ...
Pfizer Sues P&G Over Mouthwash Ads
Pfizer, Inc., the maker of Listerine, has filed suit against Procter & Gamble for alleged false advertising claims that give P&G unfair advantage in the mouthwash category. ...
From AAAA: Regulatory Heat Stays on Children's and Pharmaceutical Ads
Regulators have marketers squarely in their sites these days, particularly those pitching to children and consumers of pharmaceuticals. ...
The FTC Wins Injunction Against Gift-Card Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is enforcing a temporary injunction against telemarketers who offer free gift cards to get consumers to give out their bank account information. ...
Gillette and Schick Settle: Gillette Holds Flip Card Stunt
After years of legal wrangling, Gillette and Schick have reportedly reached a settlement that puts an end to the majority of long-running disputes over patents and advertising claims. ...
Connecticut, Hawaii Introduce Child No-E-mail Legislation
(Direct Newsline)—Connecticut and Hawaii have added their weight to the legislative onslaught against legal, adult content in commercial electronic mail and introduced so-called child-protection do-not-e-mail bills. ...
Coca-Cola Bottlers Sue Over Direct Deliveries to Wal-Mart
Following a move beyond its basic distribution method, Coca Cola Co. is facing a lawsuit brought by dozens of its bottlers. ...
