The MediaWorks staffer accused of fraud amounting to over $450,000 today entered a guilty plea in respect of all charges at the District Court in Auckland. Until now, the identity of the accused has been protected by a name suppression order that prohibits the media from reporting on who it is. Presiding judge Taumaunu made the decision to keep the name suppression order in place until sentencing.
The MediaWeb debacle has concluded with a jail term for former director John Clark, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment earlier today at the Auckland District Court.
A complaint levelled at a Hellers TVC that features comedian Leigh Hart barbecuing on the back of a moving ute has been upheld by the ASA for not abiding by the New Zealand Road Code. In the ad, Hart, who has been the face of the Hellers since 2006, gives another one of the ludicrous barbecuing tips that have have typified the ‘Hellers BBQ masters’ campaign.
How can companies ensure that fans who inadvertently use the wrong nomenclature continue to feel good about buying, using and recommending their products? Jennifer Duval-Smith, a recent recipient of some unexpected legal communication, offers a few suggestions.
New Zealand Fashion Week wrapped up over the weekend. But fashion designers and stores need to be aware of a recent UK decision where Rihanna successfully sued fashion retailer Topshop for selling t-shirts featuring a photo of her without her permission, says Damian Broadley and Lynell Tuffery Huria.
The blind and visually impaired have long suffered what has been dubbed a “book famine”. But changes to copyright law have finally provided relief, say Anton Blijlevens and Jillian Lim.
Lawyers are scary, especially for young startups looking to make it big in the world. Buddle Findlay’s simple lead generation tool helps it get infront of the next wave of Kiwi world-beaters.
Condom-based promotions, racist ads for brownies, accusations of franchisee bullying, awarding sex crimes with prizes on social media … Hell Pizza has often been on the wrong side of the authorities over the years for its controversial marketing stunts. But the shoe is on the other foot now and, in quintessentially cheeky Hell style, it’s sent a “cease, desist and go sit in the corner” letter to one of its major competitors, Pizza Hut.
In April this year, international media reported on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) decision to refuse registration for Apple’s iPad Mini trademark on the grounds it’s simply descriptive. But within days of the story breaking, the USPTO was backtracking on its decision.
Goodby Silverstein and Partners’ Got Milk? campaign for the California Milk Processor Board was one of the most memorable campaigns of the ’90s and became part of the pop cultural furniture in the US. It helped increased milk consumption in California, it has spawned a host of parodies and it’s still going strong today. So why is the phrase being used by Fonterra to advertise its Anchor brand?
A recent decision in the UK found that Marks & Spencer misled consumers by using a competitor’s name—‘interflora’—as a keyword trigger for advertisements on Google. AJ Park’s Nigel Robb looks at what it might mean for Kiwi marketers.
The man who discovered the Keep Calm and Carry On poster at the bottom of a box of books and then sent it hurtling into pop-cultural orbit is currently fighting to retain the right to use the phrase. AJ Park’s Kim McLeod and Catherine Fry tell us what this legal stoush teaches us about trademark protection.
Georgie Pie is back. And the decision by McDonald’s shows how brands need to think about the past, writes Rachel Dawson.
Earlier this year, Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc issued a cease and desist letter to author Patrick Wensink regarding the cover design of his recent novel, Broken Piano For President, which closely resembled the Jack Daniel’s whiskey label. And, as AJ Park’s Damian Broadley and Jude Antony write, the company’s response is a great reminder that the tone and approach of any communication should be carefully considered.
Parallel importing. That’s been legal in New Zealand for ages, hasn’t it? Well, yes and no. If we’re talking about branded goods and not music, films or software, then parallel importing has been legal here since 2003 and it’s allowed traders to import genuine goods bearing a trade mark (think L’Oreal perfume or Sony cameras) that are sourced from an overseas supplier rather than the authorised distributor in New Zealand. So what legal weapons are available to local businesses whose investment is being put at risk by cheap imports?
There are various ways you can deal with harsh public criticism and while managers will generally look to use practical public relations tools when they respond to protests, they should also consider legal options that might help close down unhelpful attacks.
With the Rugby World Cup only 18 months away, many businesses are thinking about how they can leverage off this event. And the prudent answer is ‘very carefully’, bearing in mind the provisions of the Major Events Management Act 2007 (MEMA).
The use of social media as a business tool is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are just some of the websites used to promote businesses and products, as well as being excellent tools for interacting directly with customers and associates. But there can be risks associated with publishing too much information online, particularly in relation to your intellectual property. So what steps can you take to ensure that you are getting the best exposure possible without jeopardising it?