The "Brand Police" flood London to Protect Olympic Corporate Sponsors
By Steve Kinsman, 18th Jul 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsSport
In London, authorities are making certain to protect the advertising rights of corporate sponsors at any cost.
The brand police
In London, under-staffing of security personnel has become a scandal. The company charged with providing security has been able to hire just 6500 of the 10,000 security guards it promised, and as a consequence the U.K. has had to turn to its military for help.
The corporate sponsors of the Olympics, however, had no such problem. "Brand Police," some 300 or more, all decked out in purple caps and tops, have been given the right to enter shops and offices in London and bring court actions and levy fines up to $31,000 for the 'misuse' of such words as "gold," "silver," "bronze," "summer," "sponsors," and "London."
According to an article in commondrerams.org...."Bars and pubs have been warned that blackboards advertising live TV coverage must not refer to beer brands or brewers without an Olympic deal, while caterers and restaurants have been told not to advertise dishes that could be construed as having an association with the event.
At the 40 Olympic venues, 800 retailers have been banned from serving french fries to avoid infringing fast-food rights secured by McDonald's."
"Brandalism"
Enter The Brandalism Project." From eight different countries, 25 artists gathered together in the U.K. this past week for "the biggest subvertising campaign" in British history.They fanned out to Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and London and put up artwork, that according to a spokesman, seeks to "to confront the ad industry and take back our visual landscapes."
Photos from commondreams.org
Comments
18th Jul 2012 (#)
Like that will stop the London trader. Many of them have been ignoring this type of threat for years. Branding is a major issue for sportswear providers, with fakes being sold alongside the genuine article (and often at the same price) for most Premiership football venues.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Yes, but not being able to offer "french fries" to protect McDonald's? Thanks for commenting Peter.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
But in England you only get French Fries from McDonalds, elsewhere you get good old fashioned chips.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
It is a necessary evil.Thank you
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
It is a necessary evil, Ramalingam? I'm starting to understand why you stopped following me and why you never answered my DM when I messaged you asking you why you stopped following me. Your profile says that you are a practicing attorney...what are you a prosecutor?
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
Yeah, I didn't quite understand that necessary evil comment.
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18th Jul 2012 (#)
I think he has sided with our lady friend, which would explain why he dropped me from his follow list.
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
I dont understand...but thanks for this about luverly London!
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
it is part of capitalism. Any choice?
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
We can make a choice, one day, to move away from capitalism, which will inevitably destroy our planet, Any other choice means death for us all.
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
Going overboard by stifling all semblance of threats. That is not free market when competition and fair play are restricted by might. Thanks Steve - siva
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20th Jul 2012 (#)
There is talk that Mossad may carry out a false flag attack on the Olympics, which will be blamed on Iran and be used as a pretext for Israel and/or the U. S. to make war. I'm wondering about the context with which you use the term 'ethnic groups'.
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20th Jul 2012 (#)
Actually Ivyevelyn, I have to come to the defence of the city of my birth. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, and the majority of these groups coexist peacefully. London has been battered by terrorism over the years and has perhaps suffered more attacks than most other cities in the world (except perhaps those in the Middle-East). We have heard of no specific threats, but you are unlikely to hear about any unless you sit on a jury trial sometime next year.
Without a doubt the merits will outweigh any threats.
Sorry Jerry there is no call for any personal remarks or name calling - it demeans your whole argument here.
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