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BNP, Marmite, IPA all feature in Quotes of the Week

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

April 23, 2010 | 5 min read

How the BNP could be left with a sour taste over its Marmite episode, why bad ads won't wear in, and the sincerest form of flattery or just plain plagiarism? It's the week's industry news from the mouths of those making it.

"We want to make it absolutely clear that Marmite did not give the BNP permission to use a pack shot of our product in their broadcast."

There's no love it or hate it dilemma for Marmite as the brand makes it clear in a statement that it is not happy about the BNP using its jar in an election broadcast without seeking permission first (which Marmite wouldn't have granted anyway). Legal proceedings are underway.

"Defences for copyright infringement are few and far between. The most commonly used is innocent infringement, which requires a defendant to demonstrate that they genuinely believed that there was no copyright or that the period of protection had expired."

The BNP may have to plead ignorance to escape the legal repercussions of the Marmite episode, judging by the few possible defences for copyright infringement laid out in here by Rob Illidge from law firm Ralli.

"It is wishful thinking to hope that an ad will “wear-in” on the flawed principle that “a bit more spend” will surely have an impact. An ad that does not achieve good recall in the first burst of spend gestures towards the fact that creatively it is simply not engaging enough – whether because of its creative style or because of how its message is couched.

Deborah McCrudden of research firm Ipsos MORI ASI thinks clients should ditch ads that aren't received warmly rather than increase media spend and flog them to death.

“I don't know whether to be outraged, impressed or flattered.”

Ali Turner, tweeting under the pseudonym Copy__Girl, isn't quite sure how to take the news that her winning ad for Best Use of Plagiarism at last year's Chip Shop Awards has been, erm, plagiarised, and entered into the same category this year.

“Definitely flattered. Massive compliment ;)”

The offending 'plagiarists', London and New York agency 1000heads, send Ali a nice reply. In this case, imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery.

"While online activities are leading the turnaround this year, the findings show that conventional advertising has now also turned the corner.”

Rory Sutherland, the IPA president, is encouraged by the latest Bellweather report which shows a rise in marketing spend for the first time in two and a half years.

“Currently, regional agencies are missing out because they are deterred from applying for national public contracts because of the sheer capacity of work, time and cost required to submit a quality application."

Colin Robertson, the regional head for the DBA in the North East, puts forward the case to reform public sector design procurement, which he feels currently does regional agencies no favours.

"There are some parts of the subway which have a ‘U’ rather than an ‘S’, some parts have different fonts and different colours, so there was a real need to pull that together whilst maintaining the essence of what was already there as a brand."

David Fagan, vice chair of SPT, explains why the Glasgow Subway - or in some parts of the network, Underground - was in dire need of a new identity, which you can see here.

“If political parties want us to buy their candidates, then they should think creatively about how and where to sell their messages, and open up shop where the people are – they could even sell their merchandise.

"I agree with Nick" badges, "Get real" t-shirts and "Broken Britain" bedspreads could all be coming to a store need you soon if the political parties take note of retail consultant Karl McKeever's suggestions. Probably wise that the BNP doesn't put Marmite on its shelves though.

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