7th October

  Knickers to Glasgow...

   
Glasgow objects to taxi advertising for Agent Provocateur

From The Herald see full article
See also Female focused sex shops

A taxi advert featuring "provocative" drawings of ladies' lingerie - and the slogan: Knickers to Glasgow - has been banned from the city's cabs.

Reasons cited for refusing permission for the advert, for upmarket underwear firm Agent Provocateur, ranged from what you would tell "the grandweans" if they asked for an explanation to the potential damage to Glasgow's 2014 Commonwealth Games bid.

One councillor said while the advert might be all right for Paris, "this is Glasgow".

But leading women's rights campaigners lampooned the decision, describing the wording in the advert as little more than Blue Peter humour and claiming local authorities should concern themselves more with the bigger picture of dwindling funds for tackling violence against women.

At yesterday's Licensing Committee meeting there was virtual unanimity that the advert, which would have covered a cab with images of corsets, whips, g-strings, bras, masks and leather boots, would be likely to offend.

The London-based lingerie firm has 28 days to appeal against the decision.

A spokeswoman said: We would never put out an advert which we felt was offensive to public taste. The licensing laws in Glasgow must be incredibly strict.

26th September

  Update: MFI Slapped...

   
ASA find against advert where husband is slapped for leaving toilet seat up

From the Daily Mail see full article

A television advert that 'trivialised' domestic violence has been banned after complaints from viewers.

The commercial for MFI shows a couple rowing after the man leaves a toilet seat up. The woman yells, You've done it again, haven't you? before slapping him twice.

It then emerged the scene took place in an MFI showroom, along with a voice-over, saying: When your bathroom's designed by MFI you'll feel right at home.

It breached seven advertising guidelines and should never have been broadcast, according to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). It was one of a group of five TV adverts for the furniture chain that prompted 217 complaints to the ASA.

The ASA said: Several found the ads distressing and particularly offensive because they believed they trivialised the issues of child and domestic abuse. The woman's action of slapping her husband twice as punishment for leaving the toilet seat up gave the impression that aggression and violence enabled people in everyday life to get their own way. The scene of domestic violence was likely to cause serious or widespread offence and could be seen to condone intimidation, domestic violence and aggression as an acceptable way to resolve issues.

The ASA found the commercial had breached the advertising code relating to offence, violence and cruelty, personal distress, mental harm and scheduling.

None of the complaints about the furniture chain's four other commercials were upheld by the watchdog.

Belgium bishops whinge about TV advert

From the BBC see full article
See also offending advert

Catholic bishops in Belgium have protested against a TV ad depicting Jesus as a pot-bellied hippy picking up half-naked women in a nightclub. The Catholic Church says this sort of portrayal of Jesus is disrespectful to believers and that it is wrong to use him for advertising.

The advertisement is being aired on the country's main TV channel to promote youth channel Plug TV. The TV advertisement shows a long-haired hippy Jesus grooving along as he tries to get into a nightclub and is refused entry by the bouncers. Jesus makes the sign of the cross and sweeps aside the bouncers, shrinking them so they are left in his wake as dwarves.

This Plug TV version of Jesus then drinks whiskey at the bar and magically turns two brown haired frumpy women into blonde babes wearing bikini tops and red horns like devils.

The Jesus character then disappears into a huge limousine with the women but his attention is distracted by an advertisement for Plug TV before he is recalled by God who is standing on a cloud, wearing a T shirt with "Number one dad" written on it.

The God figure tells Jesus off for wanting to watch Plug TV as well as everything else - saying "you still want more".

The Catholic Church has expressed its disapproval to the TV channel - saying advertising is not the same as journalism and should not share the same concerns about freedom of expression. The Church believes this advertisement crosses the limits of respectability.

Plug TV however argues it is not blasphemous but contains a message about a laid-back Jesus addressing youth.

 
Contributing to the hype for Unforgivable Woman scent

From Entertainment Wise see full article

P Diddy is being censored. The advertisements for his Sean Combs’ fragrance, Unforgivable Woman,  are too hot for TV, and are unsuitable even for cable channels!

In the overly long adverts, Diddy is seen “going at it” with Jessica Gomez in a stairwell and hotel room. But once MTV had screened the offending footage, the big cats at the top sent a list of edits that the Bad Boy will have to make in order for it to be shown again.

Page six reports the offending footage to consists of Diddy “hiking up” Gomez’s skirt, putting his hand under her dress, and a scene with a another woman holding Gomez’s breast and pulling down her underwear.

Diddy is refusing to edit the commercial.

Update: Forgiven in Britain

30th September 2007

Several versions of the advert causing hassles in the US have been passed for showing in the UK with the stipulation that they are shown after the 9pm watershed

 
Censors disagree about film advert

From the BBC see full article

A TV trailer for horror film Paradise Lost should not have been aired before 9pm watershed, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled.

The "gory" advert, featuring blood and surgical instruments, could "cause distress to children," it said.

A viewer complained after watching the 10-second advert on TV at 20:00.

Distributor Lions Gate had referred the advert to the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) which said it should not be broadcast before 1930.

A 30-second version of the advert, which was more graphic, had been restricted until after 2100. Lions Gate argued that this was adequate.

But the ASA disagreed, and upheld the complaint, ruling that the 10-second version should also only be broadcast after the watershed.

n a written judgment, the ASA said: Although the ad was 10 seconds long only, it showed blood flowing through a tube and an incision being made on the stomach of a woman on an operating table. It showed a man wearing robes and surgical gloves holding a large syringe and dropping a bloodied rag. The woman said in a distressed tone 'I want to go home'; the inference was that she was being held against her will. We considered this was no less gory or violent than the 30-second ads. We concluded that if scheduled before 9pm those images could cause distress to children.

The BACC said it had approved the 10-second advert because it felt it was not of such a violent nature that it should receive a post-9pm restriction. The organisation added it had "taken notice" of the ASA ruling.

 
Las Vegas allows brothel adverts

From Las Vegas Now see full article

Advertising in Las Vegas started a new era on Friday. For the first time ever, a legalized brothel bought a moving billboard to drive around Las Vegas. The world famous and historic Chicken Ranch became the first brothel to advertise.

Two state laws had previously banned brothels from advertising anywhere. On July 12, a federal judge overturned those laws, saying they were "overly broad," clearing the way for this.

The Chicken Ranch Brothel in Pahrump paid for the moving billboard. The Chicken Ranch billboard may actually seem tame for Las Vegas standards. There are no girls anywhere on it -- although it does offer free transportation. Ads pushing Las Vegas shows reveal much more.

A spokesman for the Chicken Ranch says the brothel wants the advertisements to be done with taste and discretion. Meredith says it hit the mark.

State law allows counties in Nevada to have legal brothels if the population is under 400,000 people. That means prostitution is not legal in Clark County and Washoe County. The closest brothels to Las Vegas are 60 miles to the west in Pahrump in Nye County.

   
BarclayCard and National Lottery pull ads from IMDb

From X Biz see full article

National Lottery and BarclayCard have pulled online ads off of Amazon’s Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) after finding the banners placed next to listings for adult movie titles.

As company policy, we seek to advertise only on reputable websites and temporarily removed our adverts from this site while we carried out a full investigation and spoke to the website, a Barclays Group spokesperson said.

The Internet Movie Database seeks to list all the movies which have ever been made, including adult ones, but by no stretch of the imagination could it be described as a porn site, the Barclays spokesperson said.

Recently, social networking website Facebook had several advertisers, including Vodafone, pull advertising off the site after the ads were placed next to member profiles that did not meet company standards for appropriate content.

The incidents raise questions about future online advertising campaigns on sites in which the marketers have very little control over ad placement or advertising on sites that are comprised mostly of user-generated content.

   
Transport for London ban discreet vibrator advert

From The London Paper see full article

Bosses at high street sex retailer, Ann Summers, are hopping mad with Transport for London for vetoing the poster for the Rampant Rabbit.

The commercial, which has already appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers, had already been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Inspired by a famous Japanese tsunami painting it features a floating mermaid and carries the slogan wave after wave of pleasure.

Ann Summers chief executive Jacqueline Gold said: I don’t understand. There is nothing remotely offensive about it. This is censorship gone mad.

But transport executives reportedly told Ann ­Summers’ advertisers they would only reconsider their decision if the words Rampant Rabbit were removed from the ad, along with any mention of pleasure.

A TfL spokesperson said: Consumers purchasing magazines make a conscious choice to read a magazine. Millions of people travel on the London Underground each day and they have no choice but to view whatever ads are posted there. We have to take account of the full range of travellers and endeavour not to give offence in the adverts we display.”

   
Find Madeleine McCann cinema adverted cleared by ASA

From The Guardian see full article

The advertising watchdog has cleared a controversial cinema advertisement about missing toddler Madeleine McCann after parents complained it was shown before a children's movie.

The Advertising Standards Authority received 23 complaints about the ad, shown in cinemas to appeal for help to in finding the four-year-old, who went missing in Portugal in May.

After it was screened before U-rated film Shrek the Third, some parents argued it was distressing to children and unsuitable to be shown in conjunction with a family film.

Nine of the complainants said that their children had been upset by the ad.

Framestore, the company that developed the ad, said the ad had been passed by the BBFC to be aired in U-certificate films. The company also argued the ad had been shown on television and on the internet and no complaints had been made.

The ASA acknowledged that the idea of a young child disappearing was likely to be inherently upsetting. However, the watchdog considered that it did not contain any distressing images or use sensationalist language.

It ruled that because the ad highlighted a well-publicised issue in this way it was not unsuitable to be shown before a U-certificate film, was not socially irresponsible and was unlikely to cause undue fear and distress.

From The Scotsman see full article

Meanwhile a radio DJ has unsurprisingly been censured for his comments regarding the disappearance of the four-year-old Madeleine McCann.

TalkSport's Mike Mendoza told listeners the youngster had been snatched by paedophiles - then linked paedophilia with homosexuality.

Ofcom upheld the complaint, saying: We ... are very concerned that the presenter chose to make such a remark. To connect homosexuality to paedophilia is highly offensive.

   
Nutters whinge at New York billboard

From Christian Post see full article

A New York company has angered anti-abortion activists by using the contentious issue to advertise its storage business, by showing a wire coat hanger and the slogan: Your closet space is shrinking as fast as her right to choose.

It's trashy and its vulgar and it's in your face with its crudity, Kiera McCaffrey, of the Catholic League said about the Manhattan Mini Storage billboard.

The Roman Catholic group, a vocal opponent of abortion rights, has been urging people to complain to the company.

Mary Alice Carr, of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, which advocates abortion rights, said such advertisements reminded people to stay active, even in a city like New York, where the majority of residents support abortion rights.

Intel bow to superior minds

From The Times see full article

Intel has pulled an advertisement which it acknowledged was 'culturally insensitive and insulting'

The ad, which was for a new generation of micro-processors, showed six black sprinters crouched in the start position in front of a white man wearing a shirt and chinos in an office.

Above the image was a slogan which read: Multiply computer performance and maximise the power of your employees.

Blogs were quick to spot the connotation of a white master surveying a group of black workers apparently bowed at his feet.

It was intended that the advertisement convey the performance capabilities of our processors through a number of visual metaphors, Don MacDonald, director of global marketing for the company, wrote: Unfortunately, this ad using African-American sprinters did not deliver our intended message, and in fact proved to be culturally insensitive and insulting.

Intel said it had pulled the ad from hundreds of publications, but was unable to stop two which had already shipped.

Open Up! We know you have advertisers inside

Government to ban advertising for offshore gambling

The ramifications on the UK internet industry could be far reaching, how will it effect Google, or sites running syndicated advertising such as Google Adsense. How does one know where companies are based? and how does one define a UK publisher?

And worst of all, the Government will surely be tempted to extend advertising bans to all sorts of other sites.

From The Guardian see full article

The government has banned about 1,000 off-shore gambling websites, including well-known operators such as William Hill, from advertising in the UK.

The ban applies to any gambling companies operating outside the European Economic Area, affecting popular websites such as William Hill Casino, Betfred Casino and Poker, Interpoker.com and Littlewoodscasino.com.

From September, when the Gambling Act comes into force, any online firm based in gaming company havens such as Costa Rica, the Netherlands Antilles and Belize will not be able to market in the UK and the Department of Culture Media will crackdown on illegal advertising.

Because most of the companies have no operations in the UK to legally pursue, websites, broadcasters and advertising companies that create campaigns for such companies will face fines or imprisonment.

I make no apology for banning adverts for websites operating from places that don't meet our strict standards, said the culture minister, James Purnell.

Countries that want to be exempted from the ban - which applies to all forms of media including TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, taxis, buses, the tube and websites that publish in the UK - have to pass a strict test of regulatory standards to then join a "white list".

Alderney and the Isle of Man are the only jurisdictions to have so far made the "white list" after sufficiently demonstrating a rigorous licensing regime designed to stop children gambling, protect vulnerable people, keep games fair and keep out crime.

   
New Zealand cucumber and tomatoes advert banned

From Stuff see full article

A New Zealand billboard advertisement picturing two tomatoes at the base of a cucumber next to the words "thank God for serious steak", has been ruled too offensive.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) agreed with a complaint that the billboard picture, on Christchurch's Durham St, had an obvious sexual link.

The complainant, H Hellewell, said she appreciated clean and humorous billboard advertising, ...BUT... the billboard promoting the MU Steak House and Bar was completely inappropriate and offensive.

The agency that created the ad, Urlwin, McDonald and Clients Ltd, said it was not intended to shock or offend, but to relate to the steak house's target meat eaters in a humorous and effective way.

The majority of the ASA's complaints board agreed the billboard had not been prepared with a due sense of social responsibility to consumers and society.

A minority of the board believed it did not breach social responsibility standards, but the majority view meant the complaint was upheld. 

   
ASA censors PS3 advert

From Kokatu

One thing that's not cool to show is a little bald European man sitting in a bathtub, especially when said European is a mercenary, holding a gun and saying he listens to Giacomo Puccini.

The Advertising Standards Authority have banned an internet ad featuring Kovac, one of Sony's "This is Living" PS3 ad campaign characters.

The ad reads: You on my side? Listen up, I've killed for less. The music plays Puccini in my head.

This displays over a shot of Kovac pointing a handgun at the bathroom roof, which the ASA has branded unacceptable: We considered that there was an underlying tone of violence in the ad and we were concerned that the images of Kovac holding the knife and the gun, in conjunction with the text, 'You on my side? Listen up I've killed for less..." could be seen to glamorise violence or anti-social behaviour.

   
Complaints against ads featuring domestic drama

From Brand Republic see full article

MFI has amended one of its controversial new adverts following complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The company has taken the ad featuring a mother who accosts her teenage daughter for being out late, and put it in Spanish with subtitles. It opens with a board saying the furniture retailer has amended it because it was not to everyone's tastes.

The ads have now attracted more than 191 complaints from viewers who have taken offence at the overriding aggressive tone of the ads, and the ASA says formal investigations are under way. The complainants have voiced concerns that the ads set a bad example, encourage antisocial behaviour and glorify a 'bullying and disrespectful attitude'.

The ads show families acting out 'typical' at-home situations in MFI stores. Families and couples are seen arguing among themselves, and in one ad, a mother accosts her teenage daughter for being out late, demanding to know whether she has been drinking. The daughter shouts back and storms out of the room, pushing into an MFI sales adviser.

   
Madonna fashion adverts cleared by ASA

Based on an article from ASA see full adjudication

A TV ad, for clothes designed by Madonna, showed a young woman being led up to Madonna, who was sitting at the head of a conference table, surrounded by fashionably dressed women. Madonna said How can I help you?.

One of the young woman's socks rolled down her leg and she pushed the other one down to match. Madonna said I like it. The shot cut to her striking a whiteboard, which had the word FASHION projected on it, with a riding crop saying "IT, IT, IT, IT, IT". She then slammed the crop onto the table and asked What is it?.

The young woman hesitated and said, Well I think it ... Madonna replied, Don't think it, you need to know it. The young woman was escorted into a dressing room by two men, who undressed and redressed her in more fashionable clothes while Madonna repeated Doesn't have it. Doesn't have it. Doesn't have it. The young woman then returned to the boardroom wearing the same outfit as Madonna, who said You made it. A designer rushed over and threw himself at Madonna's feet and cried No, no, no, no, no, you made it. Madonna and the young woman then strode away together and Madonna said And I love it.

The ad was given an ex-kids restriction by the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC).

Issue
1. 18 viewers complained that the ad was offensive, because they believed it depicted a young girl being stripped by force by two men and under threat of physical punishment.

2. Seven viewers challenged whether the ad was harmful, because they believed the depiction of the young girl would appeal to, and encourage, paedophiles.

ASA Assessment

1. Not upheld:
Although the ASA acknowledged that some people had found the ad disturbing, we considered that the quick change of clothes undergone by the interviewee was likely to be seen as a reference to catwalk fashion and the riding crop as a symbol of Madonnas perceived artistic style, not a threat of physical punishment. Because of that, we considered that the ex-kids restriction for the ad was sufficient to avoid frightening young children and concluded that the ad was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence, or be seen to encourage or condone violence or cruelty.

2. Not upheld:
We noted the actress who portrayed the role of the interviewee was 24 years old and considered that most viewers would not infer from her style of clothing that she was a school girl. We also considered that it was clear, from the ad, that she was applying for a job within Madonnas fashion company and therefore likely to be past school age. We further considered that the quick change of clothes was likely to be seen to contain a sense of urgency, rather than being sexually suggestive or titillating. Because of that, we concluded the ad did not portray a child in a sexually provocative manner or contain material that could harm children by encouraging paedophiles.

   
New York church gets arsey about billboards

From Actress Archives see full article

A poster for a bidet company was to be put up in Broadway's theater district on a building that houses a church. The billboard featured bare buttocks, but has been temporarily banned by a judge in New York City. State Supreme Court Justice Mary Friedman ordered the temporary restraining order against the bidet company billboard yesterday after hearing the complaints of Reverend Neil Rhodes, the pastor of the interdenominational Times Square Church. Bidets, buttocks, and religion don't mix in Times Square.

The billboard ads were for the Washlet, a bidet-toilet seat that uses warm water and air to clean the buttocks. The ads featured naked buttocks with smiley faces. Sounds quaint.

To get the billboards banned, Reverend Rhodes had to pay a $90,000 bond pending a decision on the issues at a conference between the parties. The bond will go to the bidet company for damages and costs, including lost revenue, if the restraining order is overturned and the court rules that the church wasn't entitled to an injunction.

   
ASA investigate asterisked Barnardo's advert

From The Guardian see full article

The advertising watchdog has launched an investigation into a campaign by children's charity Barnardo's, featuring a boy who tells parents and social workers to "F**k off", after complaints that it is offensive and in poor taste.

The Barnardo's campaign, labelled Believe in Children, launched last week across newspapers, radio, posters and online.

The Advertising Standards Authority is launching an investigation into one of the ads, the "F**k off story", which could set a precedent on how the swear word can be used in newspaper ads.

The ad, created by agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, features a picture of a child. Text running alongside says: He told his parents to f**k off. He told fourteen social workers to f**k off. He told us to f**k off. But we didn't. And we still haven't.

Another version of the ad, which ran in national newspapers, removes the "k" leaving the offensive word written as "f***".

The ASA has so far only received two complaints on the basis that the use of the word is offensive and in poor taste. However, because the Barnardo's ad features such an offensive word the ASA decided the campaign requires investigation by its council.

   
Advertising their lack of a sense of humour

From The Sun see full article
From Goole Times see full article

A couple have been ordered to remove their cheeky car wash firm slogan that promised: “The best hand-job in town.”

The sign on the side of a lorry also showed a bikini-clad blonde soaping down a pink Cadillac. But councillors in Goole, East Yorks, branded it inappropriate and Soapy Rides owners Nigel and Michaela Kennings were fined £400 with £600 costs by magistrates.

Michaela said: It’s absolutely ridiculous. The sign has caused great amusement to customers. We are surrounded by old warehouses and this brightened up the area.

A retrospective planning application submitted by Soapy Rides to keep the advertising sign in place was refused by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in October last year.

Nigel Kenning said of the council: They claim that the sign is discordant and intrusive, has dominant visual impact and detracts from the character and amenity of the locality. I don't know who they think they are kidding.

A spokesperson for the council said in February: ERYC contacted the owners of the unauthorised hoarding, requesting it be removed a number of times. Unfortunately, the sign remains. This has left the council with no alternative but to refer the matter to the courts, as placing an advertisement without the consent required for it is an offence.

   
PlayStation game advert banned

From the Bit-Tech see full article

An advert for the upcoming PlayStation 2 game, Burnout: Dominator from EA, has been labelled as 'irresponsible' by the UKAdvertising Standards Authority.

The advert was the subject of 37 complaints and features a crashed car under the slogan Inner peace through outer violence.

An ASA spokesperson said: The complainants described the advert as offensive as it condoned and was likely to encourage violence, dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour such as vandalism... The Advertising Standards Authority determined that the implication of the advertisement was likely to cause serious or widespread offence.

   
Censors gorge themselves on pedantry

From the BBC see full article

Reruns of a TV commercial from the 1950s which urged viewers to "go to work on an egg" have been banned.

An advertising watchdog said the slogan went against the principle of eating a varied diet.

The Egg Information Service had wanted to screen the advert, which featured comedian Tony Hancock, to celebrate its 50th birthday.

Author Fay Weldon, who headed the team which came up with the slogan, has described the decision as absurd.

The Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) defended its decision, insisting that the adverts did not suggest a varied diet.

BACC spokesman Kristoffer Hammer said: Dietary considerations have been at the centre of the new rules for advertising and in consideration of this we felt that these adverts did not suggest a varied diet. The concept of eating eggs every day for breakfast goes against what is now the generally accepted advice of a varied diet and we therefore could not approve the ads for broadcast.

British Egg Information Service spokesperson Amanda Cryer said: We have been shocked by this ruling as eggs are a healthy, natural food which are recommended by nutritionists.

What's more, there are no restrictions on the number of eggs people can eat, which was recently confirmed by the Food Standards Agency, and between five and seven eggs a week would be totally acceptable for most people.

In addition, many other advertisers clearly promote their products to be eaten every day such as breakfast cereals so we are very surprised that eggs have been singled out in this way.

Comment: Eggstreme Censorship

From Shaun

Unelected advertising censor, bans a new version of the TV advert  I've never known anything so daft. I've emailed 'em to tell 'em so too.

Others can too: enquiries@bacc.org.uk

Interestingly "Go to work on an egg" was coined by Fay Weldon, who was on the panel at the BBFC appeal which finally made hard core videos legal. She was one who voted in favour. Now she has a famous phrase of her own censored. I wonder what she thinks about that?

   
Council objects to aerial advertising

Based on an article from The Sydney Morning Herald see full article

A giant silhouette of a pole dancer painted on a field beneath Gatwick Airport's flight path is said to be disturbing the British countryside.

The 9,300 square metre advertisement is nearly invisible from the ground, but can be seen by airline passengers.

Tandridge District Council spokeswoman Giuseppina Valenza said that the ad was painted on the field without proper permission and that the council would take legal action if it was not removed.

Stephen Pearson of Sports Media Gaming Ltd, the company behind the ad, said the council had no grounds for removing it: I think they're unsure about their own regulations to be honest. We're not going to remove it at all.

The advert is for a pay per view/subscription website featuring pictures and videos of pole dancers.

   
Run it up the lap dancing pole and see how it flies

From ic Surrey see full article

A marketing company has admitted it lied to the public after it was discovered that a massive advert of a naked stripper wrapped around a pole across in a paddock does not exist.

In what is thought to be the biggest hoax to hit the area, the Horley Mirror can confirm that the so-called advert is nothing more then a marketing stunt which cost less than £100 to produce.

The doctored image of what appeared to be a 100,000 square foot advert for an online lap dancing club was the creation of Flightpath Media, a London-based adver