Hotline

Compaq/H-P Deal May Boost Goodby, RineyNEW YORK—Hewlett-Packard's $18.4 billion acquisition of Compaq is expected to result in a consolidation of ad duties since the two plan to merge operations. Sources said H-P agencies Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Publicis & Hal Riney, both San Francisco, will likely gain business at the expense of Foote, Cone & Belding, New York, which works for Compaq. FCB has "adjusted" projected numbers for 2002, "realizing there's a chance of not going forward" with the brand, Interpublic Group CEO John Dooner told analysts last week. H-P and Compaq each spent nearly $140 million on ads last year, per CMR. Bates and Optimedia Team Up LOS ANGELES—Optimedia and Bates Media, the buying and planning operation of Bates, have entered into an "affiliation to increase leverage with dollars in the marketplace," said Bates regional president of the Americas Bill Whitehead. Bates is owned by Cordiant Communications. Optimedia's parent, Zenith Optimedia Group, is owned by Cordiant and Publicis Groupe. The two partners will team to negotiate national TV buys for the upfront. To steer the operation, Bates named John Lazarus, formerly of TN Media, to the new post of director of network relations for Bates North America. Decision Nears for Mondavi's WoodbridgeDALLAS—Robert Mondavi is expected to name an agency as early as this week to handle its estimated $10-15 million Woodbridge account. Last week, the Oakville, Calif., vintner narrowed the search to Deutsch/LA, Marina del Rey, Calif., and The Richards Group, Dallas. Not advancing were four-year incumbent Dailey & Associates in West Hollywood, Calif., Venables, Bell & Partners, San Francisco, and GSD&M, Austin, Texas. PETA Files Complaint Over Milk Board AdsLOS ANGELES—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it filed a formal complaint last week with the Federal Trade Commission seeking an injunction to stop dissemination of California Milk Advisory Board ads. Created by Deutsch/LA in Marina del Rey, Calif., the ads show cows in idyllic settings and are tagged, "Great cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows come from California." PETA claims the ads show a false picture of how dairy cows are treated. CMAB representative Nancy Fletcher called PETA's complaint "a gross misstatement of what's going on in the dairy industry." Court Rules on Nike Sweatshop CampaignLOS ANGELES—The California Supreme Court last week ruled that Nike can be sued for false advertising over past statements it made in response to allegations that it used Asian sweatshops to make its footwear. This stemmed from a 1998 civil lawsuit, Kasky v. Nike, which charged that Nike misled the public about working conditions overseas. The court found that Nike's publicity campaign was not protected by free speech because it was commercial. In a statement, Nike said the ruling "sets a dangerous precedent by restraining companies ... from making public statements about their business practices when challenged in the arena of public debate." Nike is now reviewing its legal options.

Brand Marketing

Hotline

Adweek Staff

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Adweek Staff