Telemarketing
"Do not call" list nears landmark  The Telephone Preference Service is the UK's statutory list of numbers that have been opted out of receiving cold calls. It is administered under licence from Ofcom by the Direct Marketing Association. Recently there was a significant jump in registered numbers. Stephen Groom reports on why the jump and why the significance.

Comparative
"Outstanding" claim challenged  Dyson, ever vigilant to bring its competitors to book over their ads, challenged whether a claim by Vax that its Air Cylinder multi cyclonic cleaner had "outstanding suction power" was misleading. How do you substantiate "outstanding"? Omar Bucchioni reports on the Advertising Standards Authority investigation and verdict.

Brands
Apple Corps fights registration of BEATLE brand for wheelchairs In a Community Trade Mark Appeal in Case T-369/10, the EU General Court pronounced on whether Handicare Holding BV could register a mark including the word BEATLE as a CTM for electric mobility aids. How could the "relevant public" for Beatles "sound records" and wheelchairs possibly overlap? Emma Percival reports.

Comparative
BCAP consults on price comparison rule change  When a supermarket compares the price of its own label product with that of an equivalent premium brand, is this necessarily misleading? The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice does not believe it is, so it is consulting on a change to the broadcast ad Code with significant implications, Ciaran Price reports.

On-line advertising
Digital quango underlines dangers of "implied" cookie consent  With full enforcement of new cookie consent laws due from 26 May 2012, the "Government Digital Service" has issued guidance for UK public bodies on how to get compliant. Stephen Groom reports on key points of the guidance including its attitude to "implied consent".

On-line advertising
Direct Marketing Association/Data Guidance cookie law survey  The DMA, Europe's largest trade body for the marketing industry, and Data Guidance are surveying attitudes and approaches to compliance with soon-to-be-fully-enforced new cookie laws.

Financial services
Financial promotions – new laws and control systems loom It's been a long time coming and much-trailered, but now the UK Government's new Financial Services Bill has finally materialised. Apart from the end of the Financial Services Authority, what will be the key changes for UK marketers and advertisers involved in financial promotions? Miah Ramanathan reports.

On-line advertising
Highlights from ICO cookie law guidance  At a packed Direct Marketing Association "Breakfast Briefing" to mark 25 days to get compliant with new cookie laws due to be fully enforced from 26 May 2012, Osborne Clarke's Stephen Groom reminded delegates of some of the key points in ICO's cookie law Guidance.

Ambush marketing
London 2012 for non-sponsors  Advertising restrictions around the 2012 Olympic Games put senior staff of non-sponsoring brands at risk of criminal prosecution if they get ads wrong.

On-line advertising
Marketing Online -THE legal Update  There are still places left at this one day intensive at One London Wall, EC2 on 14 June 2012 presented by Osborne Clarke and in-house lawyer training specialists C&I. Cookies and behavioural, social media, viral and mobile are just some of the topics covered.

Health and beauty
OFT extracts undertakings from affiliate marketer MoreNiche  "The renowned MoreNiche Affiliate Marketing programme is a collection of Health, Beauty and Weight-loss affiliate programs that each offer high commission…" says the MoreNiche website, but the Office of Fair Trading recently took action over some of its practices as Manana Shrimpling reports.

Political
Radio station seeks judicial review of "political ad" ban The Radio Advertising Clearance Centre banned an ad on "Premier Christian Radio" for a survey looking into marginalisation of Christians in the workplace and designed to "help make a fairer society". The station and the advertiser sought judicial review. Dr Catherine Lee reports the verdict.

Privacy
Smart meter data: a behavioural marketer's dream?  With a national smart meter implementation programme moving ever closer to reality, the Department for Energy & Climate Change is consulting on a proposed framework for smart metering data access and privacy. Thomas Spanyol reports on the implications for marketers.

Social media
Testimonial on Durham apartment website challenged  A website for "Moonlight Apartment", a "luxurious" "alternative to Durham hotels," had a "Testimonial" page with a link to TripAdvisor reviews. Below this was a review taken from TripAdvisor. "Proof of Quality" service provider KwikChex challenged the genuineness of one of these. Tom Harding reports the ASA verdict.

TV
When can an ad say "As seen on TV"?  In a recent decision to uphold a complaint about misleading use of "as seen on TV" in advertising, the Advertising Standards Authority has revised its interpretation of the claim and "raised the bar." Hannah Willson reports.