The Royal Wedding is only days away, Sharon and I have both blogged about it recently, and the Royal Family is certainly recieving a lot of media attention. For a family and political tradition that Americans often view as stuck in the past, the Royal Family has indisputably been embracing new forms of social… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: YouTube
Trademark Case to “Watch”: Rolex Sues Rollx Vans in Minnesota
Posted in Branding, Dilution, Domain Names, Famous Marks, Goodwill, Infringement, Law Suits, Marketing, TrademarksAnother interesting trademark case was filed last Thursday in Minnesota federal district court, captioned Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. v. Associated Partnership Ltd., d/b/a Rollx Vans and d/b/a www.RollxVans.com. Here is a pdf of the Complaint and the attached Exhibit. The crowned plaintiff really needs no introduction. On the other hand, the defendant Rollx Vans is… Continue Reading
DVR Killed The Video Ad?
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Guest Bloggers, Marketing, Television—David Mitchel, Norton Mitchel Marketing In 1981, MTV’s first music video was The Buggles’ “Video Killed The Radio Star”. The title of that song could be adapted to ask a more modern question. Is the DVR killing television advertising? Also, can brands successfully use television advertising in the era of the DVR? I strongly believe… Continue Reading
Save Big What? Where?
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Keyword Ads, Marketing, Search Engines, TrademarksSeeing this Cartridge World vehicle bumper led me to wonder, is it possible to save anything big besides money? And, not to worry, I didn’t snap the photo, I was doing the driving. The www.savebig.com website doesn’t seem to offer any help answering my question. According to a more complete Cartridge World slogan, what ever it is you… Continue Reading
My, my, my . . .
Posted in Branding, Marketing, TrademarksI recently had another experience of coming across a branding trend that, while perhaps old in the creative world, hit me squarely through close-in-time repetitive encounters with the phenomenon, starting with these three marks: Not to get too complex, but the "My 29" station carries broadcasts of nearly all home and away Twins games (and I… Continue Reading
Welcome to the World of Plasticville, U.S.A.
Posted in Branding, Domain Names, Goodwill, Marketing, TrademarksI enjoy stumbling upon niche products and markets that I am completely oblivious to in my day-to-day life. One such recent find was a store dedicated to model trains. Growing up, I built a few models–typically aircraft, and eventually model rockets. I’ve consequently always had a dim awareness that model train building is a niche… Continue Reading
Getting Stan Lee’d and CGC’d at the Phoenix Comicon
Posted in Mixed Bag of NutsPannapictagraphists take note, the verbing of brands is alive and kicking at the Phoenix Comicon! After letting some friends know one of my sons and I were on our way to the Phoenix Comicon over the Memorial Day weekend (because Stan Lee was going to be there for a special signing event), we were told that in addition to… Continue Reading
Vee-Dahb’s “Punch-Dub” Ad Campaign a Real Hit Among Juveniles
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Marketing, TelevisionVW continues to live up to its "Drivers Wanted" tagline. Most recently, however, it appears focused on planning for the future, planting the seeds of interest with, and on winning over, those who don’t yet have a license to operate a motor vehicle. As far as I can tell, it appears to be a smart move. Probably my favorite… Continue Reading
Out for Blood (or Money)?
Posted in CopyrightsThe recent success of the Twilight books and movies has definitely sparked worldwide interest in vampires. I am only slightly embarrassed to admit that I am on Team Edward, along with my 10-year-old niece. With Twilight’s popularity, it didn’t take long for other vampire-based books, television shows and movies to pop up along with some… Continue Reading
Branding in Pop Culture: How Brands Avoid Negative Associations
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Famous Marks, Guest Bloggers, Marketing, Social Networking, Trademarks—by David Mitchel, Vice President of Marketing at Norton Mitchel Marketing Branding is an intricate and complicated process. Every aspect of the marketing mix must be handled with care. Brand managers watch their brands in the same manner that most parents care for a newborn child. However, there is an element of marketing communications that… Continue Reading
It’s On: Southwest Savvy
Posted in Advertising, Goodwill, Marketing, Social Networking, TelevisionIf you travel by air at all, I suspect that Southwest Airlines’ "Bags Fly Free" campaign resonates a bit: This is but one of many examples of Southwest Airlines’ marketing and business savvy. By all appearances, this is a company that exudes a love for its business, which necessarily requires a love for its customers. It… Continue Reading
A Muppet’s a Muppet’s a Muppet
Posted in TrademarksLest you think this post is just an excuse to post the ridiculously viral video of The Muppets singing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” guess again. There is a trademark lesson here. Do I still have your attention? The lesson is this – you, the consumer, don’t need to know what the source of a good… Continue Reading
Double Negatives in Branding: Nobody Doesn’t = Everybody Does?
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Food, International, Marketing, Television, Trademarks, TruncationThere is a time and a place for the use of double negatives. The Rolling Stones made the double negative "I Can’t Get No" lyrics famous in the legendary hit Satisfaction (#2 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s List of the Top Songs of All Time). Pink Floyd made the double negative lyrical phrase "We Don’t Need No" famous in the song Another Brick in The… Continue Reading
Lion’s Tap Shouldn’t Have Sued. At Least Not So Soon.
Posted in Advertising, Almost Advice, Branding, Food, Guest Bloggers, Infringement, Law Suits, Marketing, TrademarksA brief study in how the Lion’s Tap could have had its burger and eaten it too. I have to say, in the interest of full disclosure, I have an irrational love for the Lion’s Tap. Ever since I worked in Eden Prairie back in the 1990s, I’ve been hooked. Fast forward the better part of… Continue Reading
Single Letter Chewing Gum Brands: A Lasting Flavor or Just B S?
Posted in Advertising, AlphaWatch, Branding, Food, Marketing, TrademarksMy recent family road trip through the heartland had me spending more time than usual pumping gas and shopping in convenience stores, so a few chewing gum brands "gone single letter" caught my eye. As you may recall, I already have reported on Single Letter Envy in Hotel Branding…. Continue Reading









