It's not exactly Hollywood and Vine, but it's close. Steve Madden is the latest hip brand to turn to Twitter's new microvideo-sharing app Vine, which streams 6 second video clips.

The brand will use the service—which recently earned itself a 17+ age rating and "contains age-restriced material" caveat after users started uploading pornographic videos—to promote a sneak peek of Madden's Spring collection and a one-day-only sale.

My #firstpost on Vine vine.co/v/bngJYEWnPjn

— STEVE MADDEN (@SteveMadden) February 7, 2013

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Brooklyn artist and photographer Bernard Belair has been creating images of “physically distorted women” since the 1990s, Boing Boing reports, and he registered his design late in that decade after his big-headed female characters were used in a Steven Madden ad in Seventeen magazine. 

That particular ad went on to inspire sculptor Margaret Leahy to create what we all now know as the Bratz dolls, a line of dolls that has created much controversy for wearing such things as fishnet stockings, feather boas, and miniskirts while also sporting absolutely impossible body proportions while being marketed to girls between the ages of 4-8.

The success of the MGA Entertainment Inc.-owned Bratz brand through the sale of the dolls and all of the many extensions it has inspired (videos, clothing, makeup, babies) has left Belair steaming, so he filed suit in October 2009 because, after all, it was his original artistic vision that had inspired (and unleashed) the Bratz phenom to begin with.

However, a New York federal court has disagreed with Belair and chucked the case, Boing Boing reports.Continue reading...

Al Gore prepares 24-hour global warming Climate Reality live-stream event.

Angry Birds spurs 1M t-shirts and 1M plush toy sales per month for Rovio.

AT&T will use plant-based packaging for accessories as Coca-Cola's PlantBottle arrives on UK shelves.

Bank of America announces 30,000 job cuts.

Boston Globe newspaper puts up online paywall.

British American Tobacco gears up for legal battle vs. the Australian government.

Broadcom bets on web traffic for mobile with $3.7 billion NetLogic deal.

Glenn Beck says his new TV network is "not for slugs."

Google - just another ad company?

Groupon sued by its own employees.Continue reading...

TD Bank acquires Chrysler Financial for $6.3 billion.

News Corp.'s bid for BSkyB cleared by EU.

Apple plans exposed by insider trading suit.

Bank of America and other Wall Street firms face increased scrutiny on executive pay.

Betty White voted entertainer of the year by AP.

Brett Favre retirement leaves muddles NFL legacy.

CBS is looking to renegotiate Katie Couric's contract.Continue reading...

Exxon changes its brand strategy by tapping unique places to find oil. [CNN Money]

Barnes & Noble is trying hard to find sales in the recession. [LA Times]

Palm has good products but isn't a strong competitor for smartphones. [Boston Herald]

Facebook photo albums are putting printing websites out of business. [Washington Post]

Luxury accessories brand MCM is undergoing a makeover for the Asian market. [WSJ]

Music labels may become obsolete, but syncing music is still a pain. [NY Times]Continue reading...

It’s been five years since shoe king Steve Madden hoofed it out of a Florida prison. He landed there after being convicted in 2002 of securities fraud and money laundering, serving 30 months. Now he’s faring better than ever, even doing a little yoga.
 
The charismatic brand builder founded his eponymous label 20 years ago and just last year, he reached $500 million in sales. Even with articles about Madden’s success post-big house posted on the company’s blog, the general public has all but forgotten about his big oops. Why? Because he has a product that sells to a target market that doesn’t necessarily care about a guy named Steve Madden. They just want trendy shoes that are priced right.Continue reading...