The sensational trial of Casey Anthony, the mother accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, has become the biggest media courtroom circus since O.J. It's also proving to be the most brand-laden trial since O.J. Simpson modeled gloves.Continue reading...

After Cadillac solicits ideas from agencies, current shop resigns account. [WSJ]

Analysts see lagging growth in Cadbury's sales. [Times of London]

Nobel Peace Prize boosts Obama, America's brand. [FT]

Luxury brands rush to satiate consumer demand in China. [FT]

Carrefour strives to regain footing, focusing on lower prices. [WSJ]

Barnes & Noble to announce e-reader next week. [WSJ]

"This Is It," new/old Michael Jackson song, out today. [Idolator]

Stars Miley Cyrus and Courtney Love exit Twitter. [LA Times]

Motorola builds buzz for Android phones on social media sites. [Chicago Tribune]

(More headlines: Facebook, Forrester's Brand Advocates, TeenNick.)Continue reading...

With the exception of Diet Coke and its siblings, most brand extensions don’t arrive 80 years after the original. And few are as polarizing as the new collection of Winnie the Pooh stories, which introduces Lottie, a sassy otter, to the furry folks at the Hundred Acre Wood.

Authorized book sequels, commissioned after the original authors have died, are uncommon, and noteworthy; examples include a pair of Gone With the Wind sequels by separate authors as well as two updates to The Godfather by Mark Winegardner. What the original sources have in common is that they were adapted into films, where they enjoyed a much wider audience than the print material, and the announcement of new content delivered the same kind of publicity and backlash that greeted New Coke.Continue reading...