In the new trailer for the upcoming fourth season of Jersey Shore, a pack of Marlboros cozies up to The Situation. Yet when we contacted Philip Morris to ask about the product placement of the pack of Marlboros, particularly when the series has blurred other brands in the past, we were told by the cigarette maker, "It's not our product."Continue reading...

On the day that the Obama administration had to ruefully acknowledge that the unemployment rate is rising again – to 9.2% in June – the US Association of National Advertisers tried a clever tactic that attempted to leverage renewed fears about joblessness to advance what probably ranks as the ANA’s No. 1 public-policy concern these days.

The ANA produced a study purporting to show that a cross-agency federal proposal to curtail marketing of certain products to kids could translate to the loss of at least 74,000 American jobs in the retailing, marketing and manufacturing of foods and beverages that the government believes contribute to childhood obesity.Continue reading...

Lady Gaga is being sued over her philanthropic effort to help the people of Japan.

According to Reuters, she's being legally challenged over the proceeds of sales of $5 wristbands that she designed and still sells on her website to raise funds for Japan's earthquake relief efforts.

A class action suit (and publicity bid) filed by Michigan-based legal website 1800LAWFIRM "claims that not all the proceeds went to victims as she had promised."

"While we commend Lady Gaga for her philanthropic efforts, we want to ensure that claims that 'all proceeds will be donated to Japan's earthquake' are in fact true," stated Alyson Oliver, an attorney for 1800LAWFIRM.Continue reading...

Airbus order blocked by China.

Apple sues Samsung for patent infringement.

Chrysler looks to expand China salesforce.

Cisco increases original content.

Facebook redesign keeps ads visible as ad sales head says brands are overly obsessed with fans.

India's Force Motors unveils new logo and first SUV.

Ford changes fonts, adds voice-controlled apps to make driving easier.Continue reading...

Keith Olbermann makes his television comeback next week (on June 20) on Al Gore’s still nascent Current TV. Since launching in 2005 as a quasi public affairs cable network focused on user-generated content (including ads), Current has struggled to find a brand presence in the crowded TV universe, let alone stay current.

Now, the network is making a big-ticket bet that the outspoken Olbermann can draw an audience, lend more authority and news chops, and become the cornerstone of a sharper focus on hardhitting political commentary and news — a crucial repositioning as 2012 election coverage starts to gear up.Continue reading...

Adidas "away" football kit for England's Chelsea FC shares love with Samsung.

Apple loosens app store policies to enable publishers to set pricing.

Ford sued over Sync claims; looks to compete with Toyota with hybrid minivan.

Google acquires Admeld for $400M.

Hillary Clinton reportedly in talks for World Bank role.

McDonald's embarrassed by parent's play area investigation.Continue reading...

Burger King tests menu diversification. 

BMW launches "Don't Txt and Drive" public-service campaign.

Church’s takes on Chik-fil-A in chicken-taste test campaign.

Diageo and Pernot Ricard battle in China.

Exxon fuels chemicals drive in Asia.

Fiat ends four decades of Chrysler sales in Europe.Continue reading...

As beach season fast approaches, Corona has launched the "Corona Beach Getaway" sweepstakes, the Mexican beer brand’s largest US promotion to date — outstripping its previous "biggest promotion" ever, last year's promotion that brought a pop-up beach (above) to New York's Times Square.

Customers 21 and older, have a chance to win one of 100 trips to Mexico by finding custom-wrapped Corona bottles or cans in stores now through July 31. 

More than 11,000 bottles and 1,000 12-pack cans include special codes redeemable to enter a random drawing for more than 1,700 prizes including Corona-branded patio umbrellas, rolling coolers and beach cabana tents at CoronaBeachGetaway.com. 

Fans at local bars can submit a photo of their “Corona Getaway Moment” at CoronaTriptoMexico.com for a chance at winning a beach vacation for two. Ten finalists will also have their photo submissions posted on the Corona Light Facebook page, where fans can access the Beach Getaway promotion via a special tab for details.Continue reading...