Super Bowl “Clean Zones” to Protect Sponsors/Trademarks in New Orleans

The City of New Orleans will enforce “clean zones” from January 28 to February 5 to comply with NFL policies to thwart ambush marketing.

Read more about the City of New Orleans efforts.

Read more about how ambush marketing can de-value a costly sponsorship.

Ambush Marketing London 2012 & McDonald’s Exclusive Right to French Fries

Here’s a look at more press on Ambush Marketing surrounding the 2012 Olympic Games:

Australia’s Olympic Committee, enforcing a 30 day ban on none approved ads, required the industry lobby group, Australian Mining – This Is Our Story, to pull a television and online ad featuring the 10-time world champion and Olympic gold and silver medalist Ann Meares.  Meares, unaware of the launch of the campaign, appears in the video in cycling gear branded with her sponsor BHP Billiton’s logo as she talks about her campaign to win gold in London.

Meares has also been required to remove a TOSHIBA logo from her racing clothes.  And the Australian Olympic Committee is actively monitoring consumer electronic companies for any engagements in ambush marketing.

While not ambush marketing, McDonald’s has the exclusive right to serve French Fries at the Games, unless of course its “fish and chips.”   Maybe a cleaver ambush marketing team could show up dressed in french fry or “chips” costumes to an event?  Or, what if folks decided to not order any fries at McDonald’s?  Could McDonald’s exclusive rights back-fire?

Read more from Part 1 on Ambush Marketing.

Ambush Marketing & Social Networking at London Olympics 2012 Part 1

Every great sporting event brings out ambush marketers.  From the Super Bowl to the World Series to the Olympics, brands jockey for news coverage and exposure.  Ambush marketing is the act of a product or service trying to attach itself to a big event without being an official sponsor of the event — and without paying the big bucks of sponsorship.

While VISA® “Is Everywhere,” some brands only shine during their moments of ambush.  As consumers we expect a certain quality of product from the official sponsors.  The official sponsors invest a lot of money, energy and time in hopefully delivering a quality product or service.

Here’s a round-up of articles on ambush marketing popping up a few weeks prior to the 2012 Games:

• The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) says it will be “vigilant in protecting our rights.”  But, some creative fringe marketing by Red Bull® might be okay.

• Bloggers at the London games have been warned that “Participants and other accredited persons are not permitted to promote any brand, product or service within a posting, blog or tweet or otherwise on any social media platforms or on any websites,” the IOC said.

• Twitter is working directly with the LOCOG to control ambush marketing.

• 11 Ambush Marketing Stunts That Worked in the Past.