The New York Times Co. is girding for a legal battle that many larger organizations have avoided.
The Times is leading the defense of a diverse group of companies that use technology they assumed was free — sending text messages with Web links to mobile phones.
The technology was patented by inventor Richard J. Helferich, who filed an outline of how such a system would work with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in September 1997. He was granted several patents on the method, giving him the right to sue companies that use it without permission.
Since...
Posted on the Ishmael's Corner blog on August 27th by Lou Hoffman
The verdict just came down in the Apple/Samsung legal skirmish.
Apple won (,051,855,000 in damages seems like a win to me).
Rewinding the tape, it's interesting to look back at how Apple initially framed its case. It stands to reason that Apple's legal team wanted to grab the judge's attention right from the start in the complaint.
Let'...
Calysto Communications (www.calysto.com), a global social and traditional PR firm specializing in communications technologies, revealed it has formed a strategic partnership with iGR, a market strategy consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile communications industry.
The partnership allows Calysto clients to easily incorporate mobile and wireless industry research data into their Content Marketing and PR programs. It also expands the portfolio of PR and marketing content that Calysto can develop for clients (such as press releases, white papers, website copy, bylined articles, social posts and more) to include quantitative and qualitative studies, webinars, surveys, statistics and many other forms of...
CRM agency Wunderman (www.wunderman.com) has promoted Craig Evans to executive creative director for Wunderman West. The move provides clients with strong veteran creative leadership and inspiration. Evans will report directly to Wunderman West managing director, Dan Olson. Previously, Evans had served as group creative director.
"We didn't have to look very far to support our creative efforts in choosing Craig. He knows how to create ideas that truly move people to action," said William Manfredi, EVP, global talent management, Wunderman/Y&R.
Evans will be engaged on a robust portfolio of clients. An experienced marketer, Evans joined sister agency...
(CNET.com): Social media's traffic contribution to online shopping sites increased 77 percent in one year — but few users actually buy anything, according to a new report published recently by marketing firm Monetate.
The firm's study shows that search engine and email referrals are more than holding their own against social media sites when it comes to generating sales in the second quarter of 2012.
Social media sites only contributed to 2.85 percent of...
Developers and users of Twitter have reacted angrily to changes made by the social network to restrict creation of third-party applications.
Any new app that wants to serve more than 100,000 users must now seek the company's explicit permission.
Apps which already have more than 100,000 users are allowed to double their user base before having to get Twitter's go-ahead to grow any further.
Critics said it would stifle the development of innovative products.
Revoked key:
The changes came as part of Twitter's overhaul of its Application Programming Interface (API).
An API allows...
(Business Wire): The $4 trillion retail business in the U.S. is being forever altered by mobile shopping applications. A new Yankee Group report, How Brick-and-Mortars Can Thrive in a Smartphone World, indicates that 46 percent of U.S. consumers use their smartphones to check prices and reviews while shopping at retail stores, up 5 percent from 2010. And armed with that information, nearly half buy a less expensive product elsewhere.
"Our survey is a wakeup call — this adds up to millions in potential lost revenue for brick-and-mortars," said ...
Reese's "Next Big, Little Thing" Campaign Generates Big Buzz at the Famous Consumer Electronics Show
By Jim Bucci
The Reese's brand resided on the cusp of launching one of its most exciting new products. After undergoing years of research to perfect, Reese's billed the new product as an innovation in chocolate, poised to revolutionize the way American's eat their favorite candy in a big way. Reese's public relations campaign needed to reflect such innovation.
M Booth & Associates took on the assignment of creating a breakthrough public relations campaign for the launch of Reese's Minis—the smallest Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ever created. The agency developed "The Next Big, Little Thing" campaign and recommended unveiling the next sensation in snacking at the famous Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
...
A chasm is developing between retailers and cash-conscious consumers as Americans turn to smartphones for coupons and product information — only to find that many leading retailers have yet to integrate mobile into their shopping experience. A new report from interactive marketing provider ExactTarget found more than half of America's fastest growing retailers have yet to fully connect online and offline shopping experience, leaving shoppers unsatisfied with their shopping experience.
"As we prepare for this holiday season, marketers must consider how consumers use their mobile phones while shopping,...
Lattice Engines, a specialist in Big Data for sales, recently announced the results of an independent survey that showcases the importance of Big Data in driving sales growth. Conducted by CSO Insights, a sales effectiveness research firm, the survey of more than 200 corporate and sales executives illuminates today's most critical sales organization challenges, including the need for new ways to manage and gain critical insight from the exponential amount of internal, external and social media data available. Among the top findings: Sales reps are struggling to find the information they need to close deals;...
