Tag Archives: the law

In Paris, an anti-ad insurgency – Los Angeles Times

By Steve Lambert | Published: February 9, 2009

Reporting from Paris — Over the centuries, the French have cultivated the fine art of rebellion. The list of targets encompasses tyrants, wars, colonialism and, above all, capitalism in its many manifestations. The latest enemy may seem unlikely: billboards. The Dismantlers, as a nationwide group of anti-ad crusaders call themselves, aren’t violent or loud or […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , , | 2 Responses

More Bad Calls from the NY MTA

By Steve Lambert | Published: December 22, 2008

The New York MTA, in collaboration with CBS Outdoor, wants to cover the windows of subway cars with advertising. This story at the NYTimes Cityroom blog is peppered with rationalizations from the MTA. Here’s one of my favorites: “[T]ransit officials say that advertising revenue is not the main motivation for the program.” (Transit officials, not […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , | 2 Responses

Billboard industry gums up anti-blight enforcement in S.F.

By Paul S. | Published: December 2, 2008

The city of San Francisco has been slowly working to enforce a 2002 city proposition which banned new billboards on private property. Of course, we all know city governments are notoriously cash-strapped. So it comes as no surprise that it was only in 2007 that the city had completed a survey of the existent billboards […]

Posted in Blogroll | Also tagged , , , , , | 3 Responses

DeBeers attempts sleazy take down of parody ad

By Steve Lambert | Published: November 26, 2008

As you probably heard, on November 12th a group of artists and activists unveiled a “Special Edition” of the New York Times dated “July 4th, 2009” and outlining the end of the war in iraq, a national tax base for schools, and free public universities, among other things. In addition to the print paper, an […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , | 2 Responses

NYT: City Room Blog – Ad or Art? Chanel’s 2.55 vs. Zoning’s C5-3

By Steve Lambert | Published: October 20, 2008

Vinyl billboard blankets have been draped over all kinds of buildings, but they’re not usually found obscuring the glittering luxury outlets along East 57th Street. Chanel, however, has done that very thing: hanging a big piece of vinyl over its building at No. 15, promoting Mobile Art, an exhibition by the architect Zaha Hadid that […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sorry Amber, for Calif. Republicans you’re just not as important as this precious, precious money.

By Steve Lambert | Published: October 3, 2008

The L.A. Times is reporting Clear Channel has its eye on 674 state owned digital billboards on California Highways. The billboards were installed to alert drivers to road hazards and for Amber Alerts providing “urgent bulletins in the most serious child-abduction cases.” But now the state is listening to Clear Channel. Apparently California needs money. […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Product Placement in Music

By Steve Lambert | Published: September 19, 2008

Last month Jeff Crouse received an email from Adam Kluger asking if Jeff wanted his fake, Second Life sweatshop “Double Happiness Jeans” featured in the lyrics of a Pussycat Dolls song. Jeff wrote back a hilarious response. Then Kluger threatened us with a lawsuit for… well, whatever straws were in reach. You can read about […]

Posted in News | Also tagged | Leave a comment

Advertising wont solve economic problems for NYC

By Steve Lambert | Published: September 16, 2008

Another bad deal to trade public space for money from The New York Sun: Council Member David Yassky of Brooklyn is calling for the city to begin allowing advertising on municipal trash cans and suggested that such a move, which he estimated could bring $2.5 million in revenue, would help during difficult economic times. “We […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , | 3 Responses

In Florida, Billboards Trump Trees : NPR

By Steve Lambert | Published: September 10, 2008

excerpted from – In Florida, Billboards Trump Trees : NPR Highway 192 used to be exceptionally plain. It was lined by weed-filled ditches, with no sidewalks and poor lighting. It was drab. So the property owners voted to tax themselves $29 million to make the roadway safer and prettier. “Look at it today,” says Lizasuain. […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , | 2 Responses

No freedom of speech on billboards – even when you can pay.

By Steve Lambert | Published: September 5, 2008

Billboard Co. Says No to Soldier Portraits in St. Paul A billboard company has canceled its contract to display one of photographer Suzanne Opton’s portraits of active-duty soldiers on an outdoor space in St. Paul, Minnesota, site of the Republican National Convention. Opton, a New York-based photographer, shot her “Soldiers Faces” series at Fort Drum, […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , | 3 Responses

Ad Creep Hits the Bike Lanes

By Steve Lambert | Published: August 28, 2008

from treehugger: We have complained before about ad creep, how the public realm is being taken over by private marketers. I don’t know if I should be happy or sad that the Egg Farmers of Canada have determined that there are enough cyclists in London, Ontario that they want to pay to advertise to them […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , | 5 Responses

New York City’s Struggle to Take Down Illegal Billboards

By Steve Lambert | Published: August 25, 2008

from the Village Voice with IllegalBillboards.org‘s own Jordan Seiler. City government and citizen vigilantes wage a losing battle against Clear Channel and illegal ads By Elizabeth Dwoskin Over the past seven years, Jordan Seiler estimates that he’s taken down hundreds of billboards, posters, and other signs to replace advertising in public places with his own […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , , | 5 Responses

Municipal Art Society – OUTRAGE! Nasty Newsracks

By Steve Lambert | Published: August 14, 2008

New video from the Municipal Art Society: YouTube – OUTRAGE! Nasty Newsracks

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , | 1 Response

IllegalBillboards.org

By Steve Lambert | Published: July 21, 2008

IllegalBillboards.org is a new effort launched by the Anti-Advertising Agency with IllegalSigns.ca to help organize and support the removal of illegal billboards in New York (we’ll get to the rest of the country soon I hope!). IllegalBillboards.org consists of a forum and blog where you can learn how to investigate an illegal sign and track […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Philly Colt 45 ads are illegal as an unregistered handgun

By Steve Lambert | Published: June 28, 2008

Philadelphia, famous for it’s murals, has had some new additions to the walls – hand painted illegal ads for Colt 45. The people of Philadelphia have already managed to get Colt 45 Malt Liquor ads off their city buses due to community concerns. Yesterday they beat the murals. Some more than 4 word long excerpts […]

Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , | 5 Responses