Almost 20 years after its first proposal, the European Community (EC) is once again attempting to both authorize and control comparative advertising within its borders. The authors examine the current proposal and the new co-decision procedure under which the proposal and future Community efforts to regulate and harmonize the marketing function will be considered. They then analyze U.S. case law and policy concerning comparative advertising to determine the similarities and differences between it and the EC's proposal and the prospects for harmonization across the Atlantic.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Tobacco Co. (1994), 59 Fed. Reg. 51980 (October 13).
2.
Annotation (1958), “Actionable Nature of Advertising Disparaging or Criticizing Merchandise or Products,”American Law Reports, 2d ed., 57, 837–49.
3.
Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. v. Hertz Corp. (1986), 782 F.2d 381 (2d Cir.).
4.
Avon Products, Inc. v. S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (1994), 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7950, 94 Civ. 3958 (AGS)(S.D.N.Y. June 15).
5.
BalateE., ed. (1988), Unfair Advertising and Comparative Advertising.Brussels: Story Scientia.
6.
Beck-DudleyCaryn L., and WilliamsTerrell G. (1989), “Legal and Public Policy Implications for the Future of Comparative Advertising: A Look at U-Haul v. Jartran”Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 8, 124–42.
7.
Bigelow v. Virginia (1975), 421 U.S. 809.
8.
Campbell Soup Co. (1991), NAD Case Reports, October.
Francovich v. Italian State (1993), 2 CMLR 66, C6&9/90.
15.
FreemanMeryl (1987), “Comparative Cautions,”Marketing and Media Decisions, 22(Spring), 78–86.
16.
GabbottMark (1994), “The European Community Framework for Distance Selling: A Review,”Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 13(2), 307–12.
17.
GB-INNO v. CCL (1990), 1 E.C.R. 3571, C362/88.
18.
Gillette Co. v. Wilkinson Sword, Inc. (1992), 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12276, 89 Civ. 3586 (KMW) (S.D.N.Y. August 18).
19.
GreiweNancy S. (1982), “Antidilution Statutes: A New Attack on Comparative Advertising,”Trademark Reporter, 72(2), 717–203.
20.
Hall-SmithVanessa (1994), “Comparative Advertising,”International Media Law, (November), 85–88.
21.
Invicta Plastics (USA) Ltd. v. Mego Corp. (1981), 523 F. Supp. 619 (S.D.N.Y.).
22.
KorantengJuliana (1995), “Pepsi's U.S. Strategy May Backfire Globally,”Advertising Age, (March 20), I-6.
23.
L&F Products v. Procter & Gamble Co. (1995), 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 1534 (2d Cir., January 25).
24.
LevyRobert (1987), “Big Resurgence in Comparative Ads,”Dun's Business Month, 129(February), 56–58.
25.
Marshall v. Southampton Area Health Authority (1986), ECR 723, 1 CMLR 688, C152/84.
26.
OramRoderick (1995), “Pepsi Co. Campaign to Take Swipe at Rival Coke,”Financial Times, (January 19), 16.
27.
Paola Faccini Dori v. Recreb srl (1994) Times, European Law Report, (August 4), C91/92.
28.
Pet Inc. (1993), NAD Case Report, November.
29.
PettyRoss D. (1991), “The Evolution of Comparative Advertising Law: Has the Lanham Act Gone Too Far?”Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 10(2), 161–75.
30.
PettyRoss D. (1992), The Impact of Advertising Law on Business and Public Policy.New Haven: Quorum Books.
31.
PettyRoss D. (1994), “Advertising Law and Social Issues: The Global Perspective,”Suffolk Transnational Law Review, 17(2), 309–49.
32.
PettyRoss D. (1995), “The European Regulation of Misleading Advertising: A Conceptual Analysis,”Journal of Media Law and Practice, 16(3), forthcoming.
33.
PettyRoss D., and KoppRobert J. (1995), “Advertising Challenges: A Strategic Framework and Current Review,”Journal of Advertising Research, 35(2), 41–55.
34.
PicheNicole, and GarrettTaylor J. (1995), “Non-Implementation of EU Directives,”International Media Law, 13(4), 30–32.
35.
PridgenDee, and PrestonIvan L. (1980), “Enhancing the Flow of Information in the Marketplace: From Caveat Emptor to Virginia Pharmacy and Beyond at the Federal Trade Commission,”Georgia Law Review, 14(4), 635–80.
36.
Procter & Gamble Co. v. Chesebrough-Pond's. Inc. (1984), 747 F.2d 114 (2d Cir.).
37.
Revlon Consumer Products Corp. v. Jennifer Leather Broadway, Inc. (1994), 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10944, 94 Civ. 0367 (MGC)(S.D.N.Y. Aug. 5).
38.
RichardsJef I. (1990), “A ‘New and Improved’ View of Puffery,”Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 9, 73–84.
39.
RichardsJef I., and PrestonIvan L. (1992), “Proving and Disproving Materiality of Deceptive Advertising Claims,”Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 11(2), 45–56.
40.
Reich, Norbert and Hans Micklitz (1980), Consumer Legislation in the EC Countries.New York: Van Hostrand Reinhold Co.
41.
RijkensRein, and MiracleGordon E. (1986), European Regulation of Advertising.Amsterdam: North Holland.
42.
RogersJohn C., and WilliamsTerrell G. (1989), “Comparative Advertising Effectiveness: Practitioners’ Perceptions Versus Academic Research Findings,”Journal of Advertising Research, 29(October/November), 22–37.
43.
Sandoz Pharmaceutical Corp. v. Richardson-Vicks, Inc. (1990), 902 F.2d 222 (3d Cir.).
44.
Sara Lee Corp. (1994), NAD Case Reports, November.
45.
Saxlehner v. Wagner (1910), 216 U.S. 375.
46.
ScammonDebra (1978), “Comparative Advertising: A Reexamination of the Issues,”Journal of Consumer Affairs, 12(2), 381–92.
47.
ShaughnessyRobert J. (1987), “Trademark Parody: A Fair Use and First Amendment Analysis,”Trademark Reporter, 11 (May/June), 177–215.
48.
SwayneLinda E., and StevensonThomas H. (1987), “Comparative Advertising in Horizontal Business Publications,”Industrial Marketing Management, 16(1), 71–76.