Monday, November 21, 2005
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Office Depot Bullies 18 Year Boy Over Ads
Michael Brim is the 18 year old boy behind one of the most popular Black Friday preview sites, BFADS.net. The site posts lists of the items that will be on sale the day after Thanksgiving, and he even displays some of the actual advertising circulars that have leaked out. Here is the front page NY Times story about him.
Office Depot sent a lawyer letter late last week demanding he take down their name, sale items, etc. claiming copyright infringement, etc. (A week or two earlier, Sears and Kmart made similar demands.) Dissatisfied with Michael's comments and actions after getting the letter, Office Depot has sent a second letter further threatening Michael. (See the actual documents here. )
My take: Hey, retailers, wake up. BFADS.com and BlackFriday.GottaDeal.com are giving you the BEST publicity one could ever ask for: free promotion of your sales to an audience of millions of eager shoppers. These sites create BUZZ about your products and prices -- and buzz marketing is one of the hottest methods currently being used by savvy companies to promote themselves. You should be thanking Michael, rather than threatening legal action.
If YOU want to let Office Depot know how YOU feel, their contact information is on the BFADS.net site.
Office Depot sent a lawyer letter late last week demanding he take down their name, sale items, etc. claiming copyright infringement, etc. (A week or two earlier, Sears and Kmart made similar demands.) Dissatisfied with Michael's comments and actions after getting the letter, Office Depot has sent a second letter further threatening Michael. (See the actual documents here. )
My take: Hey, retailers, wake up. BFADS.com and BlackFriday.GottaDeal.com are giving you the BEST publicity one could ever ask for: free promotion of your sales to an audience of millions of eager shoppers. These sites create BUZZ about your products and prices -- and buzz marketing is one of the hottest methods currently being used by savvy companies to promote themselves. You should be thanking Michael, rather than threatening legal action.
If YOU want to let Office Depot know how YOU feel, their contact information is on the BFADS.net site.
