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August 30, 2008 9:03:03 CDT

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Subway Sues Quiznos Over Ad Contest

Posted Jan 29, 08 7:30 PM CST in Arts & Living,  Business 

(Newser) – Subway is suing Quiznos after the sub-maker invited fans to drum up ads for an online contest, the New York Times reports. Two years ago, Quiznos offered $10,000 to the fan whose ad best compared Quiznos subs to Subway's "with Quiznos being superior." Subway fumed after seeing its sandwiches kicked, mocked, and destroyed on a website that has since been taken down.

Quiznos denies blame for the plugs: “We’re just facilitating consumers who go out and create their own expression,” said a company attorney. But a legal expert notes that Quiznos "provoked" the ads and made consumers "their agents." At issue is who takes the rap for user-generated content in such contests, which other companies have already run. The competitions may be torpedoed if a Connecticut court sides with Subway next year.

Source New York Times

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A Subway restaurant is seen inside the new 2,000 square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter store May 17, 2006 in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Photo by J.D. Pooley/Getty Images)   (Getty Images)
This screen capture from a Quizno's competition ad is taken from YouTube.   (YouTube)
Greg Brenneman, chief executive officer of the Quiznos sandwich restaurant chain, shows off some of the items available on the menu during Quiznos' annual companywide meeting in Denver in this photograph...   (Associated Press)
Greg Brenneman, right, CEO of Quiznos, holds up a tray of the restaurant's new offerings as franchisee Brian Wise, left, of Lawrence, Ks. looks on during an annual companywide meeting in Denver, Colo.,...   (Associated Press)
Quizno's Subs came into legal conflict after inviting amateur filmmakers to demonstrate why their products were better than those of Subway, their major competitor.   ((c) The Consumerist)
The front facade of a Subway restaurant is shown June 6, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois.   (Getty Images)
"Let's just hope that as collateral damage it doesn%u2019t kill the entire genre of competitive advertising," said one ad agency rep.   ((c) dyobmit)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Disfigured animated animals pitch for Quizno's.   (magicalme394 (YouTube))
A consumer made video entitled "Quiznos vs. Subway Round 2"   (Kevman21 (YouTube))

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Tags

lawsuit  • advertising  • commercials  • contest  • Subway  • false advertising


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