The decision to go for a promotional game had been prompted by the persistence of Don Marketing, the Essex based promotional games company, which had, for more than two years, been pressing on Shell the potential of a game to boost sales. Any doubts that Shell may have harboured about the popularity of the game with motorists were quickly dispelled when the promotion received massive press and television publicity, and sales at many petrol stations soared by more than 25%.
Posts Tagged ‘Don Marketing’
Shell action abandoned
Forecourt Trader: Shell action abandoned August 1999 The long-running and acrimonious dispute between Shell UK and sales promotion agency Don Marketing has ended following a statement released by both parties last month. The dispute centred on Don Marketing’s claim that Shell stole its idea for the Smart loyalty scheme. John Donovan, managing director of Don [...]
Incentive Today: Don and Shell end Smart row
Article being added to our Online Archive Incentive Today: Don and Shell end Smart row July-August 1999 After a bitter six year legal battle with Shell UK John Donovan has abandoned his claim against Shell UK. Donovan alleged that Shell stole his ideas for the Shell Smart loyalty scheme and initiated court proceedings in 1993. [...]
Oil giant stole my promotion idea, alleges businessman
OIL-giant Shell’s successful Smart card customer loyalty scheme was “pinched” from a confidential idea put forward by the man behind many of its earlier promotions, a High Court judge heard yesterday.
Shell faces court battle on its Smart scheme
Shell will this week defend a multi-million-pound law suit from sales promotion agency Don Marketing, which claims Shell stole its idea for the Smart loyalty scheme.
Sunday Business: Donovan takes Smart case against Shell to court
To highlight his current grievances, Donovan has mounted a high-profile campaign including the creation of an anti-Shell web-site, picketing of Shell HQ and annual meetings. He has also placed ads in the trade press warning Shell Smart partners that they, too, could face legal action.
DON’T GET MAD GET EVEN
And so to Mr Donovan, director of a marketing company whIch used to think up ideas for Shell. Convinced that some of his ideas seemed to have been adopted by Shell as its own, he started to complain to the company.
RESEARCH: ENSURING THE RIGHT RESPONSE
The first scratch-card promotion to appear on-pack has been one of the most innovative promotions of the past few years. The game, on the back of a Cinzano bottle label, gave consumers the chance of winning a share of £100,000.
Daily Telegraph: Donovan’s beef with Shell on-line
Daily Telegraph 11 June 1998 Donovan’s beef with Shell on-line HIGH court writs have been filed against Shell UK by independent marketing man John Donovan. Through his company, Don Marketing, he claims that in 1989 he was the brains behind Shell’s Smart Card scheme. Donovan is alleging a breach of confidence and breach of contract [...]
Marketing Week: SHELL SMART LEGAL NOTICE
SHELL SMART LEGAL NOTICE John Alfred Donovan (Plaintiff) and Shell UK Limited (Defendant) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CHANCERY DIVISION CH 1998 -D- No. 2149 Any business contemplating becoming a partner in the SMART consortium scheme is hereby notified that any such participation may involve an infringement of rights, rendering it liable to legal [...]
MARKETING WEEK: Shell: Don is more than ‘disgruntled’
MARKETING WEEK MAGAZINE LETTERS Shell: Don is more than ‘disgruntled’ Picture Caption: Shell: Don Marketing’s battle over the Smart concept is its fourth High Court action against the UK company I am writing in response to Alan Mitchell’s article about the key to loyalty card survival (MWMay 14). He mentioned Shell’s aspiration to reach 8 [...]
Marketing Week: ASA dragged into Shell UK Smart battle
Having been caught red-handed stealing our intellectual property, Shell settled by making a substantial payment to us. Frankly we were shocked at the arrogance, lies and subterfuge.
Shell in legal row
“Any impartial assessment of the evidence would show that the case is indefensible on Shell’s part,” says Don Marketing managing director John Donovan. “This is a matter of principle. One of the largest companies in the world shouldn’t need to steal ideas from promotional agencies.
Sales Promotion Magazine: Shell in legal row
Sales Promotion Magazine May 1998 Shell in legal row SP agency’s claims over Smart Card cause troubled water for oil company A promotional agency is suing Shell (UK) for allegedly breaching copyright on the concept idea Shell used to create its multipartner Smart Card loyalty scheme. The allegation follows two previously unpublished out- of-court settlements [...]
Donovan brings new Shell writ
John Donovan, the sales promotion agency managing director who is suing Shell for copyright infringement over its Smart Card loyalty scheme, has served another writ on the oil company, this time for libel.


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