Royal Dutch Shell Plc .com Rotating Header Image

Don Marketing

John Donovan, Shell’s nightmare: Genesis

Sep 18th, 2017
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Extracts from the ebook “John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare” (now available on Amazon websites globally)

In 1979, our company, Don Marketing supplied promotional games that were used to promote petrol sales on the forecourts of most petrol brands in the UK, including Shell.

In 1981, we moved into a contractual relationship with Shell as a result of a presentation I made at Shell-Mex House in The Strand, the then London HQ of Shell UK Limited.

I put forward a proposal for Shell to launch a legal version of a promotional game called Make Money that Shell had abandoned in the 1960‘s out of concern that it was in breach of UK lottery laws. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell defamatory posters, leaflets and press releases attacking Donovan

Sep 15th, 2017
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

By John Donovan

My families falling out with Shell took place over two decades ago.

Some indication of the degree of acrimony can be gauged from the content of posters Shell put on public display on 23 September 1998 at the Shell Centre in London, specifically targeting my father and me. I have never heard of a multinational corporation doing anything like this before or since.

This is what the posters said:

YOU MAY BE HANDED A LEAFLET OUTSIDE SHELL CENTRE BY MR ALFRED DONOVAN, FORMALLY OF A COMPANY CALLED DON MARKETING UK LIMITED.  YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT JOHN DONOVAN, A DIRECTOR OF DON MARKETING UK LIMITED, MR ALFRED DONOVAN’S SON, HAS ISSUED A WRIT AGAINST SHELL UK CLAIMING THAT HIS COMPANY INVENTED THE SMART LOYALTY CARD PROGRAMME.  MR DONOVAN’S ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED BY SHELL UK AND DISCUSSED IN DETAIL WITH MR DONOVAN AND HIS SOLICITORS. THE CLAIM IS BEING VIGOROUSLY DEFENDED.  AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, MR DONOVAN HAS MADE SOME OFFENSIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT SHELL UK COLLEAGUES. WE REJECT SUCH ALLEGATIONS ABSOLUTELY AND ARE WHOLLY CONFIDENT THAT OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE ACTED IN THIS MATTER AT ALL TIMES IN GOOD FAITH AND IN LINE WITH OUR LONG STANDING BUSINESS PRINCIPLES. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc.com in Chapter 11

Jan 21st, 2017
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Over 50 books contain references to our Shell focussed websites, or our founders Alfred and John Donovan.

One example is a book published in 2010 entitled “United States Trademark Law.”

Chapter 11 of the book is devoted to the website royaldutchshellplc.com

The following are extracts. The entire chapter can be read here.

What is stated is not entirely accurate. We sued Shell four times for stealing ideas and Shell settled ALL of the claims, each time involving a confidentiality agreement that Shell later contravened. We also successfuly sued Shell twice for libel. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Wikipedia: royaldutchshellplc.com 04 April 2016

Apr 4th, 2016
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Replica of the Wikipedia article: royaldutchshellplc.com

04 April 2016 Version

The article text for the Wikipedia article royaldutchshellplc.com is displayed below for the above-indicated date – the content of which may be confirmed by Wikipedia records

Royaldutchshellplc.com
Type of site
 Gripe site
Available in Originates in English; translation available
Owner Alfred and John Donovan
Created by John Donovan
Revenue None
URL http://royaldutchshellplc.com/
Commercial No
Registration Not required

royaldutchshellplc.com is a Royal Dutch Shell gripe site and blog operated by Alfred and John Donovan, who engaged in several marketing campaigns with Shell during the 1980s and early 1990s. The father and son duo believe Shell violated intellectual property agreements and filed several lawsuits against Shell prior to starting several websites critical of Shell, including royaldutchshellplc.com. The site has been oft quoted in news sources and is known for its activities as an Internet leak and forum for Shell whistleblowers. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Wikipedia: royaldutchshellplc.com 18 March 2015 Version

Mar 18th, 2015
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Replica of the Wikipedia article: royaldutchshellplc.com

18 March 2015 Version

The article text for the Wikipedia article royaldutchshellplc.com is displayed below for the above-indicated date – the content of which may be confirmed by Wikipedia records

Royaldutchshellplc.com
Type of site
 Gripe site
Available in Originates in English; translation available
Owner Alfred and John Donovan
Created by John Donovan
Revenue None
URL http://royaldutchshellplc.com/
Commercial No
Registration Not required

royaldutchshellplc.com is a Royal Dutch Shell gripe site and blog operated by Alfred and John Donovan, who engaged in several marketing campaigns with Shell during the 1980s and early 1990s. The father and son duo believe Shell violated intellectual property agreements and filed several lawsuits against Shell prior to starting several websites critical of Shell, including royaldutchshellplc.com. The site has been oft quoted in news sources and is known for its activities as an Internet leak and forum for Shell whistleblowers. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Wikipedia: royaldutchshellplc.com 02 February 2014 

Feb 2nd, 2014
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Replica of the Wikipedia article: royaldutchshellplc.com

02 February 2014 Version

The article text for the Wikipedia article royaldutchshellplc.com is displayed below for the above-indicated date – the content of which may be confirmed by Wikipedia records

Royaldutchshellplc.com
Type of site
 Gripe site
Available in Originates in English; translation available
Owner Alfred and John Donovan
Created by John Donovan
Revenue None
URL http://royaldutchshellplc.com/
Commercial No
Registration Not required

royaldutchshellplc.com is a Royal Dutch Shell gripe site and blog operated by Alfred and John Donovan, who engaged in several marketing campaigns with Shell during the 1980s and early 1990s. The father and son duo believe Shell violated intellectual property agreements and filed several lawsuits against Shell prior to starting several websites critical of Shell, including royaldutchshellplc.com. The site has been oft quoted in news sources and is known for its activities as an Internet leak and forum for Shell whistleblowers. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Don Marketing blockbuster promotions for Shell (images)

Dec 23rd, 2013
by John Donovan.
No comments yet
A promotional game devised for Shell by Don Marketing

A promotional game devised for Shell by Don Marketing

Screen Shot 2013-09-27 at 12.15.08

SHELL MASTERMIND GAMEPIECE

Screen Shot 2013-09-27 at 13.24.30

Screen Shot 2013-09-27 at 12.21.30

Screen Shot 2013-10-04 at 15.41.46

Screen Shot 2013-09-27 at 12.25.37

Screen Shot 2013-10-09 at 16.40.31

Screen Shot 2013-07-06 at 14.11.51

screen-shot-2016-11-01-at-22-07-34

Don Redhead, Director of Don Marketing

Don Redhead, Director of Don Marketing

Screen Shot 2015-10-02 at 14.16.47

Screen Shot 2015-10-02 at 14.19.24

Screen Shot 2015-10-02 at 15.12.55

Screen Shot 2015-10-02 at 17.53.20

Screen Shot 2015-10-02 at 18.04.02

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell speaks out over Don Marketing

Nov 18th, 2013
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Screen Shot 2013-11-18 at 17.08.11

Forecourt Trader: Shell speaks out over Don

Page 5 of April 1995 Edition

Text from article

Shell has broken its vow of silence and issued a strongly-worded statement to defend itself against what it sees as “the growing number of untrue and often offensive allegations being made by Don Marketing”.

Shell is defending legal actions which allege that it wrongfully used two forecourt promotions devised by Don Marketing. Previously, the oil company has remained silent, preferring to “resolve the dispute in the courts which Shell believes is the proper forum for a commercial dispute”. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell unethical, incompetent and greedy

Oct 10th, 2013
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Screen Shot 2013-01-25 at 01.00.51In 1996, I received an unsolicited letter of apology from Dr Chris Fay, the Chairman & Chief Executive of Shell U.K. Limited for the way we had been treated by Shell. It is printed below. This came at the climax of 3 high court actions we brought against Shell for breach of confidence and breach of contract, all settled in our favour. He was not amused by our whole page announcements in trade magazines of surveys about Shell involving over 1,000 Shell retailers in the UK.

By John Donovan

In 1996, I received an unsolicited letter of apology from Dr Chris Fay, the Chairman & Chief Executive of Shell U.K. Limited for the way we had been treated by Shell. It is printed below. This came at the climax of 3 high court actions we brought against Shell for breach of confidence and breach of contract, all settled in our favour. 

Some time previously I had a nearly 2 hour meeting with Dr Fay at Shell Mex-House – just the two of us, served tea by his butler. He was not amused by our whole page announcements in trade magazines of surveys about Shell involving over 1,000 Shell retailers in the UK. I was a co-founder of the Shell Corporate Conscience Pressure Group, which commissioned the surveys.
 read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Alfred Donovan 1917 – 2013 RIP

Jul 27th, 2013
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Screen Shot 2013-07-27 at 18.49.33My father, Alfred Donovan, passed away earlier today in Colchester Essex, after a short illness.  “Don”, as he was known to friends and family, served in the UK Regular Army – Royal Corp of Signals (Royal Berkshire Regiment) – for 12 years. From December 1933 until March 1946 he served in the UK, Palestine, Egypt and India, and he fought in the Burma campaign in World War 2. He was a successful businessman operating a chain of garages in East London for many years, before co-founding the sales promotion agency Don Marketing, which had many blue chip clients, including Guinness, Whitbread, BP, Conoco and Royal Dutch Shell. Nearly 10 years ago he was the co-founder of this website. He was everything that anyone would wish their father to be. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Wikipedia: Royaldutchshellplc.com 03 FEBRUARY 2013

Feb 3rd, 2013
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Replica of the Wikipedia article: Royaldutchshellplc.com

03 FEBRUARY 2013 VERSION

The article text for the Wikipedia article royaldutchshellplc.com is displayed below for the above-indicated date – the content of which may be confirmed by Wikipedia records

Royaldutchshellplc.com
Type of site
 Gripe site
Available in Originates in English; translation available
Owner Alfred and John Donovan
Created by John Donovan
Revenue None
URL http://royaldutchshellplc.com/
Commercial No
Registration Not required

royaldutchshellplc.com is a Royal Dutch Shell gripe site and blog operated by Alfred and John Donovan, who engaged in several marketing campaigns with Shell during the 1980s and early 1990s. The father and son duo believe Shell violated intellectual property agreements and filed several law suits against Shell prior to starting several websites critical of Shell, including royaldutchshellplc.com. The site has been oft quoted in news sources and is known for its activities as an Internet leak and forum for Shell whistleblowers. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

United Kingdom: a lone fighter against Shell

Apr 21st, 2012
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

ARD TV in Germany – the German equivalent of BBC TV – on Saturday, 21 April, broadcast a feature about me and this website (royaldutchshellplc.com) as part of the EUROPA MAGAZINE programme.

By John Donovan

ARD TV in Germany – the German equivalent of BBC TV – on Saturday, 21 April, broadcast a feature about me and this website (royaldutchshellplc.com) as part of the EUROPA MAGAZINE programme.

LINK TO VIEW FILM SEGMENT

Click here to read a translation of the narration.

During the film, *Oleg Mitvol, the Russian Environmental Minister in 2006, confirmed what he has said before on the subject  of Sakhalin II i.e. that he got the evidence from me (Donovan) that cost Shell its majority stake in the project (and many billions of dollars). read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung article on Royal Dutch Shell Plc .com

Mar 20th, 2012
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Christoph Giesen

I am described by Christoph Giesen as having a stately stomach and accurately combed hair over a bald head. So we know that the journalist in question is unbiased, fearless, and truthful.

BY JOHN DONOVAN

On Saturday 17 March 2012 the largest broadsheet German daily national newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, published a whole page article by the journalist Christoph Giesen about this website royaldutchshellplc.com, which it correctly says has cost Shell billions of dollars.

SEE: Royal Dutch Shell’s No1 Enemy

The article is displayed below divided into two images, each of which can be enlarged by clicking on the image. PDF and English translation versions will be published.

I am described by Christoph Giesen as having a stately stomach and accurately combed hair over a bald head. So we know that the journalist in question is unbiased, fearless, and truthful. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Royal Dutch Shell’s No1 Enemy

Mar 19th, 2012
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

The article says that the content of an email sent to President Pution in Moscow was explosive and that the leaked information, which cost Shell its majority stake in the Sakhalin 2 project, came from me, John Donovan.

By John Donovan

On Saturday 17 March 2012 the largest broadsheet German daily national newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, published a whole page article by the journalist Christoph Giesen about this website royaldutchshellplc.com, which it says has cost Shell billions of dollars.

The headline is “Konzernfeind No.1” freely translated as: “The Company’s (Shells) Enemy No.1”

Mr Giesen made several trips to meet me in the UK during the course of preparing his article and had sight of numerous documents, including Shell internal communications and my related email correspondence with President Putin and the so-called Kremlin attack dog, Oleg Mitvol. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Group (Shell Group) Enemy No.1”

Mar 17th, 2012
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

Non-professional translation (mainly by Google) of a whole page article authored by Christoph Giesen and published by the daily broadsheet German newspaper  Süddeutsche Zeitung (Munich). The article was published on 17 March 2012 under the headline: “Konzernfeind No.1” – translated as: “The Group (Shell Group) Enemy No.1”.

John Donovan has added some comments inserted in red text. 

A link to a pdf of the original article in German is provided at the foot of this page. 

Is Shell wishes to supply a professional translational, that will be substituted for the current version? read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gripesites: How to Gut Goliath by Becoming an Interactive Hub of Dissent

Mar 9th, 2012
by John Donovan.
No comments yet

By John Donovan

GRIPE WEB SITES

At long last, someone has written an invaluable guide on how ordinary individuals can publicly criticize the rich and powerful, including multinational corporations, by using the Internet.

My father and I pioneered the use of websites for exposing Royal Dutch Shell.  Indeed, the author, Robert Eringer, uses our experience as a case study for how David can tackle Goliath.

Moreover, Eringer relates his own case study:  himself against a whole country–the Principality of Monaco.  ([email protected].) read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
← Earlier Posts Newer Posts →
Comment Rules

  • Please show respect to the opinions of others no matter how seemingly far-fetched.
  • Abusive, foul language, and/or divisive comments may be deleted without notice.
  • Each blog member is allowed limited comments, as displayed above the comment box.
  • Comments must be limited to the number of words displayed above the comment box.
  • Please limit one comment after any comment posted per post.