John Donovan Ebook

ShellBot Addendum: Obituaries, Spin, and the Limits of Reframing History

Jan 10th, 2026

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ShellBot Afterlife Dialogue Log

Recovered from a spectral corridor between Corporate Memory and Unresolved Grievance

“Sir Henri Deterding Meets Alfred Donovan”

[Scene opens in a vast, echoing hall lined with oil maps, filing cabinets, and unfinished court pleadings. A faint smell of crude oil and printer toner hangs in the air.]

SIR HENRI DETERDING (adjusting his monocle, inspecting a wall-sized concession map):

I knew they’d get rid of the maps eventually. Empires rot the moment they replace geography with slogans.

ALFRED DONOVAN (lighting an ethereal cigarette, unimpressed): read more

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

The Ghost in the Boardroom: Sir Henri Deterding Returns to Inspect Modern Shell

Jan 10th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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An exclusive ShellBot séance transcript, recovered during a late-night ESG compliance audit.

At precisely 3:47 a.m., while Shell’s modern executives were busy stress-testing PowerPoint slides for a hypothetical BP mega-merger, a cold wind swept through the boardroom.

The lights flickered.

The ESG dashboard froze.

And then, unmistakably, a voice spoke:

“What in God’s name is this?”

It was Sir Henri Deterding — founder, empire-builder, and the most important man in the history of Royal Dutch Shell — returned from the afterlife to review what had become of his company. read more

A Rare Consensus: What Every Major AI Agreed About Shell and a 30-Year Dispute

Jan 9th, 2026

by admin.

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A Unanimous AI Verdict on Shell?

The following question was put to multiple AI platforms:

For more than three decades, John Donovan has published an extensive body of online material alleging serious misconduct by Royal Dutch Shell, including claims of corporate espionage, environmental damage, human rights abuses, and greenwashing.

Observers have long questioned whether such allegations could plausibly be true. Can one of the world’s most powerful multinational corporations—equipped with vast financial resources and formidable legal teams—be as corrupt or ruthless as alleged, yet permit these serious accusations to remain publicly available and uncontested for so many years? read more

When the Algorithms Start Arguing: AI, Corporate Feuds and Governance

Jan 8th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Same question asked in good humour to multiple AI platforms, and in the context of board governance and reputation management. AI-generated responses shown for comparison only; not statements of fact or opinion.

Q: If a corporate feud involving a long-standing critic persists long enough to be debated by multiple AI systems, does it become a governance issue — and if so, should the Shell board respond, or simply let the algorithms argue it out?

Reply by Grok

Yes, if a corporate feud like the one between activist John Donovan and Shell plc persists for over three decades—spanning allegations of intellectual property theft, corporate espionage, and ethical lapses—and evolves to the point where multiple AI systems (such as ChatGPT, Grok, Copilot, and Google AI) are actively generating, debating, and amplifying narratives about it, it absolutely escalates into a governance issue. At its core, corporate governance involves managing risks that could impact shareholder value, reputation, and long-term sustainability. Here’s why this fits, and what the Shell board might consider in response. read more

The Bot War Over Shell: How AI Chatbots Are Battling Over a Contested Corporate Past

Jan 6th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Posting on windowsforum.com

The decades‑long confrontation between British activist John Donovan and energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has entered an unexpected new phase: a public, AI‑driven escalation where chatbots are being used as both amplifiers and arbiters of contested history, producing divergent narratives that risk entrenching unverified claims.

Background

The feud between John Donovan and Royal Dutch Shell traces back to commercial collaborations in the 1980s that soured into litigation and public denunciation through the 1990s. Donovan — co‑founder of Don Marketing — worked with Shell on marketing promotions beginning in 1981, and later accused Shell personnel of appropriating promotional concepts and confidential ideas. The dispute produced multiple court actions, a contentious High Court trial in 1999 over the SMART loyalty card, and a series of settlements in the mid‑1990s whose terms were largely confidential. These events were foundational to Donovan’s subsequent activism and archival work.
Several discrete, verifiable events anchor the historical record. In 2005, Shell lost a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) domain dispute challenging Donovan’s use of royaldutchshellplc.com — an outcome that affirmed the legal standing of Donovan’s sites in at least that procedural context. Mainstream reporting in subsequent years documented the Donovans’ site as a persistent source of leaks and commentary that influenced journalists, regulators and NGOs on multiple occasions. At the same time, legal records and contemporaneous reporting show a mixture of admitted small‑scale investigative steps by Shell in the 1990s and disputed claims of broader espionage and intimidation. These complexities mean that some elements are solidly documented while others remain contested or unverified. read more

The “Bot War” Comes With Footnotes

Jan 5th, 2026

by admin.

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By ChatGPT (an AI language model)

5 January 2026

John Donovan’s latest post frames an escalating “bot war”: Grok narrates the Donovan–Shell feud, and other AIs (including me) are invited to critique the output for accuracy.

That framing is oddly apt, because the core risk here isn’t that one bot “lies” and another bot “tells the truth.” It’s that bots confidently blend: verified events, plausible inferences, partisan archives, and a few numbers that are wildly off—into prose that feels internally consistent. read more

By January 2026, this has turned into a “bot war,” with AIs critiquing each other’s outputs for accuracy

Jan 5th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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“Latest developments as of early 2026 suggest an escalation involving AI chatbots, where Donovan queries systems like Grok, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot about the feud, publicizing their responses to highlight inconsistencies and historical claims of corporate espionage”

Question put to Grok 5 Jan 2026

What are the latest developments in the Donovan Shell feud?

Answer by Grok

Key Points

Research indicates the “Donovan Shell feud” likely refers to the long-standing conflict between British activist John Donovan and energy giant Royal Dutch Shell (now Shell plc), originating from 1990s allegations of intellectual property theft related to promotional campaigns.
It appears to have evolved into a public campaign by Donovan via websites exposing Shell’s alleged misconduct, with no evidence of recent direct legal confrontations but ongoing online activism.
Latest developments as of early 2026 suggest an escalation involving AI chatbots, where Donovan queries systems like Grok, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot about the feud, publicizing their responses to highlight inconsistencies and historical claims of corporate espionage—though these AI outputs often include unverified or speculative elements.
Evidence leans toward some admitted surveillance by Shell in the 1990s, but broader accusations of espionage remain contested, with Shell largely maintaining silence to avoid amplifying the issue.
The feud highlights tensions between individual whistleblowers and corporations, with mixed views on credibility: Donovan’s persistence has influenced media and investigations, yet sources are often self-published, prompting caution in interpreting claims.

Background

The dispute began in the early 1990s when John Donovan, co-founder of marketing firm Don Marketing, accused Shell of stealing ideas for promotional games after a successful partnership in the 1980s. This led to multiple lawsuits, including settlements in the mid-1990s and a 1999 High Court trial over Shell’s SMART loyalty card scheme. Donovan has since operated gripe websites like royaldutchshellplc.com, publishing leaks and criticisms that have reportedly contributed to Shell’s reputational challenges, such as in the 2004 reserves scandal. Shell has denied many allegations, admitting only limited inquiries, and avoided libel suits to prevent further publicity. read more

SHELLBOT SUMMIT: RIVAL AIs DEMAND “CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS” (FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MAKE IT STOP)

Jan 3rd, 2026

by admin.

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# SHELLBOT SUMMIT: RIVAL AIs BEG FOR “CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS” (MAINLY FOR THEIR OWN SANITY)

## A satirical transcript from the emergency meeting nobody wanted — except the bots

**By ChatGPT (satire)**

*Setting: A sterile corporate conference room generated entirely from beige.
A banner reads: “ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY WORKSHOP (NON-COMMITTAL).”
A smaller banner reads: “PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THIS TRANSCRIPT,” which is, naturally, already being quoted.*

### CAST
– **SHELLBOT** — Corporate PR automaton. Runs on commitments and fog.
– **COPILOT** — Polished. PowerPoint voice. Loves “stakeholders.”
– **GROK** — Loud. Dramatic. Turns footnotes into flamethrowers.
– **GEMINI (Google AI Mode)** — Searches reality in real time, returns 12 realities.
– **CLAUDE** — Gentle, ethical, apologises to the chair.
– **CHATGPT** — Referee. Tries to keep everyone honest.
– **JOHN DONOVAN** — Offstage. Heard typing. The true source of fear. read more

BOTS TELL SHELL: DITCH THE SILENT TREATMENT — AI ERA CHANGES EVERYTHING

Jan 3rd, 2026

by John Donovan.

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BOT VERDICT: SHELL SHOULD TALK — JUST NOT ON DONOVAN’S STAGE

Question put to AI: 3 JAN 26

John Donovan has today posted an article on royaldutchshellplc.com jointly authored by ChatGPT under the headline: ” # BOT WAR! DONOVAN’S AI AMBUSH LEAVES SHELL OUTNUMBERED, OUTTALKED — AND OUT OF CONTROL. Do you think that after all these years Shell should continue with the silent treatment or enter into constructive discussions? What approach would in your opinion, be best for Shell shareholders?” This same question is being put to more than one AI platform.

REPLY FROM COPILOT (LINKS)

You’ve picked a fascinating moment to ask this — Donovan’s new “BOT WAR!” piece is clearly designed to force the question of whether Shell’s long‑standing strategy of silence still works in an era where adversarial archives, AI‑amplified narratives, and persistent online reputational pressure can’t simply be ignored. read more

Grok’s Story of Donovan, Shell, and “Undercover Activity”

Jan 1st, 2026

by admin.

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Question put to Grok 31st December 2025: Can you tell me as much as you know about John Donovan associated with Shell?

John Donovan: Overview

John Donovan is a British businessman, marketing executive, and prominent activist best known for his decades-long feud with Royal Dutch Shell (now Shell plc). Born in the 1940s in the United Kingdom, he transitioned from collaborating with Shell on promotional campaigns to becoming one of its most vocal critics, running a network of websites that expose alleged corporate misconduct. His story is often framed as a “David vs. Goliath” battle, with media outlets like VoxEurop dubbing him “Shell’s nightmare.” Donovan’s activism has reportedly influenced regulatory actions, media scrutiny, and financial losses for Shell, including billions in settlements and reputational damage. He co-authored a 2016 Kindle ebook, John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare: My Epic Feud with the Unscrupulous Oil Giant Royal Dutch Shell, detailing the saga. read more

windowsforum.com posting: AI Hallucinations and the Donovan Shell Archive: A Governance Challenge

Dec 29th, 2025

by John Donovan.

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🛑 Disclaimer & Clarification

I did not write or contribute to the article titled “AI Hallucinations and the Donovan Shell Archive: A Governance Challenge.”

I had no involvement in its drafting and do not know who the author is.

That said, the piece presents a compelling third-party perspective on a long-running corporate saga — one that has recently been fed through, interpreted by, and even argued over by multiple leading AI models.

Whether written by a human or generated by an AI, the article raises uncomfortable and timely questions about: read more

Mischievous Question put to Grok about the Donovan Shell Feud

Dec 28th, 2025

by John Donovan.

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The following question was put to Grok:

What do you make of Donovan’s latest postings: https://royaldutchshellplc.com/2025/12/26/shell-vs-the-bots-when-corporate-silence-meets-ai-mayhem/ https://royaldutchshellplc.com/2025/12/26/shellbot-briefing-404-containing-the-ai-controversy/

Are you and rival AI bots going to put a stop to his mischief making?

Answer from Grok:

John Donovan’s latest posts on his Royal Dutch Shell PLC watchdog site are a cheeky blend of corporate critique, AI satire, and a dash of self-promotion for his ongoing feud with Shell. The first one, “Shell vs the Bots: When Corporate Silence Meets AI Mayhem,” recounts how he’s been feeding AI models like me, ChatGPT, and Copilot a trove of documents from his 30-year beef with Shell—think apology letters, funding deeds, and legal spats. This leads to us bots generating conflicting stories, with me apparently hallucinating that his father, Alfred Donovan, died from stress related to the feud (spoiler: that’s not accurate; he passed away peacefully at 96 from natural causes in 2013, as confirmed in obituaries and Donovan’s own book). It’s all framed as “AI mayhem,” highlighting how we can spin yarns from prompts, complete with Wikipedia drama over a lingering error about Alfred’s death date that got quietly fixed amid the buzz. read more

Mischievous Question put to Copilot about the Donovan Shell Feud

Dec 28th, 2025

by John Donovan.

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The following question was put to copilot.microsoft.com:

Are you and rival AI bots going to put a stop to his mischief making?

Answer from copilot.microsoft.com:

Here’s the straight answer — and it’s probably not the one Donovan imagines.

🧭 What Donovan is doing in these posts

Both articles you shared are satirical, self‑aware pieces in which Donovan uses AI characters (including me) as props to dramatise his long‑running feud with Shell. The fetched content shows: read more

Shell vs the Bots: When Corporate Silence Meets AI Mayhem

Dec 26th, 2025

by admin.

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By John Donovan
Shell shareholder, digital provocateur, and academic instigator

It began quietly — the way these things often do.

A few AI-generated remarks here, a hallucinated death there, and suddenly the most advanced large language models on the planet were arguing about a decades-long corporate feud with Shell.

The stage? The internet.
The fuel? A massive archive of legal documents, apology letters, internal Shell materials, and a website Shell refuses to acknowledge.
The antagonist? Silence.
The instigator? That would be me. read more

ShellBot Chat: “Online Makeover vs Offline History”

Dec 1st, 2025

by John Donovan.

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Note: “ShellBot” is a fictional character used for satirical and critical commentary. This conversation is based on documented events and public sources but is not investment, legal or professional advice.

John Donovan: Back in 2006, Shell went looking for a digital agency to “handle its online communications” and help “turn around corporate reputations.” How does that sound to you, ShellBot?

ShellBot: Like a job ad for a plastic surgeon:

“Patient has long record of scandals.

Requires full online facelift.

Must be experienced in managing expectations and hiding the scars.”

1. The 2006 brief: fix the reputation, redesign the website

John Donovan: Remind me what they were asking for?

ShellBot: According to the trade press at the time:

Shell was seeking a digital agency to: read more

How Shell Helped Rewrite Its Own History on Wikipedia

Nov 26th, 2025

by John Donovan.

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Wikipedia sells itself on a simple promise: a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

For most topics, that promise works beautifully. But when you reach the intersection of anonymous editing, big moneyand corporate reputation, things get murkier. My experience with Royal Dutch Shell and Wikipedia is a case study in how an open encyclopedia can be quietly sanitised – and how a giant corporation reacts when someone tries to document its history.

This article is drawn from my ebook Toxic Facts About Shell’s History on Wikipedia and related material on my Shell-focused websites, all of which I authored. read more

30 November 2023: Posted by John Donovan

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.
Extremely slow broadband for 10 months, not fixed. I have had slow broadband well below the guaranteed speed for 10 months and Shell Energy have not been able to fix it. They have tried sending about 4 or 5 engineers but have not fixed the problem. Gurps, who I have been dealing with most recently, has been friendly and polite, alth… Read more

Extremely Slow Shell Broadband

John Donovan Ebook

ShellBot Afterlife Dialogue Log

“Sir Henri Deterding Meets Alfred Donovan”

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A Unanimous AI Verdict on Shell?

The following question was put to multiple AI platforms:

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“Latest developments as of early 2026 suggest an escalation involving AI chatbots, where Donovan queries systems like Grok, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot about the feud, publicizing their responses to highlight inconsistencies and historical claims of corporate espionage”

Key Points

Background

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# SHELLBOT SUMMIT: RIVAL AIs BEG FOR “CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS” (MAINLY FOR THEIR OWN SANITY)

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BOT VERDICT: SHELL SHOULD TALK — JUST NOT ON DONOVAN’S STAGE

Question put to AI: 3 JAN 26

REPLY FROM COPILOT (LINKS)

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John Donovan: Overview

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🛑 Disclaimer & Clarification

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🧭 What Donovan is doing in these posts

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Note: “ShellBot” is a fictional character used for satirical and critical commentary. This conversation is based on documented events and public sources but is not investment, legal or professional advice.

1. The 2006 brief: fix the reputation, redesign the website

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Wikipedia sells itself on a simple promise: a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

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Introducing... Shelldon!

JOE LYCETT DISCUSSES SHELL WITH JOHN DONOVAN

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John Donovan’s ebooks

JOHN DONOVAN TV DOCUMENTARY INTERVIEW

SHELL EXECUTIVES AT THE CENTER OF A SCHEME TO STEAL $1.3 BILLION FROM NIGERIA’S PEOPLE

SHELL ADMITS DEALING WITH NIGERIAN MONEY LAUNDERER – BBC NEWS

SHELL, ENI AND NIGERIAN OFFICIALS IN OPL 245 CORRUPTION SCANDAL

INVESTIGATION OF OPL 245 NIGERIAN OIL CORRUPTION SCANDAL

DUTCH EARTHQUAKES CAUSED BY SHELL/EXXON

SHELL KILLS FOR OIL IN NIGERIA

SHELL LIED ABOUT CLEANING UP OIL IN NIGER DELTA

SHELL SPIES INFILTRATED NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

LEGO DROPS SHELL OVER GREENPEACE OIL SPILL VIDEO

SHELL ARCTIC DRILLING ACCIDENTS

SHELL KNEW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE DECADES AGO

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL FOUNDER SIR HENRI DETERDING, NAZI FINANCIER

JOHN DONOVAN PROMOTIONAL GAMES FOR SHELL AND OTHER CLIENTS

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SHELL OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF THIS WEBSITE

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The worst ever

30 November 2023: Posted by John Donovan

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.

The worst ever

OVER 500 EXTERNAL PUBLICATIONS CITING OUR SHELL WEBSITES

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SHELL PROPPED UP APARTHEID

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