Comments on: My Coke blogger gets the boot http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/ Mon, 21 May 2012 18:31:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: What’s Buzzing? » Blog Archive » Tech Leader » Ross Allchorn » My Coke Blogger Gets the Boot http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25249 What’s Buzzing? » Blog Archive » Tech Leader » Ross Allchorn » My Coke Blogger Gets the Boot Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:50:55 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25249 [...] Now, in my opinion (for what it’s worth), I can fully understand the reason and motives behind Coca-Cola’s decision to request the site be taken down but I seem to be on the opposite side of popular opinion . Specifically on the blog …Read More [...] […] Now, in my opinion (for what it’s worth), I can fully understand the reason and motives behind Coca-Cola’s decision to request the site be taken down but I seem to be on the opposite side of popular opinion . Specifically on the blog …Read More […]

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Herman http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25248 Herman Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:35:44 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25248 The Coca Cola Company releases a statement on their reasons for taking action against MyCoke.co.za - http://www.marklives.com/wordpress/?p=374 The Coca Cola Company releases a statement on their reasons for taking action against MyCoke.co.za - http://www.marklives.com/wordpress/?p=374

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Pfangirl http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25247 Pfangirl Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:49:22 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25247 Hmmm, I always thought that blog was official. I guess you learn something new every day. Anyway, my 2 cents is that Jason should really have made it clear upfront that his blog was unofficial. That way people would not have been misled into believing their comments and poll votes were impacting on Coke and 5FM's decision making. I think this played a large role in the massive vocal disappointment when the craptacular Zero fest line-up was announced - site visitors had been led to believe they were making a genuine contribution to the decision making process... when in actual fact they weren't at all. This said, I agree with Marc's comment above, entirely. Coke should have created a functional, non-flashy news blog that fulfilled the information needs this blog did... I have little doubt that event organisers were referring to it to gauge public opinion, but they only really developed a problem with it when that public opinion turned so negative. Hmmm, I always thought that blog was official. I guess you learn something new every day.

Anyway, my 2 cents is that Jason should really have made it clear upfront that his blog was unofficial. That way people would not have been misled into believing their comments and poll votes were impacting on Coke and 5FM’s decision making. I think this played a large role in the massive vocal disappointment when the craptacular Zero fest line-up was announced - site visitors had been led to believe they were making a genuine contribution to the decision making process… when in actual fact they weren’t at all.

This said, I agree with Marc’s comment above, entirely. Coke should have created a functional, non-flashy news blog that fulfilled the information needs this blog did… I have little doubt that event organisers were referring to it to gauge public opinion, but they only really developed a problem with it when that public opinion turned so negative.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Ross Allchorn http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25245 Ross Allchorn Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:33:42 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25245 Michael, I will see if I can get my attorney to chime in here. He should be able to give a pretty solid point of view... if he has time :) Michael, I will see if I can get my attorney to chime in here. He should be able to give a pretty solid point of view… if he has time :)

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Michael Salzwedel http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25244 Michael Salzwedel Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:07:18 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25244 I have a few questions: How much should a company let individuals piggyback off their name/brand/events? How much (and how) should a company attempt to control the greater online conversation about their brand(s)? Is there really no such thing as bad publicity? Could Coke, theoretically, sue Jason for any and all advertising revenue he made from mycoke.co.za? It would be great if someone (who knows a thing or three about online law) could write a balanced and fact-based article about this. I think it could turn out to be a precedent-setting scenario. I have a few questions:

How much should a company let individuals piggyback off their name/brand/events?

How much (and how) should a company attempt to control the greater online conversation about their brand(s)?

Is there really no such thing as bad publicity?

Could Coke, theoretically, sue Jason for any and all advertising revenue he made from mycoke.co.za?

It would be great if someone (who knows a thing or three about online law) could write a balanced and fact-based article about this. I think it could turn out to be a precedent-setting scenario.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: SimonB http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25243 SimonB Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:20:19 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25243 Looking at this whole story, i am just sitting hear laughing. By forcing Jason to take down the site, coke is making more than 2000 Internet based fans really irritated. This is leading to alot of talk on the net, which isnt to sweet for coke at the moment, however it is getting the mycoke.co.za domain name mentioned everywhere.. now if coke finally decides - lets rather work with Jason - and does something that few companies have done before - I bet that blog will be even more popular than before.. lol Sometimes the legal way isnt always the best way. It's time Coke and Jason sat around a table and talked, without the legal sharks. I am sure this can be settled peacefully, as can clearly be seen by Jasons willingness to close the site. #Coke I hope you are reading this. Sit down and talk with Jason and keep mycoke.co.za the unofficial blog running ;-) Looking at this whole story, i am just sitting hear laughing. By forcing Jason to take down the site, coke is making more than 2000 Internet based fans really irritated. This is leading to alot of talk on the net, which isnt to sweet for coke at the moment, however it is getting the mycoke.co.za domain name mentioned everywhere..

now if coke finally decides - lets rather work with Jason - and does something that few companies have done before - I bet that blog will be even more popular than before.. lol

Sometimes the legal way isnt always the best way.
It’s time Coke and Jason sat around a table and talked, without the legal sharks. I am sure this can be settled peacefully, as can clearly be seen by Jasons willingness to close the site.

#Coke I hope you are reading this. Sit down and talk with Jason and keep mycoke.co.za the unofficial blog running ;-)

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Arné http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25242 Arné Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:56:07 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25242 Good to see another point of view as well. Good to see another point of view as well.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Marc http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25241 Marc Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:46:54 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25241 Hi Ross... Yeah I agree with you but I have two observations to throw into the mix... 1. All these digital media agencies are constantly trying to hype up viral campaigns and leverage off the interactivity of Web 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 whatever you want to call it. When its a success they use that phrase: "It grew a life of its own and reached every corner of the web." 2. If I understand this story correctly, Jason's site was established 2 Coke Fests back simply because Coke couldn't provide the service that SA visitors were looking for. As a result Coke got a lot of very positive feedback via the blog. This year Coke has come in for a lot of flak around the makeup of the event with some very derogatory comments being made... Now suddenly it's a problem... Yes I believe Jason "lived" a little dangerously setting up the blog in the first place but the reactions of Coke should then have been quicker, rather than wait till it was hitting them negatively. Hi Ross… Yeah I agree with you but I have two observations to throw into the mix…

1. All these digital media agencies are constantly trying to hype up viral campaigns and leverage off the interactivity of Web 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 whatever you want to call it. When its a success they use that phrase: “It grew a life of its own and reached every corner of the web.”

2. If I understand this story correctly, Jason’s site was established 2 Coke Fests back simply because Coke couldn’t provide the service that SA visitors were looking for. As a result Coke got a lot of very positive feedback via the blog. This year Coke has come in for a lot of flak around the makeup of the event with some very derogatory comments being made… Now suddenly it’s a problem…

Yes I believe Jason “lived” a little dangerously setting up the blog in the first place but the reactions of Coke should then have been quicker, rather than wait till it was hitting them negatively.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Bryan http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25240 Bryan Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:27:02 +0000 http://www.techleader.co.za/rossallchorn/2009/02/10/unofficial-mycoke-blogger-confronted/#comment-25240 Well you see thats the whole point, the OFFICIAL website cannot be found or if found it crashes and does not allow access. So what is the visitor to do? Well we go to a website that works, has the correct information and has more followers so we can discuss the event. The unofficial is far better than the official site. Coke needs to work with Jason on this one rather than shutting him down outright as he seems to know a lot more about marketing the event than the current team. Well you see thats the whole point, the OFFICIAL website cannot be found or if found it crashes and does not allow access. So what is the visitor to do? Well we go to a website that works, has the correct information and has more followers so we can discuss the event. The unofficial is far better than the official site. Coke needs to work with Jason on this one rather than shutting him down outright as he seems to know a lot more about marketing the event than the current team.

(Report abuse)

]]>