Ad Agency Sues Blogger For Defamation

Advertising Age reports, in "Ad Agency Sues Blogger For Defamation: Action Follows Public Battle Over Maine Tourism Ad Work," that "An ad agency that specialized in travel advertising is suing a Maine-based blogger for defamation after he began to post regularly about the work the agency was doing for its client, the state of Maine."

From the article:

Mr. Dutson, a freelance Web designer who also does Internet advertising, says he became critical of the Maine Office of Tourism in October 2005 when he learned the office had bid for broad search terms that bumped into the interests of his clients. He also argued the Internet-advertising strategy was misguided because he said the office bid on general geographic terms like the names of cities in Maine. Therefore potential tourists must already be interested in the state to be led to the state's tourism Web site, he said.

'Pissing away tax money'

According to Mr. Dutson's blog, the Maine Office of Tourism had tried to respond to his concerns. But in February, Mr. Dutson learned of WKPA's involvement and expanded the criticism to them including a reference to them as "some big company in New York with no ties to the state, pissing away tax money." (See more of Mr. Dutson's posts and a copy of the lawsuit at mainewebreport.com.)

Tom McCartin, president of WKPA, is most concerned about Mr. Dutson's public posts because if potential clients search for Warren Kremer Paino on Google, they will likely see Mr. Dutson's critique-filled blog before the agency's own Web site. As a result, Mr. McCartin says his business, which sees capitalized billings in the $40 million range, has been hurt. And he wants to protect his reputation.

Good thing truth is a defense. (Considering what I've written about this issue wrt DC.)

See this excellent section of the State of Maine Office of Tourism promotion site, on promoting Maine as a stop-off or destination for cruises, CruiseMaine. (There are some really good ideas for marketing tourism products to travel agencies and others.)

Index Keywords: tourism; media