Sinclair vows legal action against anyone engaging in "trade defamation"

[chomskysright]

http://www.sinclairaction.com/

(there are four associated stories associated with Staples backing down re: pulling off their adds from Sinclair stations: check them out; here is one)

Sinclair vows legal action against anyone engaging in "trade defamation"

January 7, 2005

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is pleased to note that in a press release issued on January 6, 2005 and as posted on their website (www.staples.com), office supply retailer Staples, Inc. states that it intends to continue to advertise on Sinclair television stations and has no policy against advertising in Sinclair news programming. The Staples' statement also notes that political agendas do not drive its media buying decisions and that its media buying process with Sinclair "has recently been misrepresented by an organization with no affiliation to Staples."

[Qutzupalotl]

1. Well they're a fine group to be talking about defamation.

Swiftboat lies and whatnot.
:grr:

[Just Me]

2. "Trade defamation"? WTF is that?!?!

While Bush tries to limit citizens' civil suits, his corporate constituent makes up new civil suits?

[warrens]

7. Remember cattlemen suing Oprah

And Texas strawberry growers suing for slander? Both cases in Texas, of course. Both got laughed out of court, eventually.

[Just Me]

14. No. I have no recollection of that,...bull,...um,...crap.

[MisterP]

16. it's news and study results

"GM corn not the Second Coming," "Eli Lilly may not be God," "Study showing this-or-that causes immediate death suppressed."
Basically, anything that "hurts trade."

[Liberty Belle]

3. Time to pound Staples with calls.

It sounds like Sinclair let loose the 800 pound gorilla: threat of a lawsuit. I wonder who Staples donates to politically? Might this have been a trap to set up Media Matters?

[Downtown Hound]

4. Trade defamation

I have a degree in journalism and studied media law, and I've never heard that term before. Talk about pulling a legal term out of your ass.

[leesa]

5. So they are being FORCED to advertise on Sinclair??

What kind of dirty blackmail is this?

[canadianbeaver]

6. Screw em' and keep up the boycotts......n/t

[ally_sc]

8. apparently as usual i missed the opertive word...

didn't staples themselves say they would not use sinclair broadcasting...will reread.

[daleo]

9. Trade defamation - sounds like rightwing spin for boycott.

I am sure the right-wing would love to make organized consumer boycotts illegal, if they could. They might maintain a loophole for religious fundamentalists.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. SLAPP suit..they can go fuck themselves

[TreasonousBastard]

11. OK, here it is...

Staples' plain vanilla "we just do business, not politics" statement. It's exactly what one would expect from a large busness trying to avoid controversy. It is possibly, coming from the corporate PR flacks, complete bullshit, but it does get them off the hook for the time being.


http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=PR_96244&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=660052

"Statement about Staples media buying and Sinclair Broadcast Group

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--To clarify that Staples does not have a policy against advertising on Sinclair Broadcast Group news, Staples has the following statement:

Our media buying process with Sinclair Broadcast Group stations has recently been misrepresented by an organization with no affiliation to Staples. Staples regularly drops and adds specific programs from our media buying schedule, as we evaluate and adjust how to best reach our customers. We do not let political agendas drive our media buying decisions.

Staples does not support any political party. We advertise with a variety of media outlets, but do not necessarily share the same views of these organizations or what they report. As we have done for a number of years, Staples will continue to advertise on Sinclair Broadcast Group stations."

[blue agave]

12. So, is a Staples boycott in order ? nt.

[proudbluestater]

15. Office Depot shopping for me!

[tsuki]

13. Sinclair, you got burned by your own bias. GET OVER IT.