Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Gets Away With Controversial Ads

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and its ad agency TBWA/London heaved a collective sigh of relief when the Advertising Standards Authority decided not to ban their controversial PSP advertising campaign.

If our English friends would recall, Sony used a series of suggestive and naughty straplines in their campaign – “Strong language and scenes of a sexual nature here”, “Your girlfriend’s white bits here”, and “Saucy emails won’t get you fired here”. Add to that the posters bearing the line “Take a running jump here”. They’re harmless when plastered all over retail shops, but when they’re on Manchester’s Piccadilly Train Station, there’s no telling what the ad can do. Worst case scenario, commuters might just have the sudden urge to throw themselves in front of oncoming trains. No need to worry though as the ads were already pulled out from the station.

Despite the suggestive ads, Sony only received 45 complaints that the ads encouraged violent and anti-social behavior among young people and that references to sex were offensive.

The Advertising Standards Authority decided not to impose a ban on Sony ads, claiming that even though some of the locations of the ads were unacceptable, they contained no explicit language or images likely to cause widespread offence or harm to children.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and its ad agency TBWA/London heaved a collective sigh of relief when the Advertising Standards Authority decided not to ban their controversial PSP advertising campaign.

If our English friends would recall, Sony used a series of suggestive and naughty straplines in their campaign – “Strong language and scenes of a sexual nature here”, “Your girlfriend’s white bits here”, and “Saucy emails won’t get you fired here”. Add to that the posters bearing the line “Take a running jump here”. They’re harmless when plastered all over retail shops, but when they’re on Manchester’s Piccadilly Train Station, there’s no telling what the ad can do. Worst case scenario, commuters might just have the sudden urge to throw themselves in front of oncoming trains. No need to worry though as the ads were already pulled out from the station.

Despite the suggestive ads, Sony only received 45 complaints that the ads encouraged violent and anti-social behavior among young people and that references to sex were offensive.

The Advertising Standards Authority decided not to impose a ban on Sony ads, claiming that even though some of the locations of the ads were unacceptable, they contained no explicit language or images likely to cause widespread offence or harm to children.