A pristine white letter was sent out, showing the recipient how things would look in his or her company if they worked together with Pronto. The tiny QR code placed in the bottom corner of the blank letter leads to a landing page where the recipient can directly order a quote or make an appointment.

Responsible at Pronto Reinigung, St. Gallen: Hans Herzog (Managing Director). Responsible at Agentur am Flughafen, Altenrhein: René Eugstair (creative direction); Dominique Rutishauser (art direction); Valeria Hörler (graphics), Patrick Lindner (text); Miriam Egli (consulting).

The case has stirred up controversy: Urs Mannhart, a 39-year-old writer and journalist from Bern, is facing accusations of plagiarism from a professional colleague. In his novel "Bergsteigen im Flachland", published in May, he makes reference to reportage by reporter Thomas Brunnsteiner in the form of several motifs and characters. With his "great reportages", the Austrian is a source of inspiration for him, Mannhart wrote on the literature blog Literaturport.de in August. Brunnsteiner has nothing to do with this praise: He accuses the Bernese of "theft of intellectual property", as he explained on Monday afternoon when asked by the news agency SDA. Mannhart is "adorning himself with other people's feathers".

The Zurich Commercial Court has now decided to uphold Brunnsteiner's action for precautionary measures. This means that the Secession publishing house must stop distributing the novel until the main proceedings and may not advertise it. Mannhart himself is prohibited from reading from the work. This was announced by the publisher in a communiqué on Monday. The court is not commenting on the case.

Brunnsteiner feels vindicated
 
Brunnsteiner sees his accusation confirmed in the verdict, as he said. He now has one and a half months to prepare a lawsuit. However, he "naturally" hopes that the publisher will now respond to his claims for compensation on the basis of this first judgment, which would make legal proceedings superfluous. Before going to court, the reporter had submitted his demands to the Secession publishing house, including compensation of 30,000 francs. The publisher described the demands as "excessive and unrealizable". Even after Brunnsteiner had made his accusations public, Mannhart had regretted his failure to explicitly name the sources and not mention his professional colleague in the foreword. Mannhart also publicly apologized to the Austrian. According to the plaintiff, there was no personal conversation between Brunnsteiner and Mannhart. For the reporter, one thing is clear: "I am the one who was robbed and I am entitled to compensation." As in the case of material theft, an apology is not enough in his case either.

Mannhart is shocked

According to the publisher, the Austrian objected to 114 text passages. The court took 6 of these into account in its judgment. As an example, the publisher cited the following sentence: "The Caspian Sea is as big as Germany." Brunnsteiner's report said: "The Caspian Sea may be as big as Germany." With the ruling, the court failed to recognize that "Bergsteigen im Flachland" is a "fictional work that, like almost every other fictional book, also incorporates material and facts from non-fictional works". Mannhart himself made similar comments on Literaturport.de. He was "in shock", the author wrote on Monday. "I ask myself: should writers be forbidden in future to use information they find in newspapers and non-fiction books in their literary work?" He considers the ban on sales, advertising and reading to be "hair-raisingly disproportionate". In its press release, the publisher writes that it looks forward to the proceedings with confidence and hopes that Urs Mannhart will be fully vindicated.

Publisher sees lawsuit as a precedent

Even after Brunnsteiner had made his accusations public, Mannhart had regretted his failure to explicitly name the sources and not mention his professional colleague in the foreword. Before going to court, Brunnsteiner had submitted his claims to the Secession publishing house, including compensation of 30,000 francs. The publisher described the demands as excessive and unrealizable. In a press release on Monday, the publisher accused Brunnsteiner of trying to capitalize on Mannhart's work. This attempt is of fundamental importance and goes "far beyond the individual case". Thomas Brunnsteiner, who lives with his family in Lapland and is currently retraining as an engineer, could not initially be reached for comment. (SDA)

Image: Secession-verlag.com
 

In the month of August, the medium of the Internet shone with an increase of eight index points 744 (736) compared to the previous month and thus remains extremely volatile in terms of advertising pressure. The other media show a downward trend overall: After a sustained upward trend, TV loses two index points 648 (650), while radio suffers a further decline of 4 index points 409 (413). Digital out-of-home media also recorded a loss of four index points 736 (740). With a loss of one index point 52 (53), advertising pressure in the teletext segment remains in constant decline. The overall market remained at the previous month's level with 237 index points, while advertising pressure in the electronic media as a whole fell by two index points to 647 (649).

After growth of 3.9 percent in 2013, the trend is upward by 5.3 percent in 2014 and 2015 and 5.9 percent in 2016. Accordingly, global advertising investment will reach USD 523 billion before the end of this year. At 17.1 percent, the Internet will be the fastest-growing advertising medium. It will benefit in particular from improved technologies that make online advertising cheaper, easier and more effective. Growth will also be fueled by a spectrum of companies that goes far beyond traditional media houses and includes digital specialists, technology companies and smaller direct customers.

Among other things, Internet advertising is becoming attractive due to improved interactive and attention-grabbing advertising formats, the significant expansion of programmatic buying platforms and their targeting capabilities in almost all major markets, and the dynamic development of social media (growing 29.9 percent annually worldwide) and mobile (growing 67 percent this year).

"Digital communication is also driving the market in Germany, as was seen not least at Dmexco, which this year presented more technological innovations than ever before," explains Frank-Peter Lortz, Chairman Zenith Optimedia (pictured). "Nevertheless, we must not think we can relax and watch the market grow here. In Germany, the advertising market is growing by 1.7 percent, driven by Internet advertising, which is up 10 percent. Online has outgrown its infancy, but before it reaches the next level, a number of questions still need to be answered. For example, the impact of online advertising beyond the click. We also need to exploit the potential of online moving images much more in Germany. The success of TV shows the potential of moving images. To date, however, the moving image inventory is limited and too expensive. Here, publishers in particular are called upon to provide more inventory. Furthermore, it will be a strategic task for all market players to develop mobile and, in particular, to improve the capitalization of inventory."

On a global level, mobile will grow seven times faster than desktop advertising this year, accounting for 20 percent of all online advertising investment. In 2013-2016, mobile will attract 42 percent of all additional advertising investment globally, followed by TV (30 percent) and desktop Internet (28 percent). Internet advertising as a whole, meanwhile, will account for 28.3 percent of global advertising investment in 2014, more than the combined share of newspapers and magazines (22.7 percent), and as much as 28.3 percent in 2016.

Despite this very positive development, the global advertising market forecast is 0.1 percentage points below the June forecast. This is due to the tensions between Russia and the West in the Ukraine crisis. Mutual sanctions are likely to cause Russia's advertising market to grow by only 1.7 percent, instead of the 6.9 percent expected in June. In Ukraine, the advertising market is expected to shrink by as much as 32.5 percent.
 

Buying a diamond bracelet for almost 40,000 Swiss francs at the Red Cross Gala or dashing across the sea to Portofino in a luxury yacht: "The Bellers" can afford anything. "Hair, nails, makeup - that's not a luxury, it's a necessity," says millionaire wife Irina Beller. She knows how to hook a wealthy man and doesn't want to keep it to herself. In the program "The Bellers," viewers can see the zeal with which Irina Beller has written her book "Hello Mr. Rich! - This is how I marry my millionaire". The project has its ups and downs, but in the end Irina Beller finds a publisher and is able to present her book at Zurich's luxury Dolder Hotel.

"Those who say money doesn't make you happy simply don't know where to go shopping!"

In the Italian coastal town of Portofino, Irina Beller forgoes glamor and blingbling for once. The cobblestones force even her to switch from her high heels to flip-flops. Irina Beller likes to live in luxury. "Whoever says money doesn't make you happy simply doesn't know where to go shopping!" the millionaire's wife is quoted as saying in a press release. The Bellers give unique and intimate insights into their private lives in their show. Irina Beller reveals how and why she has been leading such a happy marriage with her "Speckele" for 18 years already: "Mr. Rich always wants to see a whore behind closed doors". Clear statements that Walter Beller confirms: "She's not a tame house wife. She's more like a robber's treasure."

The audio-visual solution puts the spotlight on the four different Transit models as stars of the "working class". On the one hand, the diversity of the new Ford Transit range is dramatized and, at the same time, its versatile application possibilities are staged in a catchy groove. The radio spot picks up the groove and thus forms a stringent continuation of the theme from the audiovisual to the purely acoustic implementation.

Responsible at Ford Motor Company Switzerland: Marc Brunner (Manager Sales & Marketing CV); Marcello Varallo (Marketing Communications Manager). Responsible at Ogilvy & Mather: Jonathan Schipper (overall responsibility); Stephanie van Ophuisen (AD); Marcel Elsener (text); Michela Girola (consulting).

For this motif, the Swiss mountaineering specialist worked with the Zermatt mountain guides to draw a chain of lights along the Hörnligrat route. At many points along the chain, climbers wore the headlamps on their climbing helmets; at other points, pre-installed lamps were used by the local mountain guides. For the Zermatt mountain specialists, the action is a first test run for the anniversary year, from which the first press pictures have now been taken. They will illuminate the route from the Hörnli Hut to the summit for a month in 2015.
The official motif of the chain of lights will be the new key visual in the global Mammut ad campaign in 2015. The new ad motif will be used in the context of the anniversary as well as in the corresponding trade titles and various POS materials.

Responsible at Mammut: Verena Lambrecht (Head of Communication Design) Cordelia Müller (Visual Communication), Christian Gisi (Head of Marketing Communications), Christoph Schaub (Sponsoring). Responsible on agency side: Gabriel Peisker (CD), Daniel Kunz (AD), Rainer Neusius (consulting), Robert Bösch (photographer).

On September 19, the company congratulated the new Scotland on its independence in a newsletter. Wrongly, because around 55% of all Scots had voted for a united kingdom.

Made.com had obviously prepared two versions of the newsletter. The company immediately sent out a second one, this time with the right message, thus missing the chance to at least comment on the mishap in a humorous way and for once score points with a really spontaneous reaction. The result: a lot of international attention and just as much media scolding. (sis)

Autism is only really known to a few people in Switzerland. Accordingly, little understanding is often shown to those affected and their environment. Autismus Forum Schweiz has therefore commissioned Ruf Lanz with a long-term awareness campaign. In 2012/2013, campaigns such as "Diplomas for supposedly simple activities" or the film "Titanic with subtitles for feelings" drew attention to the multifaceted topic for the first time.

According to Nicole Ulrich-Neidhardt, President of Autismus Forum Schweiz, with measurable results: "The creative campaigns have made a decisive contribution to promoting understanding for people with autism. Autismusforumschweiz.ch, for example, recorded a doubling of the number of visitors during the campaign period, and on Facebook almost 5,000 people are now interested in the topic. In addition, the campaigns and the many awards proved to be door openers to the media. They were also worth an entry in Wikipedia."

Now Ruf Lanz is drawing attention to another facet of autism: everyday objects such as doorknobs, buckles or curtain tassels can hold children with autism spellbound for hours. Their detail-oriented perception often makes it difficult for them to grasp situations holistically. The creatives demonstrate children's fascination with everyday objects by presenting them in typical toy packaging. Children with autism see the world through different eyes. The four subjects are now being used online and offline in various formats and applications.

Responsible at Autismus Forum Schweiz: Nicole Ulrich-Neidhardt (President), Thomas Girsberger, MD (Vice President), Thomas Ulrich, MD, Edith Vogt-Hörler, Nikola Bellofatto (Board Members). Responsible at Ruf Lanz: Markus Ruf, Danielle Lanz (Creative Direction), Isabelle Hauser, Dave Schellenberg (Art Direction), Markus Ruf, Florian Birkner (Text), Colette Magnin (Consulting). Photography: Jonathan Heyer. Image editing: Felix Schregenberger. Styling: Josef Schäppi.

Publigroupe was informed in a press release on Friday that Swisscom has applied to the Cantonal Court of Vaud for a declaration of invalidity of the Publigroupe shares still held by the public due to the stake of over 98 percent acquired during the public takeover bid completed on September 5.

Swisscom had already announced this procedure in the prospectus for the public tender offer and in the media releases of August 29 and September 5, 2014 respectively. The procedure is expected to take around five to six months, after which the shares not tendered will be declared null and void. The minority shareholders will be compensated with 214 francs per share, which corresponds to the offer amount.

After Repucom gives exclusive insights into its current DACH study on Swiss sports as a benchmark, international (sports) celebrities meet top Swiss athletes and brands. In addition to program highlights such as the wrestling king Sempach Matthias, Anthony Edgar (IOC), Christoph Roost (Fifa), Martin Kallen (Uefa), Alex Frei (FC Luzern) and Philipp Hasenbein (Sportfive), renowned companies such as Sika, Credit Suisse, FC Basel, Twitter, Schweizer Sporthilfe and many more will present current success cases.

A highlight of the traditional Breakfast Session on November 20 is the insight into Coca-Cola's sponsorship strategy with footballer Xherdan Shaqiri. With campaigns such as "get-active" or the shoot for Coca-Cola Zero, the national player is the ideal testimonial. Christoph Reitmeir, brand manager Coca-Cola Switzerland, as well as Edin Shaqiri, player advisor, and Mathias Walther, marketing manager Xherdan Shaqiri, explain which goals are being pursued and how the marketing mix is being implemented.

In the Breakfast Session, the Swiss WWW company Brack.ch takes stock of its role as name sponsor of the Challenge League. What effect does the football partnership have on the online retailer's awareness and sales? A best-case scenario for other online companies? Markus Mahler, CEO Brack.ch, provides insights.

Zurich Insurance is entering its second season with its comprehensive sponsorship commitment in Swiss ice hockey. With platforms such as the newly launched Swiss Ice Hockey Cup, the traditional Spengler Cup or as a partner of all national teams, the insurer intends to emotionalize its brand. Urs Schwegler, Head of Sponsoring, Zurich Insurance Company, knows how successful this has been.
 

With Gina Buff, Bachelor as Multimedia Engineer and former Junior Consultant at Inhalt & Form and Bianca Frey, Bachelor of Applied Science in Management and former in the management of Sunrise, Ron Orp strengthens its interdisciplinary team. In Lausanne and Geneva, journalists & advertisers David Blanco, Jorge Perez, Evan Blanco and Guillaume Roud are new to the Ron Orp team. All staff members work in crowdfunding, editorial/projects, scouting and social media.