2.06.2007

In Other Outrageous News

Feb. 5, 2007, 10:11PM
TBS, marketing agency agree to pay $2 million for ad scare

By KATIE ZEZIMA
New York Times

BOSTON — The Turner Broadcasting System and a Manhattan marketing agency have agreed to pay $2 million in restitution and other costs for a Cartoon Network advertising campaign that set off fears of terrorism, Massachusetts' attorney general, Martha Coakley, said Monday.

The agency, Interference Inc., carried out the campaign, which placed electronic advertisements for the show Aqua Teen Hunger Force in public places, including a Boston overpass where it was mistaken for a bomb last Wednesday.

The companies will pay $1 million to reimburse federal, state and local agencies for their response to the events, which led officials to close a highway, bridges and subway stations for hours after dozens of the devices were found in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.

The companies will pay an additional $1 million in "goodwill funds" that will be divided among the agencies for emergency response training and equipment and public outreach.

"It is our hope that these funds will cover not only the expenses incurred," Coakley said, "but they will also enable our communities to enhance homeland security or pursue other important community initiatives."

The settlement shields the companies from civil or criminal liability by state and local agencies, she said.

Criminal charges are pending against the two men who put up the advertisements, Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, of Bhttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifoston. Coakley said her office was talking to the men's lawyers about possibly settling the charges against them.

In a joint statement, Turner Broadcasting and Interference Inc. apologized for the campaign.

...And if you hadn't heard about the 'Hoax Devices' that had spent 3 weeks in sight of these same Bostonians who suddenly believed them to be bombs, http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giftake a look at these links:

The Original News Story
The Insanity as Misinterpreted by Fox News
Engadget's Story

and for more information, just Google "Aqua Teen Hunger Force"

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