R/GA, which bills itself as the agency for the digital age, is extending its reach internationally. The New York-headquartered shop has opened a London office which will serve as the firm’s main European hub, administering full-service offerings in digital marketing and advertising.
“London was a natural choice for us, not only in catering to client needs, but also due to the history of creativity and digital expertise that has flourished in the city,” said Bob Greenberg, R/GA chairman/CEO. “Given the vibrancy of the market, our goal is to establish a strong footprint in Europe and maintain the consistent high quality of work for which we are known.”
R/GA gained a presence in London last year when it won the global Nokia Nseries account. Last week the Mobile Marketing Association honored R/GA’s Nokia Bluetooth campaign for best use of mobile marketing in a product/services launch. The Bluetooth-enabled posters, which appeared early this year in London Underground stations, invited commuters to download a Superfuture (London’s premier online city guide) map to their handsets. Once downloaded, the maps highlighted surrounding area hot spots, demonstrating the power of Nokia’s mobile multimedia computers.
The new office will follow R/GA’s mantra of integrating creative, technology and media, in addition to extending practices in mobile marketing, experience design, and universal planning. “Following the success of the Bluetooth campaign and together with ongoing support from the New York office, we are looking forward to adding another dimension [with the U.K. expansion] to R/GA’s rich working culture,” said Chris Colborn, the agency’s worldwide creative director.
The London office will also support other R/GA clients and build on local clientele. R/GA London expects to have approximately 20 people in the fold by early 2007. Previously, R/GA had been sharing office space in the U.K. with sister IPG agencies.
New 2025 Laws Hit Hot Topics–From AI In Movies To Social Media
Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another.
Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges.
On the entertainment and social media fronts there are several notable state laws taking effect, including:
Hollywood stars and child influencers
California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use.
Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so.
Social media limits
New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges.
A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February.
A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult... Read More