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ANTITRUST DECIDES TO SUSPEND THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN ‘CHANGE TO VODAFONE-600 EUROS’ WORTH OF FREE PHONE CALLS’


PRESS RELEASE



PRESS RELEASE



ANTITRUST DECIDES TO SUSPEND THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN ‘CHANGE TO VODAFONE-600 EUROS’ WORTH OF FREE PHONE CALLS’

This decision follows the one on 4 August 2005
regarding TIM’s ‘1Xtutti’ [“1-for-all”] campaign



The Italian Competition Authority, at its meeting on 6 September 2005, decided to suspend temporarily the advertisements in the current promotional campaign ‘Change to Vodafone. You’ll receive 600 euros’ worth of free phone calls’. In the Authority’s view, even at first glance, such advertising does not indicate, in a clear and immediately perceptible manner, the real conditions attaching to the promotion. In the documentation relating to the proceedings, the Authority finds elements serious enough to justify an emergency intervention under the law. Regulations now require the advertiser to suspend the advertisements immediately: otherwise, a fine of from 10,000 to 50,000 euros may be imposed.
The complaint leading to the withdrawal of the advertisements was lodged by the Movimento Difesa del Cittadino [Citizens’ Defence Movement].
The Authority’s ruling follows an analogous decision of 4 August this year regarding TIM Italia’s advertising campaign to promote ‘1Xtutti’ [“1-for-all”] and, in particular,  "1xtutti all'estero" [“1-for-all abroad”], a product still offered, upon notification by a consumer. On that occasion too, the Antitrust Authority decided for the temporary suspension of the advertising which, upon initial examination, did not indicate in a clear and immediately perceptible manner the effective cost and duration of the advertised offers.

Rome, 8 September 2005