After losing an initial court request to pull Verizon’s “Map” commercials, AT&T has created its own ad and website claiming the carrier offers a better “3G experience” than its rival. The new ads and website featuring actor Luke Wilson tout “When you compare, there’s no comparison. AT&T.”
The website, TruthAbout3G.com, follows the denial by a federal judge of AT&T’s request that Verizon’s ads be yanked because they are ‘misleading.’ In Wednesday’s ruling from Atlanta, GA., U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Batten, Sr., wrote that some viewers might “misunderstand” the ads, “but that doesn’t mean they are misleading.”
Batten described many TV viewers as “semi-catatonic” and the ads possibly “sneaky.” AT&T may have a second chance to convince the judge when lawyers for the Atlanta-based carrier and Verizon meet Dec. 16. Verizon claims the lawsuit is without merit.
Although AT&T lost the first round in court, it appears to be seeking to win in the court of public opinion. The new ads and website describe AT&T’s 3G network, which the carrier claims to cover 230 million U.S. residents. Unmentioned is 3G coverage area or signal quality.
For its part, Verizon’s lawyers responding to AT&T’s charges in court documents said its “Map” ads are factual and “truth hurts.”
“AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon’s ‘There’s A Map For That’ advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true and the truth hurts,” the New York-based company responded. Verizon claims AT&T’s smartphone customers have suffered because of its rival’s lack of sufficient 3G infrastructure.
[Via AppleInsider, iClarified and Atlanta Journal-Constitution
