America’s second biggest mobile phone carrier, Verizon Wireless, is suing smaller rival, Alltel Corp., for allegedly making false statements about Verizon’s calling plans in its television advertisements.
According to the suit filed in federal court in Richmond, Verizon wrongly claims Alltel suggested that Verizon customers are required to extend their contracts when they change calling plans.The ads feature Verizon sales representatives trying to stop customers from switching to Alltel when they learn of Alltel’s supposedly more flexible contract policies.
According to FierceWireless Alltel can continue to show the ads
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/alltel-wins-first-round-verizon-ad-suit/2008-01-08
Alltel wins first round of Verizon ad suit
According to a statement from Alltel, late last week a U.S. District Judge in Richmond, Va. denied Verizon Wireless' motion for a temporary restraining order that would have required Alltel to stop airing its Anytime Plan Changes television advertisements (watch one of the ads right here).
The ads claim that Verizon Wireless and other carriers' customers have to extend their contracts when they change calling plans. While it's true that Verizon Wireless customers had to extend their contracts whenever they changed calling plans in the past, the carrier changed its policy and did away with the requirement effective October 7, 2007.
"We are very pleased with Friday's ruling and that the court recognized Verizon did not have grounds for the injunction it requested," said Laura Cook, senior vice president of marketing communications for Alltel Wireless.