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1. This Sunday's Oscar broadcast is coming to you live, from the mall. When Eastman Kodak Co. filed for bankruptcy protection, that posed a problem for the Academy Awards, which for years conferred its glitz on the brand through a $74-million (U.S.) naming-rights deal for the Los Angeles theatre that hosts the event. The building's owner, CIM Group, wanted to keep the Kodak Theatre name at least for this year's broadcast. But in bankruptcy court last week, a judge ruled that Kodak could end the 20-year deal for naming rights that it inked in 2000. The Oscar website now says the event will be "live from the Hollywood & Highland Center," the shopping complex where the theatre is located.

2. The Oscars for advertising is approaching fast. When the ad world descends on Cannes in June to vie for the Lions International Festival of Creativity – some of the top awards in the business – the juries will include a handful of Canadians. They include Angus Tucker, creative director and partner at Toronto agency John St., who will be part of the jury in the film category (one of the five categories where Canadians won gold last year). The cyber jury will include Rethink creative director Dre Labre. Other notables include Sunni Boot, CEO of ZenithOptimedia, on the media jury; design category judge Barbara Jacques, creative director at Cossette; Saatchi and Saatchi Canada executive vice-president Brian Sheppard, who will be a promo judge; Leo Burnett's Kelly Zettel on the direct jury; and DDB creative director Denise Rosetto, on the radio jury.

3. As if men didn't already have enough trouble with their aim, Sears Optical has created a distraction at some urinals in Quebec. Collaborating with Newad, it set up boxes attached to the wall above the urinals, showcasing Le Fabuleux Cirque de Puces, or flea circus. Inside the boxes on adorable little stages, invisible forces propelled a tiny chariot, swung on trapezes, and supposedly hit a bull's eye when fired from a wee cannon. Bathroom visitors were then filmed squinting at the exhibits and laughing. The hook? If you had the right set of glasses you just might be able to see the entertainment properly.

4. Is Canada Goose getting fleeced? The Canadian manufacturer of trendy goose down winter coats says so. It has filed a lawsuit against budget clothing retailer International Clothiers Inc., claiming trademark infringement because the logos on its "super triple goose" coats allegedly look similar to the circular Canada Goose logo that is a distinctive patch on every coat. The suit claims International is selling coats similar to Canada Goose's at lower cost and quality, designed to confuse customers into thinking they are purchasing Canada Goose parkas. A statement of defence has not yet been filed with the Federal Court.



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Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 27/03/24 6:40pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
KODK-N
Eastman Kodak
+5.03%4.8

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