Re/code
Since October, Uber drivers in New York have received texts or emails from the ride-hail company that say plainly: Stop advertising for other companies or you'll be deactivated. The other company Uber is referring to? Its newest New York City competitor, Juno. The advertisement in question? Juno's home screen.
Fortune
Walt Disney has severed ties with one Chinese toy manufacturer making products featuring its characters over reported violations of labor standards, and warned another about issues with its factories. The revelations came in a public note addressing concerns over working conditions in factories licensed by Disney to make branded toys.
Complex
Universal has inked a deal with Nintendo to bring the brand to life at theme parks across the globe. Though a specific launch date hasn't been announced, fans might be able to hit up a real-life Nintendo world earlier than the rumored 2020 grand opening at Universal Studios Japan, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Automotive News
Tesla has revamped "dozens" of locations to display the Powerwall home battery and informative graphics on energy storage. The additions coincide with Tesla Motors' acquisition of solar energy company SolarCity. The Powerwall home battery stores solar energy for use at night and in cases of power grid failure.
Brand Channel
Patagonia saw a record-breaking $10 million in Black Friday sales-five times its own expectations-and will donate every cent toward helping save the environment. The outdoors retailer already donates 1% of its daily global sales to environmental organizations since 1985, amounting to $7.1 million in its latest fiscal year.
Drinks Business
San Francisco based beverage firm Ficks & Co has launched a Kickstarter campaign, allowing users to purchase limited edition holiday gift packs featuring their vitamin and electrolyte infused, cocktail mixers. The mixers have seen rapid growth in California's Bay Area since their summer release. This $25 variety pack is their first foray into national distribution.
BBC
A Heinz beans ad showing how to beat out a song on tin cans has been banned in the UK. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that mistakes might be made that could lead to people cutting their hands or fingers. Kraft Heinz denied that the ad posed a risk. The ASA said it was unlikely that consumers would be as proficient as the actors at twirling the cans around.
Marketing Land
According to an analysis from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, Amazon has sold sold 5.1 million Echo devices in the U.S. since its launch in 2014. The firm also states that awareness of the virtual assistant unit has dramatically increased in the past year. Roughly 70% of Amazon customers are now aware of Echo, says CIRP.
Business Insider
Apple has stopped disclosing how much it spends on advertising. The company's latest annual report, filed with the Securities and Exchange commission in October, made no mention of its ad expenses. The decision not to disclose ad spend for the full-year 2016 comes a year after Apple's advertising expenses rose 50% to a record $1.8 billion in 2015
Creativity
Spotify has kicked off its largest ever global campaign with a major, data-driven outdoor push in which it bids goodbye to 2016 with the sign-off, "Thanks 2016, it's been weird." The campaign began rolling out in the U.S. Nov. 28. It was developed in-house by Spotify's internal creative team in New York, supported by insight from its regional teams around the world.