Self-cast in the role of David to Shell's Goliath, Donovan has successfully pursued earlier legal actions against Shell for infringement of his intellectual property; he also won an interim hearing against the oil giant for alleged libel.
Smart Card
DEBRIEF: SHELL IN HIGH COURT SUIT OVER SMARTCARD SCHEME
Forecourt Trader: Don’s Smart writ
Shell UK is being sued for allegedly breaching copyright on the idea it used to create Shell Smart Card, its loyalty programme.
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL TRACK RECORD IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WITH THE DONOVAN’S
At the commencement of the mediation, Shell Legal Director, Richard Wiseman, grandly announced that he had been asked to apologise to us on behalf of Shell UKs board of directors for the way we had been treated.
INCENTIVE TODAY MAGAZINE: New clash for Don Marketing and Shell
Shell has reportedly made previous out-of-court settlements to Don Marketing running to several hundred thousand pounds over its 'Make Money', 'Nintendo' and 'Now Showing' forecourt promotions.
Marketing Week: Shell faces new threat to Smart card scheme
Shell has been warned by its solicitors not to speak to the press following Donovan's defamation action.
Shell in legal row over Smart Card
Update 7 July 2008: Shell settled the claim three weeks into the trial paying all of John Donovans legal costs. Donovan also received a payment as part of the top secret settlement, the terms of which, as Shell General Counsel Richard Wiseman confirmed in an email to John Donovan on 17 June 2008, were not even disclosed to the Judge, Mr Justice Laddie who approved the settlement and made ill informed comments believing he had been given the true facts. A so-called Joint Press Release actually issued by Shell Media, contained a false account of the settlement designed to deceive Shell stakeholders, the media and the public. In other words a typical example of Royal Dutch Shell intrigue, deception and cover-up, in this instance personally approved by the then Group Chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, who, prior to the court proceedings, sent a letter to John Donovan containing a threat. His wife, Lady Judy Moody-Stuart, personally intervened in the litigation prior to the trial. A copy of her extraordinary letter and subsequent post card message sent to Alfred Donovan at the commencement of the trial was passed to the Judge.
Don ends legal proceedings against Shell UK
Donovan first sued Shell in 1993 over allegations that the oil company and forecourt retailer stole his ideas for a number of sales promotions. Three of the claims were settled out of court.
Oil giant stole my promotion idea, alleges businessman
OIL-giant Shell's successful Smart card customer loyalty scheme was "pinched" from a confidential idea put forward by the man behind many of its earlier promotions, a High Court judge heard yesterday.
Loyalty Magazine: Shell Smart copyright battle gets nastier
DM has had a business relationship with Shell stretching back almost two decades and has been responsible for many of Shell's most successful promotions, both in the UK and overseas, including the Make Money game in the UK, Ireland and Singapore.
Don Marketing posts warning about Shell
Don Marketing, the sales promotion agency alleging Shell breached copyright on the idea it used to create the Shell Smart card scheme, has placed an advertisement in this week's Marketing Week warning businesses they may face legal action if they join the scheme.
Below-the-line agency Don Marketing is taking Shell to court
Marketing Magazine
23 April 1998
STOP PRESS COLUMN: Below-the-line agency Don Marketing, which is taking Shell to court over the copyright of the Shell Smart Card, is booking full-page ads in newspapers over the next two weekends to alert Shell shareholders to its dispute with the company. The ads will direct people to a specially set-up Web site, on which the agency has posted full details of its claim that Shell stole its ideas for the loyalty scheme.
Don Marketing booking full-page ads to alert Shell shareholders to its dispute with Shell (Original Article)