ASA slams HP's ad claims

A leaked report from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has supported Kyocera's claim against Hewlett Packard over misleading advertising. (PC Dealer, 29 May).

A draft recommendation sent to HP's advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi said the advertisers were unable to support the claim that a photocopy in an insert was the same quality as one from a standard copier.

The ASA blasted HP for claiming that printers were more reliable than photocopiers and has instructed the company not to repeat the claim unless it can produce better evidence. Neither HP nor Kyocera were available for comment.

Meanwhile, in its monthly report for July 1996, the ASA has upheld a number of complaints against IT companies.

Berkshire-based distributor Aztech UK was criticised over a magazine advertisement for a multimedia upgrade kit and a telecommunications package, neither of which turned out to be available.

Another company, ASR Computers, was reprimanded for claiming that one of its products offered 'unrivalled levels of power and flexibility.' The ASA felt that these claims were unsupported.