MANILA, APRIL 24, 2013 – After deliberations yesterday, the Goafest Super Jury proclaimed that complaints concerning approximately 18 or 19 award-winning ads could not be entertained post-festival, and that all winners would retain their Abby trophies.
The Super Jury, which was set up to investigate complaints of creative plagiarism and was composed of the chairs of the 11 categories falling under the ambit of the Creative Abbies, explained that the awards process must be respected and that sufficient time had already been provided for industry members to voice their objections regarding the winners.
Consequently, said Awards Governing Council (AGC) Chairman Shashi Sinha, none of the agencies behind the Abby-winning ads being investigated were to lose their awards. The decision of the Super Jury is final and binding on the AGC.
The decision means that BBDO and DDB Mudra, both of which had been stripped of their awards, will now keep their prizes and Print Grand Prix winner McCann Erickson is safe from having its award overturned.
In the future, Sinha added, rules concerning reviews are to be further clarified and will be stringently adhered to.
