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Nokia Corrects Erroneous Report & Confirms Halt to German Ads
June 15, 1998
Contrary to a report in a Berlin newspaper today, Nokia confirmed it is correcting billboards and brochures used in a German advertising program that had unintentional negative connotations to Jewish groups.
The ads quoted the old German proverb, "Jedem das Seine," which translates "everyone gets his due," on billboards and brochures. The phrase was objected to by the American Jewish Committee because the Nazis had appropriated the phrase for use at the entrance to the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II.
The Berlin-based Tageszeitung daily quoted a Duesseldorf-based Nokia student intern, unauthorized to speak for the company, who said the ads would not be stopped. That was incorrect. All billboards are being changed and distribution of the brochures has ceased. Nokia dealers in Germany are being directed to stop using the brochures already received. In addition, Nokia has issued and continues to issue apologies to those affected.
"Nokia sincerely regrets any offense we have caused by this unfortunate choice of phrase," Anssi Vanjoki, senior vice president - Europe and Africa for Nokia Mobile Phones, said. "We have taken strong corrective actions and we are reviewing approval procedures with our advertising agencies to ensure that such things will not happen again. We offer our sincere apologies to those affected."
Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is a broad-scope telecommunications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and PC monitors. With sales in 130 countries, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion) in 1997. Nokia, listed on NYSE (NOK.A), employs more than 38,000 people worldwide. Find us at www.nokia.com.
For additional information, please contact:
Americas:
Jim Bowman
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Nokia Americas
Tel. 972 342 9862
jim.bowman@nmp.nokia.com
Outside Americas:
Tapio Hedman
Vice President, Communications
Nokia Mobile Phones
Tel. 358 105 055 750
Tapio.hedman@nmp.nokia.com
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