Microsoft under fire for ad graffiti

<p>SYDNEY: Microsoft has sparked controversy on Sydney streets and </p><p>could be slapped with thousands of dollars in fines with to its latest </p><p>marketing ploy for the Xbox gaming machine - street graffiti. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The Xbox will only hit Australian shores in March next year, but </p><p>marketing for the console is already flooding Australian streets. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Microsoft is spending US$500 million to market its Xbox globally, </p><p>but the company's attempts to target consumers with creative advertising </p><p>have given it a great deal of bad press in Australia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Microsoft has sprayed hundreds of green crosses, depicting the green and </p><p>black Xbox logo, on Sydney footpaths. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Its outdoor strategy has irritated local councils which insist that they </p><p>should not have to waste taxpayers' money to clean up Microsoft's </p><p>mess. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Spin Communications, the public relations company that co-ordinated much </p><p>of the campaign, was reported as saying the logos would "wash off after </p><p>a while". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>This explanation has not appeased South Sydney Council, which is </p><p>planning to slap a $300 fine on the perpetrators to cover the </p><p>cost of removing each logo in its area. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Sydney City Council was also fired up. A spokesperson for the council </p><p>said ratepayers have paid millions of dollars for new granite paving, </p><p>which should not be used for commercial exploitation. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The Xbox launched in the United States last month, with the entire stock </p><p>of 300,000 units selling out within three hours. Late last month in </p><p>Sydney, the company announced the Xbox would launch in Australia on </p><p>March 14, 2002 and retail for $649. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Desperate to break into the gaming market and steal marketshare from </p><p>main rival Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft is reportedly losing between </p><p>US$125 and $150 on each machine sold. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>