AD Agencies
Supreme court mandates ad self-declaration certificates to ensure creative compliance
Mumbai: The Supreme Court of India has issued a new directive requiring self-declaration certificates for all advertisements released after 18 June 2024. This mandate aims to ensure that advertising content is free from misleading claims.
The directive exempts existing advertisements from the self-declaration requirement, applying only to new ads. Failure to comply could result in legal repercussions.
mFilterIt, a global leader in brand safety and ad fraud prevention solutions, empowers brands to protect their brands, maximize campaign effectiveness, and achieve their marketing goals in a safe and transparent digital environment. The company’s TickR, an AI-powered solution, simplifies creative compliance by offering automated checks for adherence to various guidelines, including those set by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Surveyor General of India, brand-specific guidelines, and advertising platform best practices.
TickR automates compliance monitoring, ensuring all ads are reviewed within minutes. This saves advertisers valuable time and resources while guaranteeing adherence to best practices, ultimately leading to higher returns on investment (ROI).
“This new mandate underscores the importance of transparency and responsible advertising practices,” said mFilterIt CEO & co-founder Amit Relan. He further added, “Advertisers who fail to comply risk legal repercussions and damage to their brand reputation. mFilterIt goes beyond regulatory compliance by offering influencer monitoring. This feature helps identify potential digital advertising and brand guideline violations like ad disclosure mention, etc.”
By leveraging TickR, advertisers can safeguard their brand reputation, optimize creative performance for better results, and avoid legal implications from non-compliance. Furthermore, TickR streamlines and automates the ad creative compliance checking process before rollout and makes the self-declaration certificate submission process seamless with help build trust and transparency in the advertising ecosystem.
AD Agencies
Publicis Groupe to acquire 160over90 from WME Group
Deal aims to build data-led platform linking brands, fans and culture at scale
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire 160over90 from WME Group, in a move that signals a major push into the fast-growing world of sports and culture-led marketing.
The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, will see Publicis combine its existing Publicis Sports capabilities with 160over90’s global footprint to create what it calls a unified, end-to-end platform connecting brands with audiences through sport, entertainment and culture.
Founded as a division of WME Group, 160over90 has built a reputation for delivering high-impact campaigns across some of the world’s biggest sporting moments, including the Super Bowl, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. With over 670 employees across the US, UK, EMEA and Apac, the agency works with global brands to create experiences that resonate both on and off the field.
The acquisition reflects a broader shift in marketing, where sport has become a central pillar of premium media. With the global sports media market estimated at $150 billion and sponsorships crossing $90 billion, brands are increasingly looking for more integrated ways to engage audiences.
Publicis is betting that a data-led approach will be the differentiator. By integrating 160over90 with its own capabilities, including the Epsilon identity ecosystem and Influential network, the company aims to offer marketers a seamless way to plan, activate and measure campaigns across media, sponsorships, live events and creator partnerships.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “After building our industry-leading position in identity resolution, commerce, and creators, our next big bet is sport. In the age of AI, it has become one of the most high-value channels for clients.”
He added that combining 160over90’s expertise with Publicis’ data and technology stack would help “connect brands to fans in ways that are both meaningful and measurable”.
Echoing the sentiment, Publicis Connected Media CEO Dave Penski said, “Sport has become the most powerful intersection of culture, commerce and community,” highlighting the growing need to treat sports marketing as a measurable channel rather than just brand-building.
As part of the deal, Publicis will also enter into a strategic partnership with WME Group, enabling closer collaboration on talent, content and brand partnerships. WME Group president Mark Shapiro said the tie-up would open up new opportunities for talent and brands to scale their ambitions globally.
Post acquisition, the combined Publicis Sports entity will report to Suzy Deering, while Robbie Henchman will remain with WME Group to oversee the ongoing partnership.
The move builds on Publicis’ recent investments in the space, including acquisitions of Adopt and Bespoke in 2025 and a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises, underscoring its intent to dominate the intersection of sport, culture and commerce.
As brands chase both attention and accountability, Publicis’ latest play suggests the future of sports marketing may be less about moments alone and more about measurable impact at scale.
