Protests killing Lenovo's Olympic buzz?

Lenovo used a boatload of resources to win the contest to design the Olympic torch for this summer's Games, and what's the world's reaction? Derision and anger.

Of course, it has nothing to do with Lenovo or the torch design and everything to do with China's human rights record, its crackdown on protesters in Tibet, and its ongoing support of Sudan's government.

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at how Lenovo's $100 million-plus marketing blitz as one of the official sponsors of the Games held in its own backyard could actually be a major blunder from a brand perspective.

Lenovo executives apparently expected some protests, but were "caught off guard" by the animosity the torch was met with during the traditional relay, particularly in London, Paris, and San Francisco. But Lenovo still has several months to go before the Games begin, and the company is adamant its association with the Games and with China won't hurt its aspirations of becoming a global PC brand name on the level of Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

See the Journal story for more.

[Laserdisc]

Lenovo coercion?

They may have known sponsorship would bring negativity to themselves but I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese govt leaned on them a bit to invest in Olympic marketing.

[allenjs]

China's Fault?

You state as if it is fact that the protests have "everything to do with China's human rights record"

What exactly did China do wrong? I saw video of "compassionate" Tibetan monks lighting Chinese women and children on fire, slashing chinese shopkeepers with swords, and so on. All of this was documented and is not even denied by the god-king dalai lama.

On the other hand, there is not a single proven case of violence by Chinese against the tibetans. Come on, CNET, you can do better than that! Where is your journalistic integrity? Have you seriously stooped as low as being a propaganda mouthpiece for a deposed religious dictator?

[psychosmurf]

Are you drunk, high or just incredibly stupid?

My vote would be for the last one. Read a little before you start posting this crap:

http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/hr_facts.html
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/what-human-rights-legacy-beijing-olympics-20080401
http://hrw.org/doc/?t=asia&c=china

[USDecliningDollar]

maybe you don't read the news?

Are you from the PRC?

[KeeganHill]

Are you brainwashed?

Actually I have yet to hear a story about Tibetan monks killing people. Vandalizing property I might believe but you lack of any sources with such a bold claim disturbs me. I googled your claim and found no evidence supporting it. The Dali Lama is not a religious dictator either, he has little control over Tibet. He actually told the tibetans to stand down in the most recent protests.