Daily Telegraph

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1998

Diary Page

Donovan's beef with Shell on-line

HIGH court writs have been filed against Shell UK by independent marketing man John Donovan. Through his company, Don Marketing, he claims that in 1989 he was the brains behind Shell's Smart Card scheme.

Donovan is alleging a breach of confidence and breach of contract and has also filed a separate writ for libel. He is talking of "multi-million pound" damages.

Suffolk-based Donovan is publicising his gripes on two elaborate and colourful internet websites, don-marketing.com and shell-shareholders.org. He has also decided to book adverts in the marketing press.

A spokesman for Shell UK says: "The matter is being strongly contested. It is not appropriate to comment further."