The advertisements, sent by fax, invited businesses to send
their details to a premium rate fax line if they wish to amend
their entry or receive a more prominent listing in the
www.directoryenquiries.biz directory which gave the false
impression of being associated with BT’s services. In fact, Planet
Telecom had simply obtained a copy of the BT database.
In March 2002, the High Court granted an interim injunction
under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations of 1988
against Planet Telecom plc and 192enquiries.com Ltd, as well as
Peter Hutcheon and John Tonge, director and former director of
Planet Telecom.
The final injunction made by the court followed contempt of
court proceedings brought by the OFT, after receiving evidence from
Wigan Trading Standards and members of the public that Planet
Telecom was continuing to issue, in the opinion of the OFT,
misleading advertising prohibited by the interim injunction.
The final order strengthens the previous order, requiring any
future advertisements to display clearly the full web site address
of the business directory at the top of the advertisement.
