Laughing All the Way

More of this Feature • Part 1: From Joke to Full-Blown Publicity Stunt • Part 2: Joke A Day's Traffic Jam • Part 4: AOL Virus Hoax Copy    Join the Discussion "What do you think of Mr. Owens' joke that turned into a publicity stunt?" In the Advertising Forum     Related Resources • When Advertising Works Too Well • Sizzle & Stirring It Up • Better Pizza? Bigger Lawsuit.    Elsewhere on the Web • JokeADay.com • AOL.EXE Virus Coverage

Ray Owens claims he didn't intend for his joke to attract so much media attention. But it certainly did.

People have been talking about this virus hoax on a variety of message boards. Some have even said AOL should sue Mr. Owens.

However, no one from AOL has contacted him. And he feels no harm was done to the company itself.

"Only if someone had the file and an active account with AOL and had been dumb enough to delete it...well, it's not a requirement for the software to actually be working for AOL to bill you for a subscription. As a matter of fact, you could have an AOL account without even having a computer."

"What I sent out was so obviously a joke, that for AOL to claim I 'injured' their service in any way would be laughable.

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