Last week we reported on JWT in London placing ads for their "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign in the UK's AutoTrader. Adgrunt Stealthman alerted us to the fact that Clememger BBDO in Wellington, NZ had done the same exact thing in 2001 for LTSA (Land Transport Safety Authority) which appeared in the NZ AutoTrader. The idea won a Clio and other NZ industry awards including ones for media.

Read more to see the ads.

Clemenger BBDO's ads:

Small shot of JWT's ad here.

Stealthman points out that "perhaps when it comes to any
adwork that is about actually saving lives, and an existing idea used in a different market could perhaps make a difference in another market, then we as practictioners shouldn't be precious about that - particularly if the idea helps to save even more lives.
I suppose my only caveat on that is that the agency should credit the original source / inspiration - and not enter it into any award shows as their own creative concept."

I'd agree that it is a valid point. Although we have no idea if it was a brain sync or a steal.

Big hat tip to Stealthman for rounding up the images for us.