Authorities crack down on street ads Restrictions against placing brand logos or pictures of products on advertisements for shops have just been put in place for store in HCM City.    Many signboards to be taken down in HCM City Under the new regulation issued on September 16, which is still under review, the citywide ban on advertisements for shop signboards designates that any ad featuring such images must be taken down by March, 2015. Currently, a wide range of shops include brand logos and pictures of products on their advertisements. Logos and photos of products sold by retailers are often used on signs and billboards in the city. The decision has stirred up concern among shop-owners, many of whom have been given the signs for free as promotional material by the companies whose products they sell. Nguyen Quy Cap, deputy chair of the HCM City Advertisement Association, said companies that wish to use public streets for promotion will have to wait for a comprehensive plan on outdoor advertisements and signs. He said, "We don't know when this plan will be completed, but we must continue our businesses. How long will we have to wait?" Many people claimed that the ban is illegal because it is outside the jurisdiction of HCM City authorities. But an official from the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that everything was done in accordance with the law. The legal framework issued in 2009 does not state clear rules on acceptable measurements of signboards. But this issue was remedied in 2012 with another code adjustment that stated signboards should have a maximum height of 2 metres and should not include advertisements of products. Another circular issued in 2013 by the Ministry of Construction only allows for one signboard per floor. If the shop owners wants to place an advertisement, they would have to file documents with the authorities, and violators could be fined VND10-15 million. Vietnamnet