Locked thread in GQ

[Crazyhorse]

I noticed thisGQ thread about a popup ad encountered here and remembered the reference to Hawking, um, hawking smart pills.

I’m more confident the subject of this thread was an attempt to reference an ad here after all.

@2Bits

While visiting the SDMB today I was presented with an excessively obnoxious pop-up ad. I’ll have to describe it as I don’t know to link to such a thing:

It’s a photograph of Hawking and made to look like official news story with Anderson Cooper reporting. “Stephen Hawking Says Michigan Smart Pill Is Proven To Double Question,” it reads.

Assuming neither of the two would actually associate with such an obvious scam I wonder how a business gets away with this? Can they somehow legally use those images as long as the subjects are paid? Are they just trying to get away with something until they receive a cease and desist letter? Can they be punished?