Earlier this week, FedEx launched a multimillion-dollar campaign, Brown Bailout, directly attacking its competitor United Parcel Service (UPS) for supporting legislation that could make it easier for some of FedEx's workers to unionize. FedEx argues that the bill, currently making its way through Congress, is tantamount to a government bailout for UPS, because it would stifle competition.
The campaign includes a slick Web site along with videos and a snappy tagline, “Brown Bailout,” playing on UPS' trademark brown color. Yet its ...