By attempting to hide the status of the product placement (whether it was brought on through a financial exchange or the donation of products to use on screen), these companies may create greater controversy than if they had been open and honest about what they were doing.

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Cult status can sustain a product even if it never catches on with the general public.

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An account executive of a manufacturing company finishes a presentation about the status of a current product and then opens the floor to questions.

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At Barron's Bakery in Cappoquin I tasted "blaas, " plump rolls now on their way to gaining PGI status, a European Union certification that a product is local, authentic and skillfully made.

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So, if you have an idea for the product team, you can type a couple sentences on the status update to get some feedback.

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In that suit, the Kings County Superior Court judge denied the request for class-action status, ruling that Microsoft had taken sufficient care to ensure its product worked as advertised, and threw the suit out of court, Murray said.

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Because of their status as a market leader, anchor customers help establish the credibility a new product or company needs to trigger purchases from additional companies.

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Algeria's status as Africa's largest natural gas producer and a major supplier of the product to Europe heightens its importance to those who want to invest there.

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Orphan-drug status, for example, can help a biotech firm raise capital on the strength of its latest product.

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