Did people see this before? because whilst a bit naughty it demonstrates the issue..
What I do think we need to do is have a conversation with Frontier about what is acceptable. The reality is the game needs to make money but how?
For an obvious start, then, all ads should be for in-game brands. We don't wanna see ads for real-world products that have no in-game presence beyond the advert....
So if it's a show being advertised then there has to be somewhere we can go in-game to watch that show.
Another biggie: Real-world merchandising may reference in-game merchandising, but NOT vice-versa. So for example, sponsors may plug their in-game presense in their real-world marketing (ie. 'inbound' merchandising), but there can be no explicit out-bound merchandising, beyond the product placement and brand recognition factor..
Ie. an in-game transaction might feature a nondescript 'promo code' that has a real-world value (might be redeemed for a free Coke at McDonalds, or discount payday loan or whatever) but in-game it's just a promo code, with no reference to its redemption or real-world value. All the relevant explanation and T's & C's must remain in the advertiser's real-world domains. So a real world can of soda might have a promo code to receive perks in-game, with full explanation and T's and C's, but an in-game transaction that awards me a real world perk cannot mention this fact - it just gives an unintrusive promo code. All instuctions on where to find it and redeem it are on the advertiser's own real-world merchandising.
This will preclude jarring anachronisms and immersion-breaking out-of-place intrusions... in short, following the dramatic rules of not breaking the fourth wall and never breaking character.
Lastly but not leastly is how to regulate artistic licence. Whether this can be codified, or needs to be constantly overseen by FD will be an issue. But if it's turning big bucks then FD could organise a dedicated department and keep stylistic control in-house.
Also, FWIW, Cosmos's choice of brands in that image are pause for thought in themselves (good selection mate) - and i'm given to think that if all of these are in-game products and services, their range and extent of influence might warrant some kind of general-purpose plugin system - where a player taking on regular interactions or affiliations with brands might install or uninstall brand-supplied plugins as appropriate. Not unlike the versatility of the VST system for audio tools. Where marketeers currently urge us to 'download the app!', we might see Elite plugins along the same lines.
So a Windows plugin might offer your ship a shiny new OS, a Union Carbide plugin might help manage your mining operations, Monsanto and Nestle plugins for your agricultural interests. And likewise for freight haulage, taxi services, security firms etc. etc. - basic point being that a plugin system could interface the specific requirements of individual product / service providers with the general game mechanics, offloading their complexities from the game proper... Just a thought..
