By Derek Hawkins

Law360, New York (January 27, 2012, 6:30 PM ET) -- The Counsel of Better Business Bureaus’ advertising arm on Thursday cited Sony Electronics Inc. for violating the advertising industry’s self-regulatory rules by touting the outcome of a deceptive advertising dispute with LG Electronics USA before it became public.

The National Advertising Division found that Sony contacted retailers and wholesalers about the NAD’s decision in the case before the organization formally released it, in violation of self-regulating procedures of fair dealing.

In the underlying dispute, Sony challenged consumer perception claims in LG’s advertisements for Cinema 3-D Television...