In a number of countries (New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and a lot of European countries) the advertising industry controls a system of self-regulation. Advertisers, advertising agencies and the media choose a code of advertising standards that they effort to uphold. The general objective of such codes is to make sure that any advertising is ‘legal, moral, honest and truthful’. Some self-regulatory associations are funded by the sphere, but remain severing, with the intent of keeping the standards or codes.

Such cities as São Paulo have introduced an absolute ban with the UK capital also having certain legislation to control unlawful displays.

Over the past fifteen years an entire science of marketing analytics and marketing efficiency has been developed to establish the impact of marketing procedures on consumers, sales, income and market share. Marketing Mix Modeling, straight reaction measurement and other methods are included in this science.

In the Unites States a great number of communities accept as true that a considerable number of forms of outdoor advertising can afflict the public realm. As long ago as the 1960s in the United States there were made some attempts to ban billboard advertising located in the open countryside.