Media website How-Do suspends operations amid row

MEDIA website How-Do has suspended its activities amid a continuing row with Manchester Confidential – the online lifestyle publisher.

In a atatement Nick Jaspan the founder of How-Do said an email  campaign by Mark Garner, owner of Manchester Confidential, highlighting the disputed ownership of How-Do, had “tested the enormous reservoir of goodwill that exists in the North West towards How-Do”.

Mr Jaspan added: “With no end in sight to this dispute and as we are unable to mitigate against the ongoing email tirades, we have decided to suspend publication and related activities until a resolution is reached.”

The bitter feud between the two parties stems from a merger between the two businesses last year, which has since collapsed  as the relationship between Jaspan and Garner deteriorated.

Mr Jaspan alleges he was not aware of the true Mr Garner’s business practices or track record before the ill-fated deal, while Mr Garner has alleged, in the strongest possible terms, than Mr Jaspan’s departure from the merged business with How-Do’s database and urls amounts to theft of assets.

Mr Jaspan said anyone who has bought tickets to forthcoming events, or entered the Northern Marketing Awards “will be refunded in the course of the next few days”.

He added: “We are proud of what How-Do has achieved over the five years since we launched and we look forward to returning as soon as we’re able to.”