The ad showed the couple dancing together with the man's hips thrust forward and the silhouette of his forearm connected the space between their stomachs. The complainant, who believed that the poster depicted a naked man with an erect penis penetrating a woman, objected that it was offensive and indecent.
MTV argued that the complainant had mistaken the man's arm, which was bent at the elbow as he reached across to the woman, for a penis.
The music broadcaster told the ad watchdog that it believed that because it protruded from his waistline rather than his hips, it was obviously his arm, not his penis. It said it had dealt with the subject matter in a way that was tasteful and that the poster was suitable for display in the public arena.
The music TV network had already amended the poster from the original design to comply with guidelines for advertising on buses, and said the bus company had approved the artwork for display on bus sides.
Furthermore, MTV said that the ad promoted safer sex and argued that that it was a socially responsible message. The advertiser said it had received no other complaints about the campaign.
The Advertising Standards Authority considered that most readers would realise that the silhouette showed the man's forearm and were unlikely to infer that it was his penis.
Although the watchdog acknowledged the offence caused to the complainant, the ASA said it considered that the poster was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence.
MTV launched the MTV Condomi brand earlier this year in an attempt to make the buying of contraceptives less embarrassing for young people.
It linked up with German condom firm Condomi to launch the products, which were first launched in Germany and Austria last December to coincide with World Aids Day.
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