A couple of readers lucky enough to be on a Staples distribution list have forwarded along this e-mail (pictured) that went out on Friday, proudly touting the company's MailMate™ shredder's upcoming appearance on this week's episode of The Office. It seems that NBC has learned something from their product placement misadventures of the recent past, figuring out that if they partnered with an advertiser ahead of time to spotlight the product's more appealing features instead of demonstrating the unintended, finger-mangling uses of its whirring blades, the network could generate hefty placement fees instead of costly lawsuits.

• Staples Puts Spotlight On Its Shredder's Star Turn [MediaPost]

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