protected function _isFieldEmpty($sFieldName)
    {
        $mValue = $this->$sFieldName->value;

        if (is_null($mValue)) {
            return true;
        }

        if ($mValue === '') {
            return true;
        }

        // certain fields with zero value treat as empty
        $aZeroValueFields = ['oxarticles__oxprice', 'oxarticles__oxvat', 'oxarticles__oxunitquantity'];

        if (!$mValue && in_array($sFieldName, $aZeroValueFields)) {
            return true;
        }


        if (!strcmp($mValue, '0000-00-00 00:00:00') || !strcmp($mValue, '0000-00-00')) {
            return true;
        }

        $sFieldName = strtolower($sFieldName);

        if ($sFieldName == 'oxarticles__oxicon' && (strpos($mValue, "nopic_ico.jpg") !== false || strpos(
            $mValue,
            "nopic.jpg"
        ) !== false)
        ) {
            return true;
        }

        if (strpos($mValue, "nopic.jpg") !== false && ($sFieldName == 'oxarticles__oxthumb' || substr(
            $sFieldName,
            0,
            17
        ) == 'oxarticles__oxpic' || substr($sFieldName, 0, 18) == 'oxarticles__oxzoom')
        ) {
            return true;
        }

        return false;
    }