The Trend of Threatening Physicians for Personal Gain
(Podcast) The Briefing – Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts
The Briefing – Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts
The FTC’s Proposed Rule Banning Deceptive Reviews and Testimonials
Negative Online Reviews and Reputation Management: Tips for Health Care Practices and Providers
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Advertising & Customer Engagement in the Digital Age - Customer Reviews and Response
How to Find the Identity of an Anonymous Author Online
II-36- Holiday Party Tips, the 2018/2019 Federal Regulatory Agenda, and Noteworthy Cases On Suing and Being Sued
n December, DWT's Washington, D.C., office hosted a luncheon in connection with the Financial Technology Association featuring guest speaker Chris Mufarrige, the current FTC Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. DWT...more
In August 2024, I wrote about the Federal Trade Commission's then-new Consumer Review Rule (Adieu, Fake Revie(u)w), which is designed to preserve the authenticity of online reviews and prohibit companies from suppressing...more
Companies would be wise to start the new year by reviewing their policies for compliance with the FTC Rule on Consumer Reviews & Testimonials, as warning letters sent by the Federal Trade Commission signal that this may be an...more
In an unusual move, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reopened and set aside a previously finalized consent order against Rytr LLC, an AI-powered writing tool provider, nullifying the case against the company. ...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to ten companies for alleged deceptive review practices, indicating its intent to step up enforcement of its relatively new Consumer Review Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 465)...more
On December 22, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced two actions relating to fake or false consumer reviews: 1. Issuance of a set of warning letters to companies that may be responsible for fake or false...more
Consumers often rely on reviews to help them choose between everything from home repair companies to apartments to lawyers. When those reviews reflect honest feedback from real people who have actually used a product or...more
On December 22, 2025, the FTC announced that it had sent letters to ten companies warning them of potential violations of the agency’s Consumer Review Rule....more
The Commission’s Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials went into effect on October 21, 2024. The Rule addresses deceptive and unfair conduct involving consumer reviews and testimonials. You can review other...more
Do you sell goods or services online? Do you have customers in California? If so, you may be a target of claims under the “Yelp Law,” a statute residing at the intersection of good intentions and bad drafting....more
First impressions matter in the legal industry, but they’re not enough. People do more research, and that’s where your personal brand comes in. Prospects may read reviews, check websites, and look thoroughly at your social...more
Future-proofing isn’t about picking SEO OR AI optimization—it’s about building a presence that works regardless of how clients find you. Think of these as the foundational elements that make your firm cite-worthy in any...more
Reputation drives revenue—and no company is immune to bad publicity. Reputational attacks can ignite at any time, stemming from harassment and discrimination claims, class action lawsuits and data breaches, or even...more
When the FTC proposed its consumer reviews and testimonials rule in 2023 (discussed here), it included a provision targeting so-called “review hijacking” — the practice of reusing reviews written for one product to promote a...more
In sports, athletes with distinct skills join forces to form a championship team. Effective SEO for attorneys also relies on specialty players, including on-page and off-page SEO. These two components serve different...more
Online reviews can make or break a business. A stream of positive comments can boost visibility, attract new customers, and build trust. On the other hand, a single harsh or fake review can tarnish a company’s reputation...more
The recent 2025 NAD Conference provided a deep dive into many areas of advertising law. While a few sessions discussed the obvious hot-button topic of the year—artificial intelligence—there were many other timely topics...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced a new action and proposed settlement with the telemedicine firm NextMed. The action, which may seem familiar to those who followed FTC advertising cases of years past,...more
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with NextMed parent company Southern Health Solutions, Inc., in response to allegations that the telemedicine platform offered deceptive claims and fake...more
Question: It was recently brought to my attention that a patient posted on the internet false and misleading information regarding treatment I provided to her. The posting also contains false and defamatory descriptions of me...more
In this new episode of the HealthLaw HotSpot podcast, host Ericka Adler is joined by Roetzel litigation shareholder Michael Scotti to explore a growing and deeply concerning issue in health care: patients using threats, such...more
Finalized last year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Final Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (the “Final Rule”) principally addresses the sale, purchase, and publication of fake online reviews and...more
The UK Government has issued important guidance on fake reviews, clarifying new obligations for businesses under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the “DMCC Act”)....more
The Federal Trade Commission is taking a hard look at marketing and advertising statements, making sure they are precise and accurate. Here are some key takeaways from recent enforcements:...more
On April 17, Montana enacted SB 488 (the “Act”) which amends the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to include false, misleading or otherwise deceptive consumer reviews or testimonials. The Act...more