PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - False and Misleading Advertising, Label Review
Intuit, Inc. certainly had a disparate week in the world of advertising, with the high of sponsoring the AFC and NFC championship games and the low of an order finding that it had engaged in deceptive advertising. Just a few...more
This InStyle social media post for Cariuma sneakers has the disclosure “Sponsored” in faint gray font under the publisher’s name. Was the post sponsored by InStyle or Cariuma? It is hard to tell....more
Last June, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its revised Endorsement Guides, the handbook for business practices that may be unfair or deceptive in violation of the FTC Act. The Endorsement Guides had been last...more
There are some stories that we cover whose underlying facts just teeter on the edge of being a fully formed Onion article....more
The Business Opportunity Rule (“Biz Opp Rule”) was first adopted in 2012. It applies to commercial arrangements where a seller solicits a prospective buyer to enter into a new business, the prospective purchaser makes a...more
FTC Opens Green Guide Revision for Public Comment - It’s the first revision in a new, environmentally panicked time - The Greatest Generation - The ’90s were an active decade for Federal Trade Commission (FTC)...more
The days of managing website archives with printouts or screenshots are long gone since modern sites contain thousands of complex pages for a single enterprise. However, even with such a large data burden, regulatory...more
A growing list of celebrities find themselves the recipients of letters from a certain advertising watchdog, and it's not fan mail they've been getting....more
Regulatory scrutiny of advertising has ramped up significantly over the past year, and nowhere more so than with (1) environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and (2) social media influencers and the Federal Trade...more
To encourage transparency and compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act and address current practices and trends, the FTC first published the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in...more
China’s Influencers Suffer Great Leap Backward - The party’s central Internet authority aims to curb rampant celebrity “extravagance” - Oversight, or Overlook? With all the negative attention online culture and social media...more
Consumers and brands are well aware of the benefits of environmentally friendly products. A recent report found that nearly 89% of brands implementing sustainability initiatives see an improvement in brand reputation....more
Are you interested in learning the best way to advertise and promote your product and services in the competitive marketplace? On the latest episode of Trending Now - An IP Podcast, Ed White and Rob Van Arnam discuss how best...more
The COVID-19 global pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of the retail industry as shoppers shift more of their spending online. Global online purchase volume increased 31% from June 2019 to June 2020, with...more
On October 29, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a virtual workshop entitled, “Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Business.” The workshop will cover a broad array of topics within the FTC’s...more
Your website is an important part of your business. Chances are, you’re investing both time and money to ensure that it attracts customers and satisfies their needs so that they decide to do business with you. Now that the...more
Brands continue to build their sustainability and environmental marketing programs in response to consumer demand. A recent report found that nearly eight out of ten consumers are making sustainability-based purchase choices....more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) (collectively, the “Agencies”) have a long history of teaming up to ensure that advertising and other promotional communications for...more
Smells Like Mean Spirit? Bargain airline sued over Shortcut Security line - Bare Boned - If your company’s brand is all about the bargain, you can expect some to identify your company with cheaper services and the...more
Sunday Riley launched her skincare firm Sunday Riley Modern Skincare, LLC (“SRMS”) in 2009 and its skincare products, including Good Genes, Power Couple, U.F.O., C.E.O., Luna and Tidal, have enjoyed tremendous success, having...more
Latest Round of FTC CBD Letter-Writing Campaign Has Anonymous Pen Pals - Three companies get talking-to over CBD health claims - Ambitious! Three unnamed companies were on the receiving end of firm but undoubtedly...more
Adhesive company rejects NAD and NARB recommendations - Sticky Businesses - Back in February 2019 – my, has the time flown – we told you about a dispute before the National Advertising Division between J-B Weld,...more
A popular YouTube channel for kids is the subject of a new complaint filed by Truth in Advertising (TINA) with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). TINA accused Ryan ToysReview, starring 7-year-old Ryan Kaji, of engaging in...more
Truth In Advertising Says “Your Super” Is Running Afoul of FDA - Another day, another supplement company violating FDA rules, at least according to a recent investigation conducted by TruthInAdvertising.org (TINA)....more
Decrying the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) lack of action against social media influencers, Truth in Advertising, Inc. (TINA), filed a formal complaint with the agency....more