Internet Law
How to Comply With UK Endorsement Guide and Online Review Compliance Standards
By Richard B. Newman |
Social media endorsements: being transparent with your followers Influencer marketing and review websites have attracted a great deal of attention recently by states and federal regulatory agencies, including the FTC. The FTC’s Endorsement Guides addresses the application of Section 5 of the FTC Act to the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. The FTC Endorsement Guides suggest…
Court Holds Change-of-Terms Provision Cannot Bind Parties to New Browsewrap Agreement
By Richard B. Newman |
The Ninth Circuit recently held that a consumer was not bound by updated terms merely because she accessed a website that contained new terms in a “browsewrap” agreement on the website. A browsewrap agreement is one that is attempted to be enforced against a website user by virtue of his/her use of a website. Contrast…
FTC Settlement of Fake Review Campaign Illustrates Agency Recognition of Litigation Risk Under FTC Act
By Richard B. Newman |
As blogged about here and here, brands and intermediary agencies that they do business with are expected to train and monitor endorsers, utilize written social media policies, take appropriate remedial action and document all efforts to implement preventative advertising compliance measures, including those designed to ensure the clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections between advertisers and…
FTC Urges Congress to Restore Section 13(b) of the FTC Act and Resurrect Penalty Offense Authority
By Richard B. Newman |
As blogged about here, the FTC’s authority to seek monetary disgorgement relief from defendants in federal court is under assault. Consequently, all five FTC Commissioners have recently forwarded a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Minority members of the Senate Commerce and House Energy & Commerce Committees urging the Committees to pass legislation that would…
FTC Update: SCOTUS to Decide Agency’s Monetary Restitution Enforcement Authority
By Richard B. Newman |
The Supreme Court has started its new term. FTC defense practitioners are watching closely as the Court is considering issues that may dramatically impact FTC CID investigations and enforcement actions, particularly whether Section 13(b) of the FTC Act impliedly authorizes courts to award the FTC equitable monetary relief. The Supreme Court Has Already Limited Disgorgement…
Is Your Conduct a Violation of the Consumer Review Fairness Act?
By Richard B. Newman |
The Consumer Review Fairness Act passed both houses of Congress unanimously in December 2016. It has been effective since March 2017. The CFRA generally makes provisions of form contracts between sellers and individual consumers void from inception if the provisions: (i) prohibit or restrict individuals from reviewing sellers’ goods, services, or conduct; (ii) impose penalties…