The top advertising and marketing issues this year are largely focused on one theme: Protection. Marketers will need to be aware of various trends that could threaten their intellectual property rights, reputations and market shares. Meanwhile, regulators are focusing on ensuring consumers — Continue Reading
Do You Strive to Make Aspirational Benefit Claims? Lessons Learned from Recent Decisions
The Bottom Line Environmental marketing claims have been a focus of regulatory, self-regulatory, and class action activity. While claims about past or present environmental benefits clearly require sufficient substantiation, companies should not assume that aspirational statements can be made Continue Reading
FTC Staff Report Brings Dark Patterns to Light
The Bottom Line Trick or treat? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff is focused on one “trick” this spooky season: Designing user interfaces to trick or manipulate users into taking actions they would not otherwise approve of, or putting obstacles in place to discourage consumers from Continue Reading
SEC Penalizes Kim Kardashian Over $1 Million for Paid Crypto Post
The Bottom Line The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled with Kim Kardashian over allegations she violated Section 17(b) of the Securities Act (the “Act”) by publishing an Instagram post promoting the crypto-currency, EthereumMax token (EMAX), to her 250 million followers, without Continue Reading
New Age Targeting Requirements for Beer Advertising
The Bottom Line The Beer Institute and Brewers Association increased the advertisement targeting requirements for beer ads to 73.6% from 71.6%.In response, the beer industry – and publishers, media companies, media buying agencies and influencers – will need to retool their ad targeting and Continue Reading
California’s Amended Automatic Renewal Law Takes Effect July 1, 2022: What Subscription-Based Companies Need to Know
The Bottom Line Starting July 1, California’s amended automatic renewal law will become effective.The amended law includes additional notice and cancellation requirements for both free trials and automatically renewing plans, as well as an emphasis on affording consumers an “immediate” means of Continue Reading
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Updating its Guidance on Preventing Digital Deception
The Bottom Line The FTC is revising its Dot Com Disclosure Guides to address dark patterns and other forms of digital deception. The FTC plans to crack down on deceptive disclosures and other forms of digital deception; marketers should review their online disclosure practices to ensure Continue Reading
FTC to “Crack Down” on Ed Tech’s Use of Children’s Data
The Bottom Line The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unanimously approved a Policy Statement that focuses on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act’s (COPPA’s) application to education technologies (Ed Tech) used in and by schools to support learning, including remote learning. This is Continue Reading
How the New 2022 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract Affects Performers and Advertisers
The Bottom Line The 2022 Commercials Contract increases session, usage, and pension & health fees, but by the lowest incremental amount in over a decade. Fee caps, a simplified compensation structure and unlimited editing rights balance out these increases by offering savings in other areas Continue Reading
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Updates to Endorsement Guides
The Bottom Line The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public comment on proposed updates to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (Endorsement Guides). The FTC proposed a number of revisions. Some of these revisions are simply Continue Reading