(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
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
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
On August 22, 2024, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC or the “Commission”) finalized its Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (“Final Rule”). The Final Rule prohibits the sale and...more
On August 14, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published its long-anticipated Final Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (“Final Rule”), marking a significant development in the regulation of online...more
On August 14, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a new final rule aimed at regulating fake consumer reviews, testimonials, insider reviews, company-controlled websites, and fake indicators of social media...more
On August 14, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a final rule aimed at protecting American consumers against fake reviews and testimonials. The rule, approved through a 5-0 vote, comes after nearly two years of...more
Surprise, surprise, it turns out that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) is serious about the misuse of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. In October 2021, the FTC sent out a Notice of Penalty Offenses to...more
We’ve written a lot about Federal Trade Commission (FTC or the Commission) Rulemaking recently, but that doesn’t mean there can’t still be new and interesting things that occur. Take, for example, the FTC’s recent...more
The third-party seller marketplace has exploded over recent years, as sales have risen by over 900% from what they were back in 2014. In fact, in 2022, Amazon’s largest revenue segment was online retail product sales with...more
The lead-up to the July Fourth holiday was a busy time for endorsement and testimonial watchers—the FTC issued (i) its final, updated Guides to the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, (ii) an updated version...more
On June 29, the FTC announced the finalized updated version if its Endorsement Guide, to help the agency combat deceptive reviews and endorsements. The FTC says its endorsement guides, which were previously updated in 2009,...more
The Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides were first enacted in 1980 and amended in 2009. The Guides provide guidance to businesses and others to ensure that advertising using endorsements or testimonials is...more
On February 16, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an enforcement action against The Bountiful Company (Bountiful) for a practice the FTC dubbed “review hijacking.” Bountiful, a vitamin and supplement company,...more
On October 20, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) voted 3-1 at an Open Commission meeting to issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPR”) on the Use of Reviews and Endorsements....more
Last week at its monthly open meeting, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unveiled two new rulemaking proceedings: the first deals with deceptive customer reviews and endorsements and the second with so-called junk...more
The comment period on the FTC’s proposed rule regarding the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising ended September 26, 2022. The Request for Comment approved by the Federal Trade Commission in May 2022 sought...more
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and six states filed a lawsuit against rental listing platform Roomster Corp. and its owners based on their posting of fake positive reviews, claiming to offer verified and...more
On July 26, 2022, the Request for Comment approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) in May seeking public input on a number of proposed changes to the FTC’s Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and...more
On March 21, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a final administrative complaint and decision and order that finalizes a settlement with a California online fashion retailer to settle allegations that the...more
Suppressing negative customer reviews may lead to costly consequences. Online fashion retailer Fashion Nova recently settled the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) allegations that the company blocked negative online reviews...more
The Federal Trade Commission sounds like a broken record. We have repeatedly written about the trouble misleading endorsements and testimonials can cause. Endorsements, testimonials, and social media influencers currently sit...more
Shoppers in online marketplaces, or customers checking reviews before dining or retaining a service, have become increasingly reliant on internet testimonials. Mark P. of Hoboken, NJ rates Hank’s Burger Depot 5 out of 5...more
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently sent Notices of Penalty Offenses (“Notices”) to more than 700 businesses, including consumer products companies, retailers and retail platforms, and advertising agencies, warning...more
Until recently, Texas skincare company Sunday Riley was one of the shining stars of the lucrative cosmetics market – its products were featured at high-end retailers such as Sephora and Nordstrom, high-profile influencers and...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