PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Sweepstakes and Contests
“It’s just a giveaway. What could go wrong?” You’d be surprised. A fun marketing initiative can quickly become a legal headache. Behind every good sweepstakes is a legal minefield—one that many brands don’t recognize...more
The culmination of every successful sweepstakes promotion involves the picking of a winner, or multiple winners, as applicable. Winner selection also provides the sweepstakes operator with the opportunity to generate positive...more
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is well known for surprising major sweepstakes winners with a Prize Patrol knock on their doors. But the recent lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against the company was...more
Doing good doesn’t get old. But marketing leaders know that effective promotion of a company’s charitable giving requires a subtle combination of bedrock advertising principles with a few twists. It’s often here that...more
Many companies will be running sweepstakes and contests during the holidays and promoting them on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. If your company is planning a holiday promotion using social media, you...more
Enter for a chance to win! Advertising lawyers are forever reminding their clients to be clear that when a promotion is a sweepstakes, messaging needs to be clear that it is a random drawing and not a giveaway. Recently,...more
Remember that song in the ‘90s from the C+C Music Factory called “Things That Make You Go Hmmm….” I guess I did when I came across some recent promotions. Perhaps these practice tips will stay with you longer than C+C’s 15...more
When done correctly, sweepstakes and prize contests can be an effective tool for building brand awareness and gaining customers. However, businesses that fail to abide by applicable statutes and regulations when using these...more
In recent years, companies have increasingly relied on social media platforms to promote their products, often featuring testimonials and endorsements from consumers and public figures as well as other user-generated content....more