The FTC’s Proposed Rule Banning Deceptive Reviews and Testimonials
Negative Online Reviews and Reputation Management: Tips for Health Care Practices and Providers
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Advertising & Customer Engagement in the Digital Age - Customer Reviews and Response
How to Find the Identity of an Anonymous Author Online
II-36- Holiday Party Tips, the 2018/2019 Federal Regulatory Agenda, and Noteworthy Cases On Suing and Being Sued
The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a new rule aimed at curtailing false, misleading, and otherwise fraudulent reviews on online retail sites. Fake reviews are a significant problem for the big e-commerce platforms,...more
A periodic feature by Cornerstone Research, in which our affiliated experts, senior advisors, and professionals, talk about their research and findings. We interview Professor Donna Hoffman of the GW School of Business at...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently finalized updates to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (Guides), which address the FTC’s latest thinking about how the...more
We reported over a year ago that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) had proposed updates to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. The updated Endorsement Guides are finally here. The...more
Amazon has been at war with unscrupulous actors and a new contender just entered the battlefield. An examination of various sites reveals the presence of AI-generated reviews. These reviews consistently incorporate the...more
From its inception, Amazon has been at war with unscrupulous actors, both foreign and domestic, who seek to gain a competitive advantage through any means necessary. What began as malware, viruses, and spam, has evolved into...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
This week, the FTC finalized an order settling a complaint alleging that an online fashion retailer blocked negative reviews of its products on its e-commerce site. The penalty: a $4.2 Million fine, 10 years of record keeping...more
In a move that could prove beneficial for both brands and consumers alike, Amazon recently filed a lawsuit against two fake-review brokers, AppSally and Rebatest. These companies connect consumers with third-party sellers to...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 (FTC) has fined online fashion retailer Fashion Nova $4.2 million to settle allegations that the company blocked negative reviews of its products from being posted on its website. The FTC said...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
Would you like to re-post or otherwise use reviews left by customers? Is there a way to make sure customers don’t post bad reviews? What can a company do to protect itself from inappropriate or irrelevant content? Are there...more
The protection of consumers in the online environment has recently taken flight in the Netherlands and is currently a hot topic in this jurisdiction for consumer protection organizations. These organizations actively...more
Let’s be honest. Customer reviews and testimonials influence buying decisions -- an online review can make or break the path to purchase. Amy Ralph Mudge is her authentic self as she outlines the legal framework and counts...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this month issued new guidance on the use of social media influencers in marketing campaigns. And though it breaks little new ground, the guidance provides perhaps the clearest examples yet...more
Remember when you were a teenager and rules seemed excessive and tiresome to follow? And remember getting grounded because you missed curfew ("nothing good happens after midnight") or skipped school ("Bueller? … Bueller?…")?...more
In an increasing trend, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) joined other federal regulators seeking to hold individuals – not just companies – liable in enforcement proceedings. The most recent target was San Francisco-based...more
Agoda Homes Seeks To Gain Ground - ("OTAs Booking Holdings’ Agoda Takes a Distinctive Approach on Short-Term Rentals," Skift Travel News on September 21, 2018) For some time now, Agoda has featured short-term rentals on...more