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The Federal Trade Commission has released new guidelines about e-commerce and online advertising disclosures. Small business owners will want to pay close attention.
The new guidelines take the FTC's "Dot Com Disclosures" pamphlet, originally issued in 2000, and kicks it up a notch. The revamped and renamed ".com Disclosures" guide accounts for changes in technology, including the increasing use of smartphones in the online marketplace.
The guidelines aim to push consumer awareness and protection. In general, advertisements should not be unfair and deceptive. They should also not be misleading. Advertisers must always have evidence to back up any claim they are making in the advertisement.
If an online advertisement will mislead readers in any way, a disclosure needs to be made to set the readers straight, the FTC advises. Here are a few examples:
In the online world, it's easy to make a purchase at the click of a mouse. It's even easier to buy something from your smartphone without fully being aware of what you are buying.
That's why the guidelines put a huge focus on clear and conspicuous disclosure.
The guidelines are long, and run into the dozens of pages. Luckily, we've done the sifting for you.
According to the FTC, here are some key things to think about when making "clear and conspicuous" online advertising disclosures:
The FTC's new guide, entitled ".com Disclosures: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising," can be accessed here. For questions about how it may apply to your specific situation, it may be best to consult an experienced business attorney.
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