This is a big one. Pay attention. Bloggers...this means us too. This week the Federal Trade Commission issued new and final guidelines that reach into social media, PR and marketing. After clarification discussions with an FTC staff attorney, the Public Relations Society of America issued the following letter today. I hope it helps you in your business decision-making. Thanks PRSA!
[Email begins]
Dear Members,
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued final changes to its Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. While
advisory in nature, the new guidelines will reset standards of behavior that
public relations, marketing and advertising professionals should adopt to avoid
violating underlying laws against unfair competition and false advertising.
The Guide changes, as set out in the FTC's notice, make three key departures from previous guidance
that could impact public relations practice:
- The FTC advises that "endorsers" as well as advertisers can be held liable for false or unsubstantiated claims or for failing to disclose material connections between the parties.
- The Guides no longer offer the "safe harbor" whereby testimonials can be qualified by a "results may vary" disclaimer.
- Regarding endorsements, the Guides specify that celebrities should disclose relationships with advertisers.
While the FTC will approach each
potential violation on a case-by-case basis, the new guidelines will impact how
professionals should approach some common practice scenarios. Here are some
applications of the guidelines:
- Bloggers
who receive cash or in-kind payment (including free products or services
for review) are deemed endorsers and so must disclose material connections
they share with the seller of the product or service.
- Any firm that engages bloggers by paying them outright to create or influence editorial content or by supplying goods or services to them at no cost may be liable if the blogger does not disclose the relationship.
- Advertisements or promotions that feature a consumer who conveys his or her experience with a product or service as "typical" should clearly disclose what results consumers can generally expect or specify how the results were unique to the individual circumstances.
- If
research is cited in an advertisement or promotion, any sponsorship of the
research by the client or the marketer should be clearly disclosed.
- Celebrities who make endorsements outside the context of traditional ads, such as on talk shows or in social media, should disclose any relationship with the advertiser or marketer.
From an ethics perspective, the new guidelines
parallel key transparency principles in the PRSA Code of Ethics, as well as Professional Standards Advisory PS-9 condemning "pay
for play" practices. However, for practitioners, the guidelines go beyond
ethics to recommended practice to avoid legal liability. While the ethics are
clear, the triggers and nature of adequate disclosure are not fixed. As I
recommended in a recent PRSAY post, thorough understanding and
self-regulation can help public relations professionals avoid legal
repercussions.
While the guidelines are advisory in nature, failure to comply increases the
risk of professionals finding themselves in violation of the law. Moreover,
non-compliance can result in a communication from the FTC warning professionals
against the potential offending action. If that warning is not heeded, it may
be followed by a cease-and-desist order. Intentional violation of that order
may result in referral to FTC enforcement, which may include civil monetary
penalties.
There has been information circulating publicly on the new guidelines that is
confusing and conflicting. With this notice, PRSA hopes to bring members up to
date on the facts as currently understood. This information is based on FTC
documents and an in-depth conversation with a Commission staff attorney. Going
forward, PRSA will continue to provide you with information, clarification,
case studies and interpretations as they unfold.
Best regards,
Michael Cherenson, APR
[End of email]
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