Bloggers Beware: FTC Adopts New Guidelines for Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising

By: Ian McClure
ftc

In October the FTC published in the Federal Register new guidelines for the use of testimonials and endorsements in advertising.  These guidelines were revised, and on December 1 the FTC adopted them.  The guidelines have sweeping implications on internet advertising, including blogs, where testimonials have become a cheap and prominent method of advertising.  Among the new guidelines that advertisers and endorsers must follow include the following: Endorser testimonials must be honest and based on experience, opinion, or belief. Endorsements may not be presented out ... Read More

Categories: Trademark Trends

ICANN Adding New Top Level Domains for Websites

By: Ian McClure
icann

ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is the appointed non-profit and independent governor of the internet.  On September 30th, ICANN announced the signing of the Affirmation of Commitments, a document confirming the mission and duty of the corporation in regulating and defining the internet for the rest of the world to use.  ICANN's latest project is the unleashing of New Top Level Domains to be used alongside .com and .net for website domain locators.  Among those soon to be allowed ... Read More

Categories: Today in IP

Legal “Safe Harbors” For Bloggers and Other Internet Service Providers

By: Ian McClure
website_development_program

As a blogger myself, unknown legal risks involved in providing content on the internet are always a concern. The growth in internet marketing, social networking, and other uses of the internet for business and collaboration has provoked an new need for legal protection from unwanted or unwise uses of these mediums. For instance, a blogger may control his or her own blog content, but what about the unsolicited comments? Can harrassment, derogatory language, or other unwanted uses of the comments section subject ... Read More

Categories: Copyright Caucus, Trademark Trends