What the FTC plans on doing to Bloggers

[jeffreyj]

Have any of you heard what the FTC plans on doing to regulate bloggers on Dec 1st?

I don't know all the details and I was wondering if anyone could share with us what you know.

Thanks,

Jeffrey

[QuirkyJessi]

Basically, bloggers will have disclose freebies, endorsements, and compensations. Beyond that, it's a little up in the air still and gets a little tricky with some questions people have.

Here's a link to some legal print:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005...esfnnotice.pdf

And here's a couple posts/articles that put it in less "legal" language:
Report: FTC to go after blogger freebies | Politics and Law - CNET News
Will the New FTC Blogging Guidelines Affect You? | Raief
IAB Against New FTC Regs

There's quite the uproar from a lot of people about it right now, and with any new laws and regulations, some people are going to the extreme with their craziness over it, heh.

[Nathan]

I do review blogging so it slightly touches me, however, I don't usually do paid review or accept free books so I'm fine I think.

[Sneakyheathen]

Thanks for the helpful links. I've been hearing a lot about this and as I wanted to start reviewing more things on my blog, this is an important issue for me to understand.

The policies seem a little bit harsh and a lot misdirected. Why not aim for the advertisers instead of the publishers?

[Cephus]

Originally Posted by Sneakyheathen

Thanks for the helpful links. I've been hearing a lot about this and as I wanted to start reviewing more things on my blog, this is an important issue for me to understand.

The policies seem a little bit harsh and a lot misdirected. Why not aim for the advertisers instead of the publishers?

Because they realize that print advertising is largely going the way of the dodo and they've never bothered to assert control over online writing. I don't think they have a legal leg to stand on, they're setting up entirely different standards for online and offline content and only requiring online bloggers to disclose freebies. If they required it of offline reviewers, you'd quickly see the end of book reviews, tech reviews, etc. Every one of those gets free stuff that the manufacturers do not want back, therefore every one of them is just as likely to be "reviewing for freebies" as online reviewers.

If they do push this through, the first court case will see it thrown out.

[AMWhelan]

Do I have it right? We have to disclose if we get a product free for reviewing it?

[Nathan]

If they do push this through, the first court case will see it thrown out.

That's what I've been hearing and am beginning to think. I'll still play it safe though.

[Web Design]

The new rules are all about transparency and disclosing affiliations about products, services or people that you write about. As a side not it only applies to US bloggers, or US hosted blogs.

[Sneakyheathen]

Originally Posted by Cephus

Because they realize that print advertising is largely going the way of the dodo and they've never bothered to assert control over online writing. I don't think they have a legal leg to stand on, they're setting up entirely different standards for online and offline content and only requiring online bloggers to disclose freebies. If they required it of offline reviewers, you'd quickly see the end of book reviews, tech reviews, etc. Every one of those gets free stuff that the manufacturers do not want back, therefore every one of them is just as likely to be "reviewing for freebies" as online reviewers.

If they do push this through, the first court case will see it thrown out.

It feels unfair that the bloggers would have different guidelines. Then again, the magazine industry is assumed to have free review products and copies. As bloggers, we're expected to buy the stuff we review.

[The Envoy]

Hmm....its a good thing I'm not located in the US then. It's worrying how free speech and the right to privacy is being trumped by new laws each day.