FTC - Bloggers must disclose payments for reviews
 

PHILADELPHIA - The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.

It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.

But the commission stopped short Monday of specifying how bloggers must disclose any conflicts of interest.

The FTC said its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final guidelines, which had been expected. Penalties include up to $11,000 in fines per violation.

The rules take effect Dec. 1.

Sweet justice.
:thumbsup

This could actually shake some shit up.

hmm I blog products and have gotten shit for free, am I really supposed to say that its not real testimonial now? LOL

http://www.fletchxxx.com/fleshlight/pics.html

I wonder since the term "blog" is so ambiguous, could review sites (porn review sites) fall into this? They're reviewing a product, a website. They're (likely) being paid for the visitors they send. Does that mean they might be required to divulge the payout?

in addition, we all get "payments" for blog entries!!

affiliate money is payment

This has been in the pipeline for a couple of years now. No one should be surprised by this.
:2 cents:

It makes sence that they need to disclose freebies and payments. After all, these benefits should be taxable.

conflict of interest?

What conflict is there if Logitech sends me a free keyboard to review?

And I review it, blog it. Conflict?

story is a little old and aimed at mainstream bloggers. if it even gets enforced at all. well maybe they will pick up one blogger and throw him against the wall as an example ...

you really can't see the conflict it it?

I have a vegetarian cooking blog and now and then have been sent things to try. I would always disclose in my post that I was sent it for free but then I also would tell the company that sends it that I will be honest about if I liked it or not.

Of course though, mine isn't US based or hosted so unless the EU puts in a similar rule I don't have to do that by law.

no, sweet justice would be the FTC going after all the nutriceutical companies that are ripping consumers off on a daily basis running everything from deceptive business practices to straight up fraud..

FTC is a joke...

It is the wrong term..unless he works for another keyboard company then no it isn't a conflict. If he is essentially writing an advertisement but making it look like a normal post then that is about disclosure, not conflict.

That is why mock articles in magazines have that little 'advertisement' tag on them.

thank you.

I actually thought they did this a few months ago.

non-disclosure of a free keyboard would be a conflct of interest.

So, if you admit its a free keyboard but still give it a fake positive review, its cool.

Well thats no problem... LOL

well to be fair the ftc didn't call it conflict of interest, the article writer did.

From the way i read it you are required to disclose freebies or payments regardless of if there is a conflict of interest.

gotcha, and thanks for clarifying, conflict of interest might not have been the best choice of phrases I think.

i guess the theory being let the viewer decide if it is a conflict of interest if they know you got some free shit or paid.

I find it interesting that they single out blogs..seems all web pages should be included or it will just open up the regulation to legal challenges.
If the govt wants to regulate the net so bad, you'd think they would hire people that know how the internet really works...lol