[Publib] New FTC rules Re: Blogs

[Fred Beisser]

There is also an article about the new FTC rules on Yahoo Finance at 
http://tinyurl.com/ycarnmh which clarifies the intent. The FTC effort is 
aimed at advertisers and also at bloggers recommending products and 
stating or implying results that the product causes.
> For bloggers, the FTC stopped short of specifying how they must 
> disclose conflicts of interest. Rich Cleland, assistant director of 
> the FTC's advertising practices division, said the disclosure must be 
> "clear and conspicuous," no matter what form it will take.
It would be best to indicate, as Sharon noted, that the book was either 
an advance sample copy received "gratis" or acquired by the library in 
the ordinary course of business. I would also agree that the thrust of 
the FTC effort is not book reviews but rather commercial products that 
are intended to enhance/improve results.

Fred Beisser
Trustee
www.elbertcountylibrary.org
(Colorado)

Sharon Foster wrote:
> I am not a licensed attorney, but if I were you I wouldn't change
> anything you're doing except to note (if you are not already doing so)
> whether you are reviewing a pre-publication copy or a library copy.
> Even so, I doubt that receiving an ARC would be considered a
> "payment." Who's going to make a formal complaint against you? The
> publisher? The author? And doesn't the FTC have far bigger fish to
> fry?
>
> Sharon M. Foster, JD, MLS
> Technology Librarian
> http://firstgentrekkie.blogspot.com/
> "Have you tried switching it off and on again?"
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 9:24 AM, Judith Turner <turnermalibmba at yahoo.com> wrote:
>   
>> Did anybody see the following article published in the Washington Post regarding product endorsements when blogging?  I posted this on another list yesterday and received a few comments but nothing that seemed definitive.
>>
>> Since libraries and librarians frequently endorse books that they receive free of charge - advance reader copies and/or review copies - and other products that they may purchase at a discount not available to all --  what are the implications of this ruling?  Disclose source with every blog entry?  Is it retroactive?  Has anybody been monitoring this ruling as it has passed through the Commission's ruling-making process?
>>
>> FTC Sets Endorsement Rules for Blogs
>>
>> By Cecilia Kang
>> Washington Post Staff Writer
>> Tuesday, October 6, 2009
>>
>> Bloggers who offer endorsements must disclose any payments they have received from the subjects of their reviews or face penalties of up to $11,000 per violation, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday.
>>
>> Here's the link:
>> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100503620.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
>>
>> Since my blogs are mainly positive reviews (I've never seen the point of a negative one, it's not worth the time putting the spotlight on junk) of books and dvd's I borrow from my public library, I plan to continue pointing out that the library's where I found the items.  I don't mind disclosing how great public libraries are.
>>
>> Many thanks for any information you can provide.
>>
>> Judy Turner
>> Whitefish Bay, WI Blogging at: http://alms-jact.blogspot.com/http://judyct.wordpress.com/
>>
>> "Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved." ---- "Silence in the Library"  (Doctor Who, Season 4, Ep. 8)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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