[craiglester]

Slashdot | FTC States Bloggers Must Disclose Paid Reviews

With this in mind, will Head-Fi be implementing any rules that would require any "review" thread to disclose the source of equipment.

It would at least put a stop to any percieved shilling, which has been an issue in the past.

Could forum posts be construed as blogging?

 

[marvin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by craiglester /img/forum/go_quote.gif Could forum posts be construed as blogging?

Misleading headline on the MSNBC article which propagated to the Slashdot article.

The new rules cover "any advertising message (including verbal statements, demonstrations, or depictions of the name, signature, likeness or other identifying personal characteristics of an individual or the name or seal of an organization) that consumers are likely to believe reflects the opinions, beliefs, findings, or experiences of a party other than the sponsoring advertiser", not just blogs.

 

[shigzeo]

so, they gonna monitor our conversations now? what about gifts from parents? birthday presents? going away gifts? how much is this going to cover - and is anyone safe?

 

[craiglester]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Misleading headline on the MSNBC article which propagated to the Slashdot article. The new rules cover "any advertising message (including verbal statements, demonstrations, or depictions of the name, signature, likeness or other identifying personal characteristics of an individual or the name or seal of an organization) that consumers are likely to believe reflects the opinions, beliefs, findings, or experiences of a party other than the sponsoring advertiser", not just blogs.

That's nice, but the question remains.. will reviews on head-fi be subject to these rules?
from the AP article..
"The FTC will require that writers on the Web clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products."

I don't think family gifts would come under that definition.. but "review samples" might?

Ahh short version.. http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm and the full version.. http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005endo...esfnnotice.pdf

 

[vcoheda]

other than maybe jude, i don't think "head-fi" reviews anything. head-fi and head-fi members are not the same thing.

 

[sahwnfras]

lol r u kidding, who do you thinks gonna enforce this here. I can understand in published articles, but blogs, forums and stuff would just be a waste of time and money to enforce, so dont worry

 

[craiglester]

Mmm there's blogs to the left of this posting.. just saying.. only takes one ticked off rival manufacturer or supplier to complain to the FTC and well.. ugh things could get ugly. Of course that's a worst case scenario. Personally, I think a simple line at the end of the review that discloses anything like a gift or whatever wouldn't be that hard to type, if someones going to all the lengths of a "review"..

 

[Uncle Erik]

I think people should disclose their relationships to manufacturers whether the FTC requires it or not.

 

[marvin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo /img/forum/go_quote.gif so, they gonna monitor our conversations now? what about gifts from parents? birthday presents? going away gifts? how much is this going to cover - and is anyone safe?

Read the law if you're worried.

In short though, it's generally applicable only for endorsers with financial relationships to the manufacturers/advertising agencies. If you paid for it, no issues. If you occasionally get a free item or two to review, gray area. If you constantly receive free stuff and/or significant sums of cash, disclosure is necessary.

 

[gevorg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think people should disclose their relationships to manufacturers whether the FTC requires it or not.

This!