Marketing Law
Marketing Law enforces rules and regulations to prevent consumers from being harmed by deceptive marketing practices used for the sale of goods. Enforcement of these laws are particularly strict when food products, drugs, medical devices or other devices can lead to death when used or ingested.
Know Your Rights!
Marketing Law - US
- Country of Origin Labeling
Country of Origin Labeling is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores, notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Food products, (covered commodities) contained in the law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng.
- FDA - Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 was passed after a legally marketed toxic elixir killed 107 people, including many children. The FD&C Act completely overhauled the public health system. Among other provisions, the law authorized the FDA to demand evidence of safety for new drugs, issue standards for food, and conduct factory inspections.
- Federal Trade Commission Act - Deceptive Marketing
Section 5 of the FTC Act makes unlawful deceptive acts and practices in or affecting commerce. The Commission's criteria for determining whether an express or implied claim has been made are enunciated in the Commission's Policy Statement on Deception.
- FTC - CAN-SPAM Act
Do you use email in your business? The CAN-SPAM Act, a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have you stop emailing them, and spells out tough penalties for violations. Despite its name, the CAN-SPAM Act doesn’t apply just to bulk email. It covers all commercial messages, which the law defines as “any electronic mail message the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service,” including email that promotes content on commercial websites. The law makes no exception for business-to-business email. That means all email – for example, a message to former customers announcing a new product line – must comply with the law.
- FTC - Division of Marketing Practices
The Division of Marketing Practices responds to ever-evolving problems of consumer fraud in the marketplace. The Division enforces the FTC Act and several other federal consumer protection laws by filing FTC actions in federal district court for immediate and permanent orders to stop scams; prevent fraudsters from perpetrating scams in the future, freeze their assets; and get compensation for scam victims.
Organizations Related to Marketing Law
- American Marketing Association (AMA)
The American Marketing Association (AMA) is the professional association for individuals and organizations who are leading the practice, teaching, and development of marketing worldwide. Our principal roles are: The AMA serves as a conduit to foster knowledge sharing. Providing resources, education, career and professional development opportunities. Promoting/ supporting marketing practice and thought leadership.
- Direct Marketing Association
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is the leading global trade association of businesses and nonprofit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques. DMA advocates industry standards for responsible marketing – both online and offline, promotes relevance as the key to reaching consumers with desirable offers, and provides cutting-edge research, education, and networking opportunities to improve results throughout the end-to-end direct marketing process.
- Legal Marketing Association
The Legal Marketing Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs and maintaining the professional standards of the men and women involved in marketing within the legal profession.
- Promotion Marketing Association, Inc (PMA)
Established in 1911, the Promotion Marketing Association, Inc (PMA) is the premier not-for- profit organization and resource for research, education and collaboration for marketing professionals. Representing the over $1 trillion integrated marketing industry, the organization is comprised of Fortune 500 companies, top marketing agencies, law firms, retailers, service providers and academia, representing thousands of brands worldwide.
Publications Related to Marketing Law
- ABA - Law Firm Associate's Guide to Personal Marketing and Selling Skills
This is the first volume in ABA's new groundbreaking Law Firm Associates Development Series, created to teach important skills that associates and other lawyers need to succeed at their firms, but that they may have not learned in law school. This volume focuses on personal marketing and sales skills. It covers creating a personal marketing plan, finding people within your target market, preparing for client meetings, "asking" for business, realizing marketing opportunities, keeping your clients, staying in touch with your network inside and outside the firm, and more.
- Technology and Marketing Law Blog
Eric Goldman is an Associate Professor of Law at Santa Clara University School of Law. He also directs the school's High Tech Law Institute. Before joining the SCU faculty in 2006, he was an Assistant Professor at Marquette University Law School, General Counsel of Epinions.com, and an Internet transactional attorney at Cooley Godward LLP.
Articles on HG.org Related to Marketing Law
- Truth in Advertising and Marketing and Other FTC RegulationsWhen consumers see or hear an advertisement on the Internet, radio, in print, on a billboard, on television, or anywhere else, federal law says that the ad must be truthful, not misleading, and, when appropriate, backed by scientific evidence.
- When is it False Advertising or Just Puffing?We have all seen commercials making claims that our common sense told us simply cannot be true. For example, miracle weight loss supplements or exercise equipment. And yet, somehow these commercials make it to television and are not immediately removed as part of a lawsuit. How is that? What is the difference between false advertising and simply inflating the truth about your product (a practice called “puffing”)?
- Product Misrepresentation: How California Law Protects ConsumersA Southern California woman recently made headlines after she personally sued Honda in small claims court when her car failed to live up to promise mileage standards, resulting in financially injurious consequences for her. The woman, Heather Peters, was awarded $9,867 from the small claims court judge and is encouraging others to follow her lead in making claims against Honda. A lawyer examines her case and explains the laws protecting consumers from product misrepresentation.
- Debt Relief Websites: Are they Honest?Debt Relief Websites are they trouble? Make sure you review the terms and conditions of any site before agreeing.
- Online Data: The New OilThe author explains behavior marketing and its possible ramifications on people.
- Internet Marketing Law - FTC and Advertising RulesMarketing and Advertising on the Internet is subject to the same laws as any other medium. Sometimes people do not follow those rules, and the FTC or State AG is involved.
- Announcing Angela Kwan Law Offices New WebsiteThe Angela Kwan Law Offices is pleased to announce the launch of their new website at http://www.angelakwanlaw.com/.
- Protecting Your TrademarkA trademark's viability depends on continued use and vigilance. When it comes to trademarks, the law has a "use it or lose it" philosophy, which makes sense in light of a trademark's role as an identifier of the source of goods and services. If there are no goods and services that are being promoted through use of the trademark, it no longer functions as one. A subsequent user can file to cancel a dormant federally registered mark, or can defend an infringement action based on abandonment.
- 10 Things Every Internet Marketer Should KnowThe author describes the 10 things you should know to market in Internet.
- FTC and Online Advertising/MarketingInternet law is a relatively new field of legal practice: state and federal courts and agencies are creating it on an ad hoc basis, attempting to fit the highly specialized disputes that arise from website development, service provider liability, copyright/trademarks, and the professional scope of online businesses and affiliate marketers into preexisting legal frameworks.
- All Communication Law Articles
Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwide discussing legal aspects related to Communication including: advertising, marketing law and media.


