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Social Media Promotions and the Law

Considering using social media contests or giveaways to grow your business or that of your client? Are you aware that social media promotions must comply with state and federal laws? And that you may have problems with your giveaway? Why Legalities? One of the best ways to grow your business is to give stuff [...]

Legal Lesson From the Ruth’s Chris Ann Arbor Promotion Debacle

On Friday, October 7, 2016, the Ruth's Chris Steak House in Ann Arbor Michigan shared a promotion on its Facebook page regarding the Michigan vs. Rutgers game. The promotion stated that whatever the point difference in the final score of the game between Michigan and its opponent for the remainder of the season, the [...]

By |2020-05-14T12:51:56-07:00October 11th, 2016|Business Law, Giveaways, Trademark|5 Comments

Sweepstakes Law: What is Equal Dignity

Note: While much of this article is applicable outside of US laws, only US laws and regulations are addressed. While social media platforms have reduced the barriers of running a sweepstakes, contest, or 'giveaway', they've raised the bar on how much entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, social media strategists, agencies, and brands need to know when it [...]

By |2020-05-14T12:58:00-07:00August 3rd, 2016|Business Law, Giveaways, Social Media|29 Comments

Legal Considerations of Cause Marketing

While many of us incorporate giving throughout the year, many businesses get in the giving spirit around holidays. It's awesome to visit clients who have donation boxes, angel trees, adopt-a-family boards, and other charitable programs for their employees to support. And who among us hasn't dropped donations in the red kettles as we're leaving [...]

By |2020-09-05T09:54:44-07:00December 1st, 2015|Business Law, FTC Disclosure, Giveaways, Social Media|1 Comment

6 Key Takeaways From 2015 Update to the FTC Endorsement Guides FAQs

For the first time since they were first written in 2009 (and made public in 2010), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has updated its "What People Are Asking" page, which is a Q&A-type resource relating to the FTC Endorsement Guides and related online disclosure rules. The update provides further clarification related to how and [...]

Contests and Sweepstakes Law: 6 Mistakes You Are Probably Making And How To Fix Them

Contests and sweepstakes are powerful marketing tools. Whether it's a blog, website, or social network there is no shortage of people or businesses wanting to give things away to their community. And why not, people like to win free stuff. But contests and sweepstakes law is also important to be aware of, too. When [...]

By |2020-09-05T09:19:23-07:00February 12th, 2015|Business Law, Giveaways, Social Media|30 Comments

Facebook Update – Like Gating For Promotions To End November 5, 2014

Update for Facebook Promotions Running your sweepstakes or contest on Facebook may look different come November 5, 2014. In announcing updates to the Graph API, Facebook Software Engineer Harshdeep Singh included the Platform Policy changes in a post on the Facebook Developer Blog on Thursday August 7, 2014. While this is a more technical [...]

By |2020-05-14T13:09:46-07:00August 8th, 2014|Blogging, Facebook, Giveaways, Social Media|9 Comments

Pinterest Giveaway Rules: Updated

  In response to questions and uncertainty about using Pinterest to run giveaways, Pinterest has issued an update to its Pinterest for Business Brand Guidelines and Acceptable Use Policy. While the Brand Guidelines are specifically for business users, the Acceptable Use policies apply to all platform users. Together, these new Pinterest giveaway rules should help [...]

By |2020-12-07T12:40:42-07:00October 31st, 2013|Blogging, Business Law, Giveaways, Pinterest, Social Media|10 Comments

Legal Implications of Facebook Promotion Guidelines

On August 27, 2013, Facebook made sweeping changes to its Promotion Guidelines for Businesses. It's been over 2 years since the last updates to the Facebook Promotion Guidelines. The changes today may significantly change how businesses run promotions on the social network. What are the changes to the Facebook Promotion Guidelines? And how do [...]

By |2020-07-16T13:11:21-07:00August 28th, 2013|Facebook, Giveaways, Social Media|28 Comments

2013 FTC Dot Com Disclosure Updates and What They Mean For Marketers

FTC Disclosure and Online Marketing On March 12, 2013, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released the long-awaited Dot Com Disclosures. The FTC Dot Com Disclosures guide provides guidance for online and mobile advertisers. Last released in 2000, the internet back then looked very different than it does today. Even now, after over [...]

By |2020-05-14T13:21:41-07:00March 15th, 2013|FTC Disclosure, Giveaways, Social Media|16 Comments
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