Advertising Law

UK Bans Misleading Airbrushed Makeup Ads Featuring Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington

A United Kingdom regulator has banned as misleading magazine makeup ads featuring actress Julia Roberts and supermodel Christy Turlington, Sky News reports. The digitally manipulated images of the two women, who are in their early 40s, wearing L’Oreal and Maybelline foundation products, give readers an unrealistic idea of what they…

Jul 28, 2011 12:32 AM CDT

Europe’s Top Court Says eBay Could Be Liable in Sales of Counterfeit Goods

Europe’s top court has ruled that online auction sites such as eBay could be liable for trademark infringement if they actively promote counterfeit goods. The court ruled after L’Oreal alleged in a series of suits that eBay was liable for selling counterfeit goods and imported L’Oreal products not intended for…

Jul 12, 2011 11:31 AM CDT

Some Companies Behind Shrinking Belly Ad Are Conning Consumers, FTC Alleges

Those online ads showing a shrinking waistline and offering “1 Tip for a Tiny Belly” have linked to some diet companies that are conning consumers, the Federal Trade Commission has alleged. Independent promoters sell the ads to companies hawking diet products made from foods such as acai berries and African…

Jul 7, 2011 1:16 PM CDT

Best Buy Not Amused by Competitor’s Ad, Sends Cease-and-Desist Letter

Nearly 600,000 YouTube viewers to date have enjoyed an amusing new 30-second commercial by Newegg, the online consumer electronics retailer. In the commercial, shot from the vantage point of a potential customer, a clueless teenage salesman in a blue shirt at a big box store tries to explain the difference…

Jun 28, 2011 9:48 PM CDT

Racketeering Suit Filed Against Lady Gaga Over Charity Wristbands

Lawyers from Michigan-based 1-800-LAW-FIRM have filed a federal racketeering suit against international sensation Lady Gaga, claiming the entertainer improperly profited from “We Pray for Japan” charity wristbands sold on her website. Gaga began selling the $5 wristbands on her site shortly after a tsunami struck Japan in March, promising fans…

Jun 27, 2011 10:59 PM CDT

NBA Star Sues to Keep Ex-Fiancee Off of ‘Basketball Wives’ Reality Show

Orlando Magic basketball player Gilbert Arenas filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles on Monday to try to prevent his ex-fiancée from appearing in the upcoming reality series Basketball Wives: LA. In the suit, Arenas accuses Laura Govan and Shed Media US of trademark infringement, false advertising and misappropriation of…

Jun 27, 2011 7:13 PM CDT

Ban on Sale of Prescription Drug Info Violates First Amendment, Supreme Court Rules

A law that bars pharmacies from selling prescription information to drug marketers violates the constitutional right to free speech, the U.S. Supreme Court has held. In his majority opinion (PDF), Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said the Vermont law fails under a heightened scrutiny test. Drugmakers typically use the prescription information,…

Jun 23, 2011 3:02 PM CDT

FTC Should Probe Law Schools’ Employment Stats, Recent Grad Asserts

A recent law grad is getting some support for his assertion that the Federal Trade Commission could investigate whether law schools are violating federal consumer protection law. Joel Murray, a recent graduate of the University of California at Davis law school, posted a paper outlining his conclusions at the Social…

Jun 17, 2011 12:48 PM CDT

Law Firm Not Liable for Purchasing Competitor’s Name as Keyword to Drive Traffic to Own Website

Once upon a time, when bus benches and the yellow pages offered some of the only ways to promote a personal injury firm effectively, competitors tried to crowd each other out or dominate the space with the biggest ad. It wasn’t unheard-of to put a billboard up right next to…

Jun 9, 2011 3:07 AM CDT

Sending Brochure to Potential Clients re Ex-Partner’s Prosecution Costs PI Lawyer $35K and Reprimand

An acrimonious relationship with a lawyer for whom he formerly worked, decades ago, is costing a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer $35,000 and a public reprimand. Although it dismissed two of three counts of a legal ethics complaint against attorney Michael Hupy, a divided Wisconsin Supreme Court concluded today that a…

May 27, 2011 6:55 PM CDT

Facebook Sues Adult Internet Companies Promoting Their ‘Face Book of Sex’

Facebook has sued several affiliated Internet companies for using the phrase “Face Book of Sex” to promote their adult networking service. The federal suit names as a defendant Various Inc. and three subsidiaries. Filed in the Northern District of California, the complaint says the defendants operate Facebookofsex.com and affiliated websites…

May 23, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

Appeals Court Revives Lawyer’s Suit over Online Sexual Enhancement Pills

A lawyer who was dissatisfied with the sexual enhancement pills he bought over the Internet will be able to proceed with his lawsuit because of a favorable ruling by a New Jersey appeals court. Lawyer Harold Hoffman of Englewood will be able to sue in New Jersey, despite an online…

May 16, 2011 12:56 PM CDT

SC Lawyer Rapped for Overselling His Small Firm in Brochure, Phone Book and Online Ads

A South Carolina attorney has been publicly reprimanded by the state supreme court for overselling his small firm’s experience and expertise by exaggerating and making statements that could not be factually verified. For example, Michael Hensley Wells said on his firm’s website and in a brochure that he’d “worked in…

May 9, 2011 7:20 PM CDT

Suit Says Facebook Violates NY Law When Minors ‘Like’ Products Without Parents’ OK

A federal lawsuit filed today in Brooklyn, N.Y., contends Facebook Inc. is violating state advertising law by allowing minors to “like” products on the social networking site without getting parental permission. The action seeks damages under a state civil rights law that bans using an individual’s likeness for advertising purposes…

May 2, 2011 10:45 PM CDT

Solos Make a Splash with Mobile Ads

Murrieta, Calif., solo Lorene Mies has turned her black Cadillac SUV into a roving commercial for her law practice. The car is boldly emblazoned with details about her firm and Web address, thebankruptcyminute.com. On any given Saturday, the vehicle might be parked for the day in the lot at a…

May 1, 2011 7:20 AM CDT