Edited by
Jeffrey D. Knowles 
and
Gary D. Hailey
Analysis
October 16 is Coming...Is Your Company Ready?
October 16, the effective date of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rule changes requiring consumers' "prior express written consent" for certain telephone calls and texts made using an "autodialer," is upon us, writes Venable partner Ellen T. Berge in a recent post to Venable's advertising law blog. In her post, Berge analyzes the requirements of the new rules, as well as "work-arounds" that simply will not work.
Click here to read the full text of Berge's blog post at Venable's advertising law blog,
www.allaboutadvertisinglaw.com.
Are Disclaimers a Dying Breed?
The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) recent .com Disclosure guidance reiterated – and in some instances revised – its previous guidance about the prominence and clarity of disclaimers. In the October edition of the DRMA Voice Venable partners Amy Ralph Mudge and Randal M. Shaheen write that the FTC's guidance, in combination with a recent National Advertising Division (NAD) decision, could spell trouble for the use of disclaimers in advertising.
Click here to read the DRMA Voice article by Mudge and Shaheen.
Click here to view a presentation by Venable partners Jonathan L. Pompanand Ellen T. Berge detailing the changes in the updated .com Disclosure guidance.
It Just Got Easier to Do the Right Thing, in Maine at Least
Yesterday was a great day for cause marketers, at least those doing business in Maine, writes Venable Attorney Kristalyn J. Loson in a recent post to Venable's advertising law blog. On October 9, the state repealed its onerous commercial co-venturer laws, which regulated cause marketing campaigns. Such laws, Loson writes, vary from state to state, subjecting marketers and charitable partners to a patchwork of state-by-state requirements.
Click here to read the full text of Loson's post on Venable's advertising law blog,
No Matter Who's Watching, Some Ads Just Aren't for Kids
Venable partners Amy Ralph Mudge and Randal M. Shaheen write, in a recent post to Venable's advertising law blog, that a pair of decisions by the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) reiterate that products posing a safety risk to kids cannot be advertised during child-directed programming, even if adults are clearly the intended audience. In both cases (one involved television and the other internet advertising), the self-regulatory body cited its guidelines prohibiting such advertising.
Click here to read the full text of the post by Mudge and Shaheen on Venable's advertising law blog,
Upcoming Events
October 22, 2013
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET
Join Venable partner Roger A. Colaizzi for this complimentary CLE webinar for Class Action Insurance Consultants, hosted by HB Litigation Conferences. Learn strategic case selection techniques, creative settlement tactics, and tactical responses to class action complaints, motions to dismiss, and class certification. In addition to a discussion of recent, key decisions regarding commonality and ascertainability, and how these decisions affect the sustainability of class action cases, this panel will provide a thought provoking examination of the class action landscape.
Click here to learn more and register.
October 25, 2013
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET
Attend this interactive webinar hosted by the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Private Advertising Litigation Committee, and hear Venable partner Roger A. Colaizzi and other panelists discuss recent and significant developments in class action practice, including the key decisions regarding ascertainability and commonality – Thomasson v. GC Services (Sept. 2013), and Carrera v. Bayer (Aug. 2013). Learn creative approaches to responding to class actions, including settlement tactics and determining "take rates." In addition to providing plaintiff and defense perspectives, this panel will discuss class action insurance to help bolster your class action toolkit.
Click here to learn more and register.
ad:tech New York – New York City
November 6-7, 2012
ad:tech spans the full ecosystem of advertising, digital marketing and technology that moves business forward. Please join Venable attorneys at our booth (#1006) on the show floor.
Click here to register and receive 25% off all passes when you enter discount code NY13EXH25.
35th Annual Brand Activation Association Marketing Law Conference – Chicago
November 18-20, 2013
Venable is proud to sponsor the BAA Marketing Law Conference, featuring the nation's leading speakers from the Marketing and Advertising Law Bar and from major brands and prominent regulators. Venable partner Melissa Landau Steinman will present a session on gift cards, coupons, and loyalty programs. Joining her as speakers at the conference are Venable partners Po Yi, who will join a roundtable to discuss legal aspects of partnering with the media on integrated marketing programs, and Amy Ralph Mudge, who will address how to respond when the FTC challenges advertising.
Please join Venable at these sessions and at our reception at the House of Blues on November 18.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
