FTC letter

[BaseballGuy]

I'm a publisher on the commssion junction network.

Been getting a ton of these emails as of today (each affiliate is sending me the same email with same boiler-plate text):

Dear (edited) Affiliate,

As you may know, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has strict guidelines that relate to affiliates who offer reviews, rankings, endorsements and testimonials; and we require all affiliates of our Commission Junction program to comply with these requirements.

To be compliant with the FTC Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, (edited) expressly requires you to disclose that there is a "material connection" between you and (edited) anytime you offer an endorsement or testimonial on our services.

View more information about (edited)'s strict adherence to the FTC Endorsement Requirement.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

If you provide reviews, rankings, endorsements or testimonials about a service for which you receive commissions from us, you must clearly disclose the fact that you receive such compensation in a clear and prominent place--that is close to your endorsement.

The FTC takes the Endorsement guidelines seriously and has started to enforce them for both content providers like yourself and advertisers like (edited).

As an advertiser, (edited) may monitor affiliate sites to be sure our services are represented appropriately. As stated in our Affiliate Agreement, failure to comply with the endorsement guidelines could result in removal from our affiliate program and the cancellation of commissions.

TIPS FOR MAKING SURE YOUR SITE IS COMPLIANT

To make it easier for you, we've pulled together information, based on a recent FTC enforcement case, to illustrate ways you can disclose a material connection between you and your advertisers. Take a few minutes to review this summary at:

(edited) Affiliate Disclosure Requirements and Examples

The FTC also offers a variety of resources to help make it easier for you to comply with the guidelines, including:

Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
The FTC's Revised Endorsement Guides: What People are Asking
Dot Com Disclosures: Information About Online Advertising

Please note: These links are intended to provide guidance only. If you provide endorsements of some type, you should obtain legal advice on how the FTC rules apply to you.

Please take steps immediately to make sure your site is in compliance with these guidelines. Several of our leading affiliates have already posted their disclosures, and they continue to enjoy great success.

Best wishes,

The (edited) Affiliate Team

So I run a coupon code website. It's very small... .read: micro.


Can I ask you guys what I should do? I fully understand you are not attorney's/CPA's/etc and I will not take this advice as legal advice.

Just want to see what you coupon code guys are doing to "comply" with this b.s. regulations by the United States Government, Inc.


thanks

[RhinoFish]

Comply or be cast out.

[eljefe3]

Agreed, and I've seen some programs in the UK where they requiring you to have your name or biz name as well as contact details on your site. UGHH

[tangor]

Please take steps immediately to make sure your site is in compliance with these guidelines. Several of our leading affiliates have already posted their disclosures, and they continue to enjoy great success.

Which in most cases is not making you rich. Been there, done that...

Option two is to continue as usual until cut off. (Not a viable long term option) but costs you nothing in the mean time.

Option three is get a better business method and tell them to kiss your ...

Explore all options, perhaps a few not mentioned. This, however is personal opinion and may not work for all... YMMV