Comments on: FTC Ruling on Blogging and Disclosure

By: Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy :: I wasn’t paid to blog this

Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy :: I wasn’t paid to blog this — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:48:56 +0000

[...] FTC has some funny ideas about what bloggers need to do to remain honest. Fortunately I blog from Canada, but since a large [...]

By: Monetizing blogs and reviews opportunities on FMB | Fuelmyblog - The blog for the exclusive blog community.

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:26:50 +0000

[...] Riley kindly agreed to cover this latest update from the FTC on the FMB blog. Key fact: always disclose paid for [...]

By: Damien Riley

Damien Riley — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:47:58 +0000

The FTC definitely should crack down on content theft. I don’t even know when people do anymore but I report it when I see it.

By: fracas

fracas — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:22:07 +0000

And I wish they’d find a way to crack down on content thieves who take our posts and place them on aggregators solely for the purpose of earning google ad revenue. As it is, we have to police it and hunt down each thief and try have it dealt with on our own… costing us in time/money. Seems to me, if they can’t crack down on real thieves, why crack down on people who might say they liked some popcorn because it was free?

Just call me crazy, but I think real crime should always come first.

By: Damien Riley

Damien Riley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:20:56 +0000

Nicely worded Fracas. I just see it like the red light cameras they just installed by my house. I don’t roll out into the intersection anymore when I see them.

Blogging for me will pretty much stay the same. I’d like to triple my income in 2010 so I better know the laws right?

By: fracas

fracas — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:10:56 +0000

Mr. Frac gets free products all the time. We wear them, drink them, eat them, etc. I tried a chocolate company’s product recently. It was awesome. I might tell others it was… but I don’t usually tell them I know so because the sample I got was free. I know so because I ate it, not because it was free. Who cares. As long as the reviews are honest, why does it matter?

I don’t believe blogger testimonials any more than I believe television commercials, so someone lying because it’s free doesn’t affect me any more than the lies we see in commercials. If I believe someone and go by their review, it’s usually because I know them well enough to know that their review is honest.

Really… it’s all just like tv. Maybe they should crack down a little more on dishonest television advertising?

By: JohnC

JohnC — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:48:09 +0000

The FTC prefers production increase and losses decrease. Be happy!

I have already prepared for the event of moving sites to server space located outside the United States.

I have also prepared for the event of sending posts to trusted persons to transmit directly to those sites if necessary.

I will not be controlled or told what to do in expressing free thought, ideas, or aspirations.

With all due respect to my peer bloggers, my country was founded on freedom. Many of my fellow countrymen don’t share my government’s choices.

If our virtual world cannot be free, we will take it a place where it will be. We will still be online no different to end users than before. We will simply exploit loopholes of reality to take control of virtuality.

We are the power. Wars are being waged online. Governments now fight virtual terrorists trying to take down web portals.

VIVA LA BLOG! VIVA LA BLOG! LONG LIVE THE BLOGGER!

…don’t make me start virtually ranting ‘Blogwar’, after 8 years. Sheesh.

By: Damien Riley

Damien Riley — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:20:33 +0000

Thanks so much. Yeah, free products given to the reviewer must be disclosed as well.

By: 70steen

70steen — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:02:35 +0000

very interesting Damien. I will look at the full FTC document over the weekend [I have just got home form a leaving do at work so a couple of drinks have passed my lips so the brain is not up to such a review]… however, I have done several reviews of products where I have eaten, drank, bathed in it and worn them … I have not been paid but there has been a consideration I wonder if this is classed as payment? … in the UK VAT whether payment be a monetary one or a consideration in kind for a service is deemed to be taxable!!

By: Karen from Blazing Minds

Karen from Blazing Minds — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:46:23 +0000

I have always mentioned on my blog if I was sent something to review etc, I think it’s only right for your readers to know!

By: sylvied

sylvied — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:43:23 +0000

Great post Damien - you can read the full document from the FTC: http://www.scribd.com/doc/20689476/FCC-Advertisement-Changes-Effetive-Dec-2009 I agree with Damien - choose a product relevant to your blog and give your honest opinion on the product tested - you owe it to yourself and your readers.