The FTC Regulations And Obama?

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 12:18 PM

Hey guys,

Just wanted to confirm that it's against the FTC regulations to use the word 'Obama' or 'Biden'?

Thanks,

Zach

EDIT: This is only for landing pages where you are paying for the traffic. Ex: PPC, PPV etc.

I guess that wasn't implied.

Michael Oksa · 07-08-2009, 12:22 PM

Hi Zach,

Never heard of that one before. That would be about as unconstitutional as it gets. There may be ways that would make it against the rules, such as a false endorsement, or misleading info, but other than that I'm not aware of any rule that flat out prohibits the use of ANY word.

That's my understanding. I may be wrong. It just doesn't make any sense to me, do you have a source?

All the best,
Michael

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 12:29 PM

This is what my AM told me. Also you can not use the word Stimulus.

I guess awhile ago there was a big blow up about people using the words Stimulus, Obama, and Biden to mis lead people into doing CPA offers. Which makes sense, might be overkill on the FTC's part though. (And also kills my a landing pages, yay)

Zach

AmyBrown · 07-08-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach Booker

Hey guys,

Just wanted to confirm that it's against the FTC regulations to use the word 'Obama' or 'Biden'?

Thanks,

Zach

To use the words in what way? I think some info is missing here.

Paul Myers · 07-08-2009, 12:31 PM

Zach,

Yep. And you just used both. I'd leave the state if I were you. Men with guns will be pounding on your door within the hour.

Paul

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 12:34 PM

Good thing I'm in Canada...time to get in my canoe and paddle away than.

Zach

P.S- I suppose I should've clarified that it's apparently not allowed for PPV landing pages or any PPC network etc.

It's fine for regular SEO stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Zach,

Yep. And you just used both. I'd leave the state if I were you. Men with guns will be pounding on your door within the hour.

Paul

Paul Myers · 07-08-2009, 12:35 PM

Zach,

Ah. A sensible context.

Depends on how you use them. You answered your own question when you mentioned the part about being "misleading." Yeah. That violates FTC rules, regardless of whose name you use in the process.

If a practice becomes common and is a problem, guidelines will occasionally be put in place to prevent even the appearance of its use. This is to help deal with people who try to weasel around more narrow rules in ways that are still abusive.

Paul

Wakunahum · 07-08-2009, 12:35 PM

Regardless of how real or not this is, I'm always going to use politicians' names in context whether written or spoken.

If they come up with funny laws/rules/regulations, fine. I don't HAVE to follow them if they are that silly.

I can just see it now... President He Who Must Not Be Named...

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 12:43 PM

Yeah, I agree 100%. Another case of a few people pushing the line and ruining it for everyone else.

(If this is a rule, which it's looking more and more like it is)

Zach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Zach,

Ah. A sensible context.

Depends on how you use them. You answered your own question when you mentioned the part about being "misleading." Yeah. That violates FTC rules, regardless of whose name you use in the process.

If a practice becomes common and is a problem, guidelines will occasionally be put in place to prevent even the appearance of its use. This is to help deal with people who try to weasel around more narrow rules in ways that are still abusive.

Paul

Dan C. Rinnert · 07-08-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach Booker

This is what my AM told me. Also you can not use the word Stimulus.

I guess awhile ago there was a big blow up about people using the words Stimulus, Obama, and Biden to mis lead people into doing CPA offers. Which makes sense, might be overkill on the FTC's part though. (And also kills my a landing pages, yay)

If people were using the words in misleading ways, it may be that the affiliate program you're a member of no longer allows those words to be used by their affiliates in order to avoid any problems with their affiliates.

Michael Oksa · 07-08-2009, 12:49 PM

For future reference, go right to the source.

http://www.ftc.gov

Their search function makes it easy to find the info you want to know about. Plus, then you won't have to worry about opinions from less-than-well-informed members of the forum.

Anyway, it doesn't really appear to be an FTC issue in this case, but rather the rules of your affiliate program.

All the best,
Michael

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 12:52 PM

That's what I thought at first too, but apparently it's market wide.

I'd hate to see how much money they're spending to monitor all these flogs and ridiculous rules.

Zach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

If people were using the words in misleading ways, it may be that the affiliate program you're a member of no longer allows those words to be used by their affiliates in order to avoid any problems with their affiliates.

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 12:56 PM

Thanks Michael,

Wasn't aware they had a site with everything there.

Hope you don't mind but I sent you a PM to get your thoughts on one landing page I had done previously to hearing of this 'rule'.

Still don't think this is simply with my aff program or network, according to her it's market wide. But i'll def do some more research.

Thanks again,

Zach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Oksa

For future reference, go right to the source.

Federal Trade Commission

Their search function makes it easy to find the info you want to know about. Plus, then you won't have to worry about opinions from less-than-well-informed members of the forum.

Anyway, it doesn't really appear to be an FTC issue in this case, but rather the rules of your affiliate program.

All the best,
Michael

LB · 07-08-2009, 12:59 PM

FTC Comes Hard After Obama Stimulus Grant Offers - ShoeMoney®

Zach Booker · 07-08-2009, 01:05 PM

Just what I was looking for!

Thanks,

Zach

Dennis Murphy · 07-08-2009, 01:08 PM

The FTC has been warning consumers about not falling for scams dealing with the Stimulus package. Here are 2 quick links I found on the FTC site:

FTC Warns Consumers About Economic Stimulus Scams
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/03/stimulusscam.shtm

A small snippet from that article regarding the sites they are warning consumers about:

Quote:

"Web sites may advertise that they can help you get money from the stimulus fund. Many use deceptive names or images of President Obama and Vice President Biden to suggest they are legitimate. They're not," says Eileen Harrington, Acting Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Don't fall for it. If you do, you'll get scammed."

Seeing Through Stimulus Scams
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...ts/alt125.shtm

Dennis

07-08-2009, 12:18 PM	#1
Zach Booker Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 972 Thanks: 190 Thanked 161 Times in 108 Posts	The FTC Regulations And Obama? Hey guys, Just wanted to confirm that it's against the FTC regulations to use the word 'Obama' or 'Biden'? Thanks, Zach EDIT: This is only for landing pages where you are paying for the traffic. Ex: PPC, PPV etc. I guess that wasn't implied.

07-08-2009, 12:22 PM	#2
Michael Oksa The Ethical Marketer War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 6,196 Thanks: 1,806 Thanked 3,229 Times in 1,395 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? Hi Zach, Never heard of that one before. That would be about as unconstitutional as it gets. There may be ways that would make it against the rules, such as a false endorsement, or misleading info, but other than that I'm not aware of any rule that flat out prohibits the use of ANY word. That's my understanding. I may be wrong. It just doesn't make any sense to me, do you have a source? All the best, Michael
	N E W ! Niche Dominator Series - Check it out here. "Ich bin en fuego!"

07-08-2009, 12:29 PM	#3
Zach Booker Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 972 Thanks: 190 Thanked 161 Times in 108 Posts	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? This is what my AM told me. Also you can not use the word Stimulus. I guess awhile ago there was a big blow up about people using the words Stimulus, Obama, and Biden to mis lead people into doing CPA offers. Which makes sense, might be overkill on the FTC's part though. (And also kills my a landing pages, yay) Zach

07-08-2009, 12:31 PM	#5
Paul Myers Zen Redneck War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 13,316 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 1,218 Thanked 10,164 Times in 2,741 Posts Social Networking	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? Zach, Yep. And you just used both. I'd leave the state if I were you. Men with guns will be pounding on your door within the hour. Paul
	Get... Paul's Handy Little Guide to the Warrior Forum Trust me. It will help. And it's free.

07-08-2009, 12:35 PM	#7
Paul Myers Zen Redneck War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 13,316 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 1,218 Thanked 10,164 Times in 2,741 Posts Social Networking	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? Zach, Ah. A sensible context. Depends on how you use them. You answered your own question when you mentioned the part about being "misleading." Yeah. That violates FTC rules, regardless of whose name you use in the process. If a practice becomes common and is a problem, guidelines will occasionally be put in place to prevent even the appearance of its use. This is to help deal with people who try to weasel around more narrow rules in ways that are still abusive. Paul
	Get... Paul's Handy Little Guide to the Warrior Forum Trust me. It will help. And it's free.

07-08-2009, 12:35 PM	#8
Wakunahum Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Posts: 654 Thanks: 6 Thanked 37 Times in 33 Posts Contact Info	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? Regardless of how real or not this is, I'm always going to use politicians' names in context whether written or spoken. If they come up with funny laws/rules/regulations, fine. I don't HAVE to follow them if they are that silly. I can just see it now... President He Who Must Not Be Named...

07-08-2009, 12:49 PM	#11
Michael Oksa The Ethical Marketer War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 6,196 Thanks: 1,806 Thanked 3,229 Times in 1,395 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? For future reference, go right to the source. http://www.ftc.gov Their search function makes it easy to find the info you want to know about. Plus, then you won't have to worry about opinions from less-than-well-informed members of the forum. Anyway, it doesn't really appear to be an FTC issue in this case, but rather the rules of your affiliate program. All the best, Michael
	N E W ! Niche Dominator Series - Check it out here. "Ich bin en fuego!"

07-08-2009, 12:59 PM	#14
LB Original Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the forest. Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 256 Thanked 461 Times in 202 Posts	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? FTC Comes Hard After Obama Stimulus Grant Offers - ShoeMoney®
	Tired of Article Marketing, Backlink Spamming and Other Crusty Old Traffic Methods? Click Here.

07-08-2009, 01:05 PM	#15
Zach Booker Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 972 Thanks: 190 Thanked 161 Times in 108 Posts	Re: The FTC Regulations And Obama? Just what I was looking for! Thanks, Zach