Truth in Advertising

[SickPuppy]

There is a law that requires truth in advertising, you might have heard of it.

 

The Federal Trade Commission states that

 

Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive

Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims

Advertisements cannot be unfair.

 

The simplest way to say it is “You can’t just make shit up.” If you make an advertising statement “Lowest Price” then it needs to be true. If you are charging $2.00 a slot for the same server that 10 other GSPs are charging $1.00 a slot for them you are being deceptive. If you state “we have The Fastest Network” then you need evidence to back up the claim.

 

Then there is the old bait and switch “Game servers $0.99 a slot” until you get to the website and find out that the $0.99 is for a private password protected server and you end up paying a $1.49 a slot.

[jcroom]

Well a game server is a game server, I don't think the FTC cares if it has a password or not The ad also says "Game Servers FROM .99 cents a slot". (If we are thinking of the same company)

[KP-Dallas]

There is a law that requires truth in advertising, you might have heard of it.

 

The Federal Trade Commission states that

 

Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive

Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims

Advertisements cannot be unfair.

 

The simplest way to say it is “You can’t just make shit up.” If you make an advertising statement “Lowest Price” then it needs to be true. If you are charging $2.00 a slot for the same server that 10 other GSPs are charging $1.00 a slot for them you are being deceptive. If you state “we have The Fastest Network” then you need evidence to back up the claim.

 

I believe he is referring to the defcon banner at the top

[JasonF]

Here we go again.

[studeggle]

Have you watched any TV lately, or listened to the radio, or picked up a magazine. You can not outright lie in advertising. But you absolutely can be a bit deceptive as long as your statements can be construed as truth.

Not saying I agree with deceptive advertising, but it is not illegal. At least not an illegal the courts would uphold, don’t have the time to go comb through the law itself and tear it to shreds with what you can and can’t do.

And I do seem to recall a post just a couple days ago from ECF stating to stop the flame wars. If you have a problem with a companies advertising feel free to take them to court. But don’t try to carefully word an inflammatory post that you think manages to squeeze by the flaming rules. It would be nice to see the flame wars around here dye down and more useful information be around.

Thanks

[KP-Dallas]

Here we go again.

 

No trying to start stuff Jason.Just stating what i though he was referring to.If you read what the banner says im sure you will get it.

[KP-Dallas]

And I do seem to recall a post just a couple days ago from ECF stating to stop the flame wars.If you have a problem with a companies advertising feel free to take them to court. But don’t try to carefully word an inflammatory post that you think manages to squeeze by the flaming rules. It would be nice to see the flame wars around here dye down and more useful information be around.

Thanks

 

Nice one..LOL.

[HGN-Daniel]

Rich DOES have the lowest prices and fastest networks -- for any company named defconservers... :-D

[KP-Dallas]

Rich DOES have the lowest prices and fastest networks -- for any company named defconservers... :-D

 

LOL GOOD ONE!! only for companies named defcon tho.

[Derek]

Here we go again.

 

Haaa:rolleyes:

[Todd Holley]

Rich DOES have the lowest prices and fastest networks -- for any company named defconservers... :-D

 

Agreed.

 

And there are so many deceiving ads it would be close to impossible to get a grasp on it. (In every field, not just game server providers).

[VicToMeyeZR]

Not to mention its all perspective.

 

If the Ad is what you are talking about. "lowest prices" doesn't say the "lowest prices for Game Server Hosting on the web"

 

So his statement is not false.

 

Otherwise 90% of the Ad's on TV would fall under your same principle.

[KP-Dallas]

Don't get me wrong i have much respect for Defcon and rich. Defcon has came along way and rich is the one who brought it this far.Rich keep up your hard work.

 

I was just stating that sickpuppy looked like he was talking about the Defcon ad by the way he posted it thats all i am saying .

[DougK94]

It seems like the GSP's that are attacked the most by others fit into a couple of categories:

 

1. The older established ones and/or largest competitor

2. The new startup with 1 server that is going to take over the market

[Todd Holley]

It seems like the GSP's that are attacked the most by others fit into a couple of categories:

 

1. The older established ones and/or largest competitor

2. The new startup with 1 server that is going to take over the market

 

Completely correct.

[Defcon|Rich]

Not to mention its all perspective.

 

If the Ad is what you are talking about. "lowest prices" doesn't say the "lowest prices for Game Server Hosting on the web"

 

So his statement is not false.

 

Otherwise 90% of the Ad's on TV would fall under your same principle.

 

Thank you.

 

 

For the others that apparently have nothing better to do.. The ad (despite what the OP decided it said) doesn't say "THE Fastest", "THE Lowest". So for all intents it's a non issue. Some of you aspiring law scholars might understand the differences in wording between "fastest" and "THE fastest"

 

Besides, Every site I've ever visited including most of yours all make claims of "Best support, Fastest Support, Highly Trained, Best prices, 24x7 support, Best hosting, Cheapest hosting, Largest, Fastest, etc. etc. Which is pretty standard advertising and all open to interpretation. There's nothing wrong with that and surely it's not untruthful.

 

On the same note, I'd be interested to know how Lexus is able to get around using the slogan "The finest luxury cars".? Has it been established across the board that Lexus does in fact have the finest cars? Or is the interpretation? Can one of you scholars answer that?

 

 

The defense rests your honor..

[Todd Holley]

It couldn't be said better.

[KP-Dallas]

Rich,

 

If you read my post i did not/will not attack you.You are one of the oldest,best GSPs still alive and you do a great job running it keep up the hard work sir.

[KingJ]

In addition, it may be the fastest/cheapest etc to the best of their knowledge. You can't hardly be expected to go and check every GSP's pricing before you launch your ad.

[HIS-MOTHER]

For Sale......

 

Used car. Looks and runs great!! And dat's da truth.

[SickPuppy]

Just wanted to start a new argument can't let the forums get tedious. Most of you know me by now and should know that I just like to bait you into a good argument. And regardless of the subject someone always takes the bait. If this were another member’s thread I would be arguing the opposite point of view.

 

It keeps things exciting and lets us vent during these troubling times. I do enjoy reading everyone’s point of view.

[SickPuppy]

On the same note, I'd be interested to know how Lexus is able to get around using the slogan "The finest luxury cars".? Has it been established across the board that Lexus does in fact have the finest cars? Or is the interpretation? Can one of you scholars answer that?

 

 

The defense rests your honor..

 

Yes I can answer that, Lexus and other independent groups conduct consumer surveys which established a reasonable conclusion that the Lexus was the finest luxury cars. This is a well accepted practice in advertising as long as the sample group and control group were of sufficient size to reflect the preference of the average consumer. I will research this case but I think this was already taken to court

 

Before a company runs an ad, it has to have a "reasonable basis" for the claims. A "reasonable basis" means objective evidence that supports the claim. The kind of evidence depends on the claim. At a minimum, an advertiser must have the level of evidence that it says it has.

 

The defense needs to call their next witness

[KP-Dallas]

Just wanted to start a new argument can't let the forums get tedious. Most of you know me by now and should know that I just like to bait you into a good argument. And regardless of the subject someone always takes the bait. If this were another member’s thread I would be arguing the opposite point of view.

 

It keeps things exciting and lets us vent during these troubling times. I do enjoy reading everyone’s point of view.

 

LOL figured that's why this thread was started.

[KP-Dallas]

Yes I can answer that, Lexus and other independent groups conduct consumer surveys which established a reasonable conclusion that the Lexus was the finest luxury cars. This is a well accepted practice in advertising as long as the sample group and control group were of sufficient size to reflect the preference of the average consumer. I will research this case but I think this was already taken to court

 

Before a company runs an ad, it has to have a "reasonable basis" for the claims. A "reasonable basis" means objective evidence that supports the claim. The kind of evidence depends on the claim. At a minimum, an advertiser must have the level of evidence that it says it has.

 

The defense needs to call their next witness

 

Here we go! Its going to start again now.!

 

</lock>

[VicToMeyeZR]

That only proves the point about the Lexus, but your original statement, is still unfounded; "Lowest Prices" in NOT an untruthful statement, as it is to broad of one.