The FTC is currently discussing plans to monitor websites and blogs that recommend or promote products. It seems that even a link to an Amazon book could be reason for investigation.

New guidelines, expected to be approved late summer 2009 with possible modifications, would clarify that the agency can go after bloggers — as well as the companies that compensate them — for any false claims or failure to disclose conflicts of interest.

Although, it makes sense that there should be some regulation as to how affiliate marketers promote their products, it seems somewhat draconian to simply go after anyone with an affiliate link on their site. In any case, I wonder how they are actually thinking that they can police the entire affiliate industry.

Here’s where you can get the actual FTC report: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2008/11/P034520endorsementguides.pdf

And you can read a report by the Associate Press here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6DZ0gpsCSwquntzof4FR4yfqYXwD98V7B880

Filed under: Internet Marketing

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