In today’s advertising environment, the boundaries between aggressive marketing and prohibited practices can be blurred. We’re here to help you find the line.
You wake up with a great idea.
You’ve thought of an exciting new product you want to sell using both old and new media—billboards, radio, television, direct marketing and email. But what can you say about it without running afoul of the regulators? Or prompting challenges by your competitors?
Could a consumer group sue you? Could you be hauled into court years from now for having failed to disclose some facts about the product? You’re wondering if it’s time to seek legal representation.
Venable attorneys know the intricacies of federal and state consumer laws. There is virtually no aspect of advertising and marketing where we haven’t played a role in shaping the rules that govern the product you are advertising.
RULES OF THE GAME: EXPECT CHALLENGES FROM SEVERAL DIRECTIONS
The Federal Trade Commission has started an investigation. How do you respond?
Carefully. Deliberately. Tenaciously. Venable will help you answer the critical questions:
- What do you do first?
- What steps do you take to keep your options open?
- What do you do to limit the disruption and minimize the damage?
We’ll help you to prepare a successful response. We’ll help you assess the charges and evaluate what they mean for your business.
With Venable on your side, you’re partnered with attorneys who know the terrain, so that your first response conditions an outcome that lets you continue to market your product successfully.
You want to use a sweepstakes as part of your campaign.
Great idea. Venable helps marketers use sweepstakes and skill contests to boost response rates and build customer lists in campaigns of all kinds. We can help you comply with state and federal disclosure rules and ensure your sweepstakes isn’t found to be an illegal lottery.
Someone has the nerve to copy a product you’ve spent years developing.
Venable attorneys are skilled at stopping infringements of your patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade dress.
In many cases, we’re able to negotiate licenses or royalty payments that add to our client’s revenue and profits. In other cases, we’ve been successful in litigation, including patent trials that have resulted in damage awards to our clients.
Basically, we do two things:
- Help clients comply with advertising regulations and other laws—so they don’t run afoul of regulators.
- Defend clients when a regulator or competitor attacks their products or their advertising.
Most clients employ us for both compliance and defense, depending on the campaign and the context. We can help you decide which makes the most sense for the issue you have in mind.
In a nutshell: What happens in Washington affects your business. When proposed legislation will increase your costs or limit your opportunities, you want to be heard.
And when agency officials are writing regulations you’ll have to deal with every day, they need to know your side of the story. We understand the issues you face. We’ve been part of the direct-marketing industry for nearly three decades.
Our reputation and relationships in Washington give you a seat at the table and a powerful network of contacts on Capitol Hill and across the spectrum of federal agencies.