Number: RL32177
Title: Federal Advertising Law: An Overview
Authors: Henry Cohen, American Law Division 
Abstract: This report provides a brief overview of federal law with respect to six selected advertising issues: alcohol advertising, tobacco advertising, the Federal Trade Commission Act, advertising by mail (including junk mail), advertising by telephone, and commercial e-mail (spam). There are numerous federal statutes regulating advertising that do not fit within any of these categories. As random examples, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires disclosures in advertisements for prescription drugs; the Truth in Lending Act governs the advertising of consumer credit; and a federal criminal statute makes it illegal falsely to convey in an advertisement that a business is connected with a federal agency.
Pages: 9
Date: April 10, 2008