FTC, Better Business Bureau, Electronic Retailing Association, and Promotion Marketing Association Sponsor Advertising Law Workshop in Chicago

On Tuesday, January 14, 2003, the Federal Trade Commission and its Midwest Region Office, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago and Northern Illinois, the Electronic Retailing Association, and the Promotion Marketing Association will host a one-day back-to-basics workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws entitled "Green Lights and Red Flags: FTC/BBB Rules of the Road for Advertisers."

At the workshop, a roster of Midwest Region and Washington-based attorneys will help marketing executives, business owners, law firm generalists, in-house counsel and government employees get up to speed on the latest developments in advertising. This event will give participants a chance to have their questions directly addressed. A tentative agenda for the workshop is provided below.

"Green Lights and Red Flags" will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Street, Chicago, Illinois. The special guest speaker will be Lee Peeler, Deputy Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. Welcoming remarks will be delivered by Steven Baker, Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Midwest Region; James Baumhart, President/CEO, BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois; Lisa Myers, President, Electronic Retailing Association; and Claire Rosenzweig, President, Promotion Marketing Association.

Topics to be discussed at the workshop include:

• The Ins and Outs of Ad Substantiation & Health Claims;
• The Bottom Line of Fine Print: Effective Disclosures in Advertising;
• Rebates, "Free" Offers, and Other Product Promotions;
• DOT.COMpliance: Special Considerations for E-tailers;
• Practical Advice for Companies Under Investigation;
• The FTC's National "Do Not Call" Registry;
• BBBOnline's Reliability and Privacy Seal Programs;
• The Role of Network Clearance; and
• The National Advertising Division: Resolving Disputes Without Litigation.

This event is open to the public and is free for government employees. There is a registration fee of $95 for general admission. Continental breakfast, lunch, and a CD-ROM of all workshop materials are included. Seating is limited, so visit, www.ftc.gov/chicagoadseminar for registration information.