New FCC Guidelines for Bloggers

If you are a blogger (and that includes Bibliobloggers!), and you haven’t already heard the news, be aware that new FCC guidelines may affect you. Here’s an explanation from the fine folks at CNET:

Independent bloggers who fail to disclose paid reviews or freebies can face up to $11,000 in fines from the Federal Trade Commission, according to revisions to the agency’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” published Monday.

So if you are reviewing a book, and you received that book for free, you now need to note that in your review. Silly, right? Well, I agree, and so does the Internet Advertising Bureau, but we’re stuck with it for now.

On a related note, I receive occasional gift certificates from the always wonderful wtsbooks.com on a click-by-click basis. If that bothers you, then I suggest you don’t click any links for books on this site.

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