Is the Government Getting Too Involved?

I know the title of this blog might strike a cord with a few of you, (I’m not mentioning any initials, S.I!) but try to keep your comment limited to the actual new ruling the Federal Trade Commission announced this morning.

Bloggers posting reviews of books will, as of December 1, 2009, need to blatantly and conspicuously announce, if it is the case, that they received a free copy of the book.

Here’s a short article about how free books are now being viewed as compensation for the review. Two ways to get around it being seen as compensation is NOT to post a link to purchase the product or NOT to keep the book.

And here’s the FTC’s official release.

Seems to be that a lot of little puppies–like the people on my blog tour–are getting put in the dog house with the pitbulls. There are people, I’m sure, who receive products from a company and provide favorable reviews in exchange for further products, but I don’t know a one of them who’s blogging about books!

I’m also wondering how the FTC is going to enforce the rule.

So whadya think? Too involved? Or is it a necessary regulation?

5 Responses to Is the Government Getting Too Involved?

  1. Jessica October 6, 2009 at 2:05 am #

    Too involved. Grrrr….

  2. Tamara Hart Heiner October 6, 2009 at 10:05 am #

    There’s a review of your book on my blog. (Yesterday’s post; today’s will be up in a moment.) I’ll be sure to add that I BOUGHT the book.

  3. Susan J. Reinhardt October 6, 2009 at 4:23 pm #

    Hi Christina –

    Argh! What else are they going to think of next?

    I review books for Nelson, Tyndale, and Moody (like yours). Never once has anyone suggested I owed them a favorable review in exchange for a book.

    Thanks for the heads up.

    Blessings,
    Susan

  4. Christina Berry October 6, 2009 at 9:26 pm #

    Crazy, isn’t it?? How are they getting the word out to those who aren’t on writing loops that discuss such things?

    Yippee, Tamara, checking it out right now!

  5. Heather Sunseri October 7, 2009 at 1:34 am #

    Yeah, and do we really think the IRS is going to start sending out tax notices to collect taxes on that “compensation?” I think not. Oh, I could go on forever about this, but I’ll spare you guys.