FTC Drops Investigation of Ann Taylor Stores Giving Gifts to Bloggers
On January 26, 2010, the Loft division of the Ann Taylor Stores held a preview of the Loft’s summer 2010 collection. At the preview (not an online event, but an in person showing,) the bloggers were given a gift bag by Ann Taylor. At the event there was a sign that told bloggers that they should disclose the gifts if they posted comments about the preview. In February, 2010, Loft instituted a written policy that the Loft will not issue any gift to any blogger without first telling the blogger that the blogger must disclose the gift in his or her blog.
At the end of this article is the Closing Letter sent to Ann Taylor Stores by the FTC.
The FTC determined not to recommend enforcement and closed their file because:
- The January, 2010, preview was the first and only preview Loft has held; and
- Only a small number of bloggers posted content about the preview and several of them disclosed that the Loft had provided them gifts at the preview; and
- In February the Loft adopted a written policy in February 2010 stating that LOFT will not issue any gift to any blogger without first telling the blogger that the blogger must disclose the gift in his or her blog.
While they FTC dropped this action, they say in their letter that it is the Loft’s responsibility to monitor bloggers’ compliance with the obligation to disclose gifts they receive from the Loft. Certainly, the Loft is now aware that they are being watched by the FTC.
What does all this mean? Since the new FTC Guidelines for Testimonials and Enforcements just went into effect in December, the FTC has wasted no time in pursuing the issue.
It is my personal belief that the sign the Loft posted was the major action by the Loft that protected them from liability. The FTC is looking for a win in this area and they were not going to make this the test case because they might not win.
It has been my position that Endorsements are not dead, but that advertisers need to make sure they follow the guidelines. The fact that the Loft dodged this problem because a staffer was smart enough to hang a sign shows that actively following the guidelines can protect you from liability.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580
Division of Advertising Practices
April 20, 2010
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL AND FEDERAL EXPRESS
Kenneth A. Plevan, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036-6522
Re: AnnTaylor Stores Corp., File No. 102-3147
Dear Mr. Plevan:
As you know, the staff of the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Advertising Practices has conducted an investigation into whether your client, AnnTaylor Stores Corporation, violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, in connection with providing gifts to bloggers who the company expected would post blog content about the company’s LOFT division. Our inquiry focused particularly on LOFT’s provision of gifts to bloggers who attended previews of LOFT’s Summer 2010 collection. We were concerned that bloggers who attended a preview on January 26,2010 failed to disclose that they received gifts for posting blog content about that event. Section 5 of the FTC Act requires the disclosure of a material connection between an advertiser and an endorser when such a relationship is not otherwise apparent from the context of the communication that contains the endorsement. Depending on the circumstances, an advertiser’s provision of a gift to a blogger for posting blog content about an event could constitute a material connection that is not reasonably expected by readers of the blog.
Upon careful review of this matter, we have determined not to recommend enforcement action at this time. We considered a number of factors in reaching this decision. First, according to LOFT, the January 26,2010 preview was the first (and, to date, only) such preview event. Second, only a very small number of bloggers posted content about the preview, and several of those bloggers disclosed that LOFT had provided them gifts at the preview.1 Third, LOFT adopted a written policy in February 2010 stating that LOFT will not issue any gift to any blogger without first telling the blogger that the blogger must disclose the gift in his or her blog.
The FTC staff expects that LOFT will both honor that written policy and take reasonable steps to monitor bloggers’ compliance with the obligation to disclose gifts they receive from LOFT.
Our decision not to pursue enforcement action is not to be construed as a determination that a violation may not have occurred, just as the pendency of an investigation should not be construed as a determination that a violation has occurred. The Commission reserves the right to take such further action as the public interest may warrant.
Very truly yours,
Mary K. Engle
Associate Director
1 It should be noted that LOFT posted a sign at the preview that told bloggers that they
should disclose the gifts if they posted comments about the preview. It is not clear, however, how many bloggers actually saw that sign.