FTC: Bloggers Must Fess Up to Perks

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Federal Trade Commissioners voted unanimously (4-0) to implement rules effective December 1, 2009, requiring bloggers who review products to disclose any payments or freebies they receive from the products' manufacturers.

No concrete guidelines were offered by the FTC concerning how bloggers need to reveal any potential conflicts of interest. The federal agency has not changed its endorsement and testimonial rules since 1980, though this latest vote is the first to subject bloggers to agency rules.

Looks like "TUOL" is going to be shipping some boxes at UPS this week (not an endorsement).