Category Archives: Comparative Advertising

June 11, 2015

Competition Bureau Highlights Priorities, Compliance Guidelines in New Advertising Publication

The Canadian Competition Bureau has been increasing its advocacy, outreach and compliance efforts since the (relatively) new Commissioner of Competition (John Pecman) took office. As part of this effort, it appears to be focusing on introducing more new media (and also an increasing range) of … Read the rest of this entry »

July 2, 2014

“Your Product Is Great” (What Was It Again?): Australian Carpet Cleaning Co. Sued for Alleged Fake Reviews, Some Canadian Points

Each morning, before I begin ‘real work’, I usually spend a little time on an Internet sweep of interesting advertising and competition law cases that have developed overnight or come into my inbox. Earlier today an interesting new advertising law enforcement action by the Australian … Read the rest of this entry »

December 5, 2013

Competition Bureau Announces First New Advocacy Initiative: Self-regulated Professions (Pharmacist Inducements in Alberta): Patient Care v. Competitive Markets

On September 10th, the Canadian Competition Bureau announced a public consultation for suggestions where it should intervene in regulated markets (i.e., where the Bureau does not have direct enforcement powers given the existence of legislation or regulations sanctioning conduct that would otherwise violate the Competition … Read the rest of this entry »

December 3, 2013

New Publications: Canadian ASC Issues New Consumer Advertising Report

Canada’s national not-for-profit advertising self-regulatory body Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) has released a new report on Canadian consumers’ views on advertising, entitled 2013 Consumer Perspectives on Advertising. Top of the list of advertising annoyances for Canadian consumers?: misleading advertising (significantly more than other issues, such … Read the rest of this entry »

September 16, 2013

Beware “Buy Now, Pay Later Ads”

By Daniel Workman (reprinted with permission from CreditCards.com). Many consumers are enticed when they see advertisements touting  “Pay absolutely nothing upfront” or “Don’t pay a cent for 18 months” deals.  These deferred payment options are a form of financing where consumers often get tagged with … Read the rest of this entry »

August 21, 2013

Rogers Largely Wins Landmark Chatr Misleading Advertising and Performance Claims Case

Earlier today the Competition Bureau announced the fairly long-awaited decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (per Marrocco J.) in the Rogers Chatr misleading advertising and performance claims case (Canada (Competition Bureau) v. Chatr Wireless Inc., 2013 ONSC 5315 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)). In announcing … Read the rest of this entry »

March 12, 2013

Fraud: Competition Bureau Announces Top 2 “2 Good 2 B True Day” Scams: Highlights False Online Testimonials & Mobile “Subscription Traps”

Earlier today, as part of its Fraud Prevention Month efforts in March, the Competition Bureau announced its Top 2 on “2 Good 2 B True Day” scams: false online testimonials; and mobile “subscription traps”. With respect to false testimonials, the Bureau highlighted concerns with testimonials … Read the rest of this entry »

January 2, 2013

Competitive Marketplace and Free Speech Thwart Attempted Telecom Advertising Injunction

In an interesting case decided just before the holidays, which I fleetingly Tweeted, the Supreme Court of British Columbia denied an attempt by TELUS to block seasonal advertising by newcomer Mobilicity (see: TELUS Communications Company v. Mobilicity).  Now that I’ve had my fill of Christmas … Read the rest of this entry »