Nearly everyone has probably heard about the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) in the USA cracking down on Internet
businesses. This is probably not a country specific problem.
I believe most countries have some kind of comparable agency.
If it can happen here, it's only a matter of time until it
happens everywhere. Assuming it hasn't already happened in
some other countries.
Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to help those outside the USA
on country specific business practices. But, I would imagine
they all at least require ethical behavior.
I used to believe we could regulate ourselves on the Internet.
As time passed, I changed my mind. After several years of
investigating and reporting all kinds of scams, it seemed an
impossible feat.
Now, the government has stepped in with the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) going on the warpath over a number of things,
including truth in advertising. Their influence is even spread
outside the USA. This is serious, and they aren't fooling
around!
Self-regulation would have required all online business owners
to conduct their businesses in the most professional manner.
We've done things online in such a slip-shod fashion as to
leave ourselves vulnerable to all kinds of dangerous (to our
businesses) situations - including any frivolous lawsuit some
bozo wants to file.
I've always said - we must conduct business online the same way
we would if we owned a brick and mortar company. Some of that
includes certain contractual legalities. Yet, most online
microbusiness owners can't afford the attorney's fees it would
require to have these contracts written.
Now, Here's the Question!
Do you need to be afraid of the FTC? A terrific product came
out recently, and their sales letter said you do. It raised a
lot of dust. In fact, I watched people going off half-cocked,
and saw some absolutely idiotic things written about it.
The answer is ... Yes, you damn well do need to be afraid if
you are operating in the USA, and if you are not in compliance
with FTC rules! Why the hell is this so hard to understand?
We have LAWS here and all business owners are expected to
follow them – whether operating online, or off.
I've never been able to understand why some people think that
having an online business grants them immunity from the LAW.
Yet, I see it constantly. Now, I see people getting hysterical
because they say they "can't afford" to comply!
Well, excuse me, I don't mean to be cold-hearted, but if
people can't afford to be in business for themselves, they
need to go out and get a job! It's only a matter of time
before that happens anyway.
Yes! The Internet Iis a wonderful place for people to get into
business for themselves at lower costs than they would face
with a brick and mortar business. But – that does not mean
they won't have any expenses! And, one of the first expenses
should be to set things up legally. It's a matter of
priorities, and our first priority should be to stay in
business!
If you went to your bank and got a loan to set up an off-line
business, the first thing the bank would do is require you to
operate legally – with all the proper legal documentation.
Why? To protect their investment! So, why won't people
protect their own investments of both time and money?
Nobody ever said, "Here's the Internet, go out and do whatever
you please with no regard for the law or ethical business
practices!"
This is basically what iCop has always been about. People have
complained to me because I required a full and formal privacy
statement to be on the web site of every iCop member. And
that's just ONE legal document, one I even give out a link to
a template to use!
In fact, NO U.S. company is allowed
to use the iCop seal who is not in full compliance with the FTC.
Anyone too lazy to do it isn't serious enough about his/her
business to be an iCop member! We are here to train. We are
here to help people stay out of trouble - not help them get into
it.
Okay – below is a link that will get you in compliance with the
FTC. Yes, it's for the USA. But, I suspect that following it
in any country would cover you fairly well. Or, you can find
your own country's regulatory agency and read their
requirements. I'm fairly sure they are all online by now.
Click here for compliance site.
Please – read it and use it! If you don't, you'd better be
afraid - very afraid. Because, YOU are breaking the LAW! Want
to take a chance on not getting caught and shut down?
These
works are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
To re-publish articles from this site, please incude the following byline - with live links - after each article you use.
-----> Begin
* dr. jl scott is the Founder of the International Council of Online Professionals (iCop™) http://www.i-cop.org - and also the publisher of the Online Business Trade Journal™ - the blog that keeps you up to date with online business coming of age. Visit: http://www.OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com
------> End
