Category Archives: Comparative Advertising

November 21, 2020

Hockey Helmet Performance Claims Case Illustrates Competition Act Compliance Requirements

Practical Law Canada Competition (of which I am Lawyer Editor) has published a new Legal Update, which discusses recent enforcement by the Competition Bureau against an ice hockey helmet manufacturer in relation to allegedly unsupported performance claims. The Legal Update includes an overview of the … Read the rest of this entry »

January 1, 2020

Influencer Advertising: Competition Bureau Increases Pressure on Brands and Agencies to Comply with the Competition Act

Practical Law Canada has published a New Legal Update, which discusses the Competition Bureau’s new guidelines for influencer advertising. While the Bureau’s new guidelines largely reiterate previous guidance provided by the Bureau, its announcement also suggests increasing scrutiny on not only influencers that fail to … Read the rest of this entry »

December 25, 2019

Overview of Misleading Advertising Laws in Canada

The federal Competition Act  is one of the main statutes, among others, regulating advertising law in Canada.  The Competition Act contains criminal and civil sections that prohibit false or misleading representations and deceptive marketing practices.  These are frequently referred to as the Competition Act’s misleading advertising provisions.  The … Read the rest of this entry »

June 5, 2018

New Competition Bureau Guidance on Influencer Marketing, Made in Canada Claims and Savings Claims

The Competition Bureau (Bureau) has published the fourth volume of its Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Marketing Digest), which provides guidance from the Bureau on influencer marketing, “Made in Canada” claims and savings claims (see Bureau releases Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest Volume 4). In general, the Bureau’s … Read the rest of this entry »

May 27, 2018

Testimonials and Endorsements: Key Canadian Legal Rules and Compliance Tips

Testimonials and endorsements (i.e., where a brand uses an expert, celebrity or other person to endorse their product) are both increasingly popular and increasingly being scrutinized by regulators, including the Canadian Competition Bureau (Bureau) and U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While the Competition Act, which … Read the rest of this entry »

July 5, 2017

Misleading Concert Prices Could Be Your Ticket to a Fine: Competition Bureau

On July 4, 2017, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued a statement warning sporting and entertainment vendors to ensure that their upfront pricing was accurate. In particular, the Bureau cautioned ticket sellers that engaging in “drip pricing” (i.e., only disclosing a portion of the price upfront … Read the rest of this entry »

June 2, 2017

A Legal Tiptoe Through the Hot World of Influencer Advertising

My new Canadian Lawyer column discusses practical tips for brands and influencers in the expanding area of endorsements and testimonials, in light of Federal Trade Commission, Competition Bureau and industry regulator guidance. Below is an excerpt with a link to the full column. _________________ Anyone … Read the rest of this entry »

February 23, 2017

Competition Bureau Enforces “Sale” Sections of Competition Act, Brings Case Against Hudson’s Bay

The Competition Bureau (Bureau) continues to enforce the sale related sections of the Competition Act. Earlier today, it announced that it will commence an application with the federal Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) in relation to the alleged deceptive marketing of sleep sets (mattresses and foundations sold … Read the rest of this entry »