Category Archives: Sectors – Media

Running a Friends-and-Family Promotion in Canada? Cruel, Cryptic CASL Strikes Again

During the COVID-19 epidemic, one marketing development that I have noticed is an increased effort to promote destination marketing, including through promotional contests.  In this regard, I have acted for several countries assisting them with their destination marketing related promotions.  My new Canadian Lawyer column … Read the rest of this entry »

Destination Marketing Contests: Key Considerations as COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Ease

A marketing law trend that is recently emerging in my practice has been increased demand to work on destination marketing promotional contests (i.e., contests promoting trips, vacations and adventures to particular destinations – both in Canada and internationally). This may seem counterintuitive given the current … Read the rest of this entry »

COVID-19 Consumer Protection Enforcement: A Tale of Two Countries

My new Canadian Lawyer column discusses recent price gouging and deceptive marketing law enforcement in Canada.  Some of the issues raised include speed of enforcement, political statements compared to actual enforcement and, perhaps, most importantly, transparency in relation to warnings and penalties.  My new column … Read the rest of this entry »

Competition Bureau Increases Enforcement For COVID-19 Marketing Claims

On May 6, 2020, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that it was increasing its enforcement of deceptive COVID-19 advertising and marketing claims (see: Competition Bureau cracking down on deceptive marketing claims about COVID-19 prevention or treatment). In making the announcement, the Bureau said: “As concerned … Read the rest of this entry »

Product Performance Claims: Increased Risk in Making Unfounded Claims During COVID-19 Outbreak

Practical Law Canada has published a New Legal Update, which discusses product performance claims under the Competition Act and the Competition Bureau’s increased enforcement focus on performance claims that are not supported by adequate and proper testing.  The Legal Update also includes an overview of the … Read the rest of this entry »

What is Required to Legally Run a Contest/Sweepstakes in Canada?

The main elements to legally run a contest/sweepstakes in Canada are as follows: Short Rules:  “Short rules” (sometimes also called “mini-rules”) include the basic statutory disclosures required by section 74.06 of the Competition Act and other material terms that should be brought to the attention of … Read the rest of this entry »

New Competition Bureau Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest: Priorities Include Misleading Data Privacy Claims

Practical Law Canada Competition has published a New Legal Update, which discusses the Competition Bureau’s new Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest, including the following key current Bureau advertising enforcement priorities: false or misleading data privacy claims, weight loss claims and online pricing and drip pricing. All … Read the rest of this entry »

Are Contests Legal In Quebec? Why Do Many Canadian Contests Exclude Quebec?

One of the most common Canadian contest law questions I receive is whether contests are legal in Quebec and why so many contests exclude Quebec. The short answer is that contests are not illegal in Quebec, though there are several additional requirements that must be … Read the rest of this entry »