New Law States Bloggers Must Disclose If They Are Paid For Reviews

Yes!

This just makes sense. According to the New York Times, bloggers must reveal if they are paid or receive gifts for reviews.

About time!

From the Times:

"The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products. It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.

But the commission stopped short Monday of specifying how bloggers must disclose any conflicts of interest.

The FTC said its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final guidelines, which had been expected. Penalties include up to $11,000 in fines per violation."

There's a reason we offer giveaways at WeekinRewind. First, they're good for those who want to win them, and second, we clearly thank those studios who provide them. It's called transparency. The studios get to have their product pushed on a popular Web site and our readers, should they want the chance to win, can enter the contests. Easy enough. Perfectly fair.

But when it comes to reviews, those are my opinions, and they're not for sale. I work for a newspaper. For 13 years, I've reviewed films for that paper. We have high standards there that are mirrored on this blog, which essentially reflects what has been written for print.

The good news is that I've never been asked to review for pay (likely because the studios know I work for a newspaper), so at least they aren't completely corrupt. But as for bloggers who are on their own and who might like a cut of the action? Let's just say this law is a terrific idea since it protects the reader.

What do you think?