Understanding the FTC’s Updated Guides for Digital Advertising

Mr. Cleland joined the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Advertising Practices in 1991. In 1996, Mr. Cleland was appointed Assistant to the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection and, in 1998, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Division of Service Industry Practices. He currently serves as Assistant Director of the Division of Advertising Practices. His primary area of expertise is the advertising and marketing of health-related products and services. He also supervises many of the Commission's health fraud and weight-loss product and service law enforcement initiatives. Mr. Cleland supervised the FTC's review of the Endorsement and Testimonial Guides. He recently supervised the revision of the FTC's guidance on making effective disclosures on the Internet and other digital platforms (.com Disclosures). Prior to joining the Federal Trade Commission, Mr. Cleland served as Special Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Division of Consumer Protection in the Iowa Attorney Generals Office.

Robert J. deBrauwere is co-chair of Pryor Cashman’s Digital Media Practice Group. Mr. deBrauwere has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of intellectual property and compliance law, with a focus on digital advertising, online publishing, video gaming, social media, entertainment, licensing and promotions (including sweepstakes, contests and giveaways). He is frequently called upon by the press to comment on digital media and intellectual property topics, and to educate attorneys, insurance underwriters, and students on current issues in digital media, unfair competition, trademark law, and social media compliance.

Nathan Hole counsels clients with respect to their emerging media and technology-related activities, including issues related to online and digital marketing and assets, privacy issues, social media initiatives, mobile apps, mobile and digital commerce and payments.  Mr. Hole also advises clients regarding their promotional and advertising activities, including sweepstakes, advertiser-agency relationships, new product initiatives, loyalty programs, intellectual property and right of publicity issues, sponsorships, and entertainment-related programs and agreements.

Jim is a technology attorney who provides strategic advice to clients on handling and protecting data, technology, intellectual property assets of their businesses. This includes helping clients develop and protect businesses built on data, technology and intellectual property assets, whether through targeted marketing campaigns by consumer product companies or portfolio licensing programs by academic research centers, and navigating myriad intellectual property issues to put together comprehensive protection strategies. 

A certified privacy professional, CIPP/US, Jim's work includes advising clients on their collection, handling and protection of data by their organizations; evaluating data policies and practices; responding to data security breaches and incidents, and otherwise navigating the opportunities and concerns raised by changes to data privacy and security laws and by the growth of social media.