3 ms·

> and also Australia, for that matter. what? Australia has some of the strongest consumer protection laws - sometimes I actually feel bad for the corporations.

> and also Australia, for that matter. what? Australia has some of the strongest consumer protection laws - sometimes I actually feel bad for the corporations... There is a whole strict regulatory system for determining facts vs mere puff.

maxsilver 8y ago
> There is a whole strict regulatory system for determining facts vs mere puff. That sounds amazing. We should probably copy that entirely, for the US.
sundvor 8y ago
I studied marketing law in Norway as part of marketing science before switching back to tech and then moving down under; Australian marketing law is very very relaxed compared to Norway.
- 6nf 8y ago
  This is changing rapidly the last decade or so, especially in the telecom industry. There's quite a few companies getting into trouble for misleading advertising recently.
- aplummer 8y ago
  Really can you give examples? To give recent general advertising law examples about how strict the standards bureau is, in Australia it’s illegal to show a woman doing most of the housework, or a man being a bad father.
  - adrianratnapala 8y ago
    Both of which might be overregulation, but neither of which are relevant to the kind of laws being discussed here. As an Australian, I have no idea how lax or strong the consumer protection laws are. I know they exist, and they are enforced by an identifiable, respected federal agency. I have no idea whether the laws are good, or whether that agency does a good job in general. In fact, I have very little notion of what I should expect from good laws and enforcement in this field.
  - sundvor 8y ago
    Any ad or promotion that features the word "free". Edit: actual example, https://coleslittleshop.com.au https://coleslittleshop.com.au They are not free. You have to spend $30 to get one. The word _free_ is perverted. This would be illegal in Norway: https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/lov-og-rett/veiledninger-og-retningslinjer/forbrukerombudets-veiledning-prismarkedsforing#chapter-5-3 https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/lov-og-rett/veiledninger-og...
    - reitanqild 8y ago
      > 5.3 Gratispåstander > ”Gratis”, ”vederlagsfritt”, ”uten betaling” og lignende uttrykk må ikke benyttes i markedsføringen dersom gratisytelsen er betinget av kjøp av andre ytelser for å oppnå gratisytelsen. translates more or less directly (using Google translate and then adjusting slightly based on my 15+ years of experience with talking and writing mostly Norwegian) to 5.3 "Free" Claims "Free", "Free of charge," "Unpaid," and similar terms, may not be used in the promotion if the free good or service is conditional upon purchase of other benefits to achieve the free good or service.
      - sundvor 8y ago
        That's pretty spot on; thanks.
  - j16sdiz 8y ago
    This is anti-discrimation law, not customer-protection law.
    - aplummer 8y ago
      Sorry they referenced marketing laws generally, consumer protection is covered by a thing called “Australian Consumer Law” and it’s very hostile towards warranties etc.

maxsilver 8y ago

> There is a whole strict regulatory system for determining facts vs mere puff. That sounds amazing. We should probably copy that entirely, for the US.

sundvor 8y ago

I studied marketing law in Norway as part of marketing science before switching back to tech and then moving down under; Australian marketing law is very very relaxed compared to Norway.

6nf 8y ago
This is changing rapidly the last decade or so, especially in the telecom industry. There's quite a few companies getting into trouble for misleading advertising recently.
aplummer 8y ago
Really can you give examples? To give recent general advertising law examples about how strict the standards bureau is, in Australia it’s illegal to show a woman doing most of the housework, or a man being a bad father.
- adrianratnapala 8y ago
  Both of which might be overregulation, but neither of which are relevant to the kind of laws being discussed here. As an Australian, I have no idea how lax or strong the consumer protection laws are. I know they exist, and they are enforced by an identifiable, respected federal agency. I have no idea whether the laws are good, or whether that agency does a good job in general. In fact, I have very little notion of what I should expect from good laws and enforcement in this field.
- sundvor 8y ago
  Any ad or promotion that features the word "free". Edit: actual example, https://coleslittleshop.com.au https://coleslittleshop.com.au They are not free. You have to spend $30 to get one. The word _free_ is perverted. This would be illegal in Norway: https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/lov-og-rett/veiledninger-og-retningslinjer/forbrukerombudets-veiledning-prismarkedsforing#chapter-5-3 https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/lov-og-rett/veiledninger-og...
  - reitanqild 8y ago
    > 5.3 Gratispåstander > ”Gratis”, ”vederlagsfritt”, ”uten betaling” og lignende uttrykk må ikke benyttes i markedsføringen dersom gratisytelsen er betinget av kjøp av andre ytelser for å oppnå gratisytelsen. translates more or less directly (using Google translate and then adjusting slightly based on my 15+ years of experience with talking and writing mostly Norwegian) to 5.3 "Free" Claims "Free", "Free of charge," "Unpaid," and similar terms, may not be used in the promotion if the free good or service is conditional upon purchase of other benefits to achieve the free good or service.
    - sundvor 8y ago
      That's pretty spot on; thanks.
- j16sdiz 8y ago
  This is anti-discrimation law, not customer-protection law.
  - aplummer 8y ago
    Sorry they referenced marketing laws generally, consumer protection is covered by a thing called “Australian Consumer Law” and it’s very hostile towards warranties etc.