4 ms·

Compensation can still be provided as long as it is not conditional on the reviewer expressing a particular sentiment. So your example could still be allowed.

Compensation can still be provided as long as it is not conditional on the reviewer expressing a particular sentiment. So your example could still be allowed. > The final rule prohibits businesses from providing compensation or other incentives conditioned on the writing of consumer reviews expressing a particular sentiment, either positive or negative. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/...

sidewndr46 2y ago
OK, then this has been the de-facto standard amongst many industries for a long time. Plenty of reviewers say stuff like "it really is weird! I made one video about how I didn't like a product. After that I was never invited to attend a launch for a product, get early access, etc. I guess those two could not be correlated at all!" Based on the text you have shared it'd be perfectly fine if you were paid to write a "neutral" review.
- shkkmo 2y ago
  The rule also prohibits implicit compensation, but we'll see if it's enforced/enforceable.
hbn 2y ago
You can non-explicitly enforce positive review coverage by simply not sending review units to people who are likely to say things bad about your products. If you send early review units to 10 people one year, and the next year only 6 of them get review units, and the 4 people who didn't get review units this year were the 4 who gave the harshest review, the message is now out that you need to say good things if you want to continue getting early access to devices for reviews. SnazzyLabs is a good example - he should be well within the criteria for Apple to be sending him iPhones and Macs early, but I can only assume Apple thinks he's too critical when he finds an issue he doesn't like. Thus he has to buy his review units on street release date along with everyone else. How many people are giving less critical reviews because of that?
- DrillShopper 2y ago
  nVidia tried to pull this stunt with the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed. They weren't singing the praises of RTX and DLSS loud enough for nVidia and were threatened with having review samples withheld until they changed their tune.
- shkkmo 2y ago
  > It clarifies that the conditional nature of the offer of compensation or incentive may be expressly or implicitly conveyed. So implicity only offering review units to positive reviewers is still not allowed.
  - sidewndr46 2y ago
    So if I style myself as a negative only reviewer, they have to give me a review unit? Like I'm that judge in the olympics that never gives anyone a perfect score. The best your product will get from me is a 2/10.
    - shkkmo 2y ago
      I would guess it would be more lie your solicted reviews should not deviate significantly from you unsolicited reviews. Perhaps there will be a market for "negging" reviewers? Those who criticize but only in the ways that don't impact sales?
    - voxic11 2y ago
      They would send you all their competitors products to review instead.
      - anticensor 2y ago
        I would like that arrangement, as I will have eventually got multiple units of each brand's products by criticising all of them.
        sidewndr46 2y ago

sidewndr46 2y ago

OK, then this has been the de-facto standard amongst many industries for a long time. Plenty of reviewers say stuff like "it really is weird! I made one video about how I didn't like a product. After that I was never invited to attend a launch for a product, get early access, etc. I guess those two could not be correlated at all!" Based on the text you have shared it'd be perfectly fine if you were paid to write a "neutral" review.

shkkmo 2y ago
The rule also prohibits implicit compensation, but we'll see if it's enforced/enforceable.

hbn 2y ago

You can non-explicitly enforce positive review coverage by simply not sending review units to people who are likely to say things bad about your products. If you send early review units to 10 people one year, and the next year only 6 of them get review units, and the 4 people who didn't get review units this year were the 4 who gave the harshest review, the message is now out that you need to say good things if you want to continue getting early access to devices for reviews. SnazzyLabs is a good example - he should be well within the criteria for Apple to be sending him iPhones and Macs early, but I can only assume Apple thinks he's too critical when he finds an issue he doesn't like. Thus he has to buy his review units on street release date along with everyone else. How many people are giving less critical reviews because of that?

DrillShopper 2y ago
nVidia tried to pull this stunt with the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed. They weren't singing the praises of RTX and DLSS loud enough for nVidia and were threatened with having review samples withheld until they changed their tune.
shkkmo 2y ago
> It clarifies that the conditional nature of the offer of compensation or incentive may be expressly or implicitly conveyed. So implicity only offering review units to positive reviewers is still not allowed.
- sidewndr46 2y ago
  So if I style myself as a negative only reviewer, they have to give me a review unit? Like I'm that judge in the olympics that never gives anyone a perfect score. The best your product will get from me is a 2/10.
  - shkkmo 2y ago
    I would guess it would be more lie your solicted reviews should not deviate significantly from you unsolicited reviews. Perhaps there will be a market for "negging" reviewers? Those who criticize but only in the ways that don't impact sales?
  - voxic11 2y ago
    They would send you all their competitors products to review instead.
    - anticensor 2y ago
      I would like that arrangement, as I will have eventually got multiple units of each brand's products by criticising all of them.
      - sidewndr46 2y ago