Aggrieved companies can seek relief from a competitor’s false or misleading advertisements in federal court via the Lanham Act, before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau (NAD), or by going to the network itself. Learn the basics of these proceedings in this exclusive session, including:

Lanham Act Litigation

• Background on the Lanham Act
• Discussing the basis of Lanham Act claims
• Standing and the Lexmark case
• Defining “false” or “misleading” advertisements
• Delineating “sales talk” or “puffery”
• Understanding the “commercial advertising” requirement
• Distinguishing between “establishment” and “nonestablishment” claims
• Marshalling evidentiary support for your claim or defense
• Supporting or challenging establishment claims
• Understanding the proper use of surveys
• Identifying available remedies

Practicing before the NAD

• Outlining the procedures for bringing and concluding an NAD challenge (e.g., pleading requirements, timeline for responses, stages of proceedings)
• Being mindful of the NAD’s authority
• NAD initiated investigations
• Referral of matters to other agencies when the competitor refuses to participate
• Identifying key differences between NAD and court resolutions

Filing a Competitive Challenge at the Network

• Providing an overview of the challenge process at the Network
• Highlighting unique procedural requirements
• Discussing the relationship between the approval and challenge processes
• Identifying differences between procedures at the NAD and the Network