New Guide to the Law of Marketing Communications

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising in the UK (IPA) and media lawyers DJ Freeman have recently published the new online Guide to Marketing and Communications Law and Regulation.

Developed to bring greater clarity to the rapidly changing laws and regulations affecting the industry, this concise and accessible guide provides advertising and marketing communications agencies, advertisers and their marketing and PR departments, as well as in-house lawyers, with guidance on the legal and regulatory framework surrounding all current aspects of marketing and communications activities. The areas covered include financial services, e-commerce, SMS marketing, trade marks, copyright, passing off, fly-posting and data protection.

The guide is launched to coincide with the publication of the new CAP Code (the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing), which takes effect on 4 June 2003.

According to Hamish Pringle, Director General of the IPA: 'We need to increase the level of legal awareness in the area of marketing communications. Today, individuals and corporations are prepared to resort to the law to protect their rights in an environment of stricter regulatory scrutiny, stronger consumer groups and a vociferous press. The benefit of this guide should be the reduction of corporate risk in an increasingly risky business environment.'

Amali de Silva, media solicitor at D J Freeman and editor of the Short Guide, added 'Through working with a range of clients we are aware that there are many legal and regulatory pitfalls for the unwary creative who is developing marketing or advertising materials. The style of this Guide enables busy practitioners both to check individual points and also to gain a broad overview of the current legal and regulatory framework.'

For a copy of the Short Guide to Marketing and Communications Law and Regulations please click on the link below: www.ipa.co.uk/index.cfa?directlink=LegalGuide

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.