Legal/Regulatory - FTC, Electronic Retailing Association to host Internet marketing seminar

The Federal Trade Commission will present a one-day, case-driven seminar Jan. 30, at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, Virginia, for Internet retailers, marketers and suppliers on applying offline rules and regulations online. The seminar will open with welcoming remarks by Jodie Bernstein, FTC Director of Consumer Protection, and will feature Virginia's Secretary of Technology Donald W. Upson as the keynote speaker.
The seminar, to be led by FTC staff, is designed to ensure e-retailers understand and comply with FTC rules regarding e-retailing. "This seminar will present online marketing rules in plain English. We want e-retailers to know and understand the legal requirements that apply to their marketing efforts," said Elaine D. Kolish, associate director of the FTC's Division of Enforcement. The seminar is co-sponsored by the Electronic Retailing Association.
The Federal Trade Commission also will hold a roundtable discussion Feb. 6, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The roundtable will cover recommendations by business and consumer groups regarding the use of alternative dispute resolution for online consumer disputes, and a proposed provision in the Preliminary Draft Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments being negotiated by the Hague Conference on Private International Law that provides special jurisdiction rules for international consumer contracts. The roundtable, which is open to the public, will begin at 9:30 a.m. and registration is not required. Requests for participation as a panelist should be directed to the FTC staff contact at the following address: 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., by fax at 202-326-3392 or by e-mail at: mmithal@ftc.gov.