Row Over Fake I-Tune Reviews Sorted And Settled

Technology news and updates blog article

Row Over Fake I-Tune Reviews Sorted And Settled

31st August 2010

Ruling against a marketing firm, which has posted positive comments of the gaming apps of its clients on iTunes, has conducted by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC has given this act the name of deceptive marketing, which it has stated is done by the employees of Reverb Communications. The firm's employees have posed as if they are its customers and have positive reviews. After the step taken by FTC, this firm has taken off all those reviews, which were posted by its own employees.

FTC has introduced new guidelines last year and this ruling is the first one under this new rule. The new guidelines cover various aspects including celebrity endorsements, online comments/reviews and bloggers. The change in guidelines and reviews was necessary, in order to transform online advertising standards into digital era because the posting of fake reviews on the web have been rarely policed over internet.

The time, when FTC was working to bring change in its guidelines, Reverb Communications was found to be involved in unethical and unlawful activities. According to the ruling of FTC, it was a time period, which stretched between the months of November 2008 and May 2009, during which Reverb Communications' employees posted reviews about its new game. The reviews were all about praising the game saying, 'the new game is excellent', 'apps are amazing' and many such other reviews as well.