of the Lanham Act protects consumers and businesses from . It covers both registered and unregistered trademarks, prohibiting in commercial promotions across various media platforms.
To bring a false advertising claim, plaintiffs must prove and demonstrate injury. The burden of proof involves showing literal or , , and . Defendants can use defenses like truth, , or .
Understanding Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act and False Advertising
Purpose of Lanham Act Section 43(a)
Safeguards consumers against deceptive advertising practices fostering marketplace transparency
Promotes fair competition among businesses preventing unfair advantages through misrepresentation
Encompasses both registered and unregistered trademarks expanding protection beyond formal registration
Prohibits false or misleading descriptions of goods or services maintaining product integrity
Applies to commercial advertising or promotion across various media platforms (TV, print, online)
Standing for false advertising claims
Plaintiff must demonstrate standing to sue as direct competitor or entity with commercial interest
Zones of interest test ensures plaintiff's interests align with Lanham Act's protective scope
requirement links economic or reputational injury directly to deceptive practices
Factors determining standing:
Nature of alleged injury (, )
Proximity to injurious conduct (direct competition, shared customer base)
Claim speculativeness (concrete evidence vs. hypothetical scenarios)
Burden of proof in false advertising
Plaintiff bears initial burden using standard
:
Prove claim false on face without consumer deception evidence (e.g., "100% organic" for non-organic product)
Implied falsity:
Demonstrate claim misleading in context often requiring consumer surveys (e.g., "9 out of 10 doctors recommend" without proper sample size)