Do the Right Thing: Advertising Law, Self-Regulation, and Ethics

Introduction According to business ethicist Gene Ahner, advertising is one of the six services considered critical in a global economy (Ahner, 2007). Advertising’s importance to consumers both explains the government’s powerful regulatory mandate and inspires the industry to practice enhanced professional ethics in self-regulatory efforts. This article first provides a description of the advertising regulatory requirements and processes; second, it shows how the industry’s self-regulatory program complements government action; and third, it explains how enhanced business and personal ethics complement and inspire the selfregulatory mission.