ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the complex issues involved in all of the various forms of corporate commercial communications—including their use by the most prominent social media organizations and the challenges they face—from both consumers and governmental bodies in a very rapidly changing social, political and regulatory environment. It provides an overview of the kinds of considerations companies have to make in serving the public while also succeeding commercially in abiding by FTC rules and regulations which are enumerated here. The chapter also considers the most prominent issues and cases having a potential impact on public health and safety along with those issues most directly applicable to corporate and commercial speech. Key arguments in the application of commercial speech law are placed within ethical contexts. These include areas with typically less protection under the First Amendment, with reviews of both the Central Hudson Test and the Zauderer Standard.