Legal Protection on Consumers in Global Economy : Recent Approaches and Way Forward

Advertisements can be factual, sometimes annoying and occasionally funny. In a competitive world they are all jostling for our attention. Since an advertisement has the potential to persuade people into commercial transactions that they might otherwise avoid, the information provided in an advertisement must be honest and accurate. False, misleading, deceptive, or untrue statements regarding the price, quality or nature of a product are illegal under state and federal laws. Companies must not be allowed to air misleading and false advertisements in the garb of creativity. It is thus necessary to use this means of persuasion with caution to avoid a corrosive effect on social values. The law thus demands that they should not be misleading or deceptive.This paper attempts to explore the ethical concerns and responsibilities of companies regarding advertisements. By citing different cases, the paper discusses the nature of problems faced by consumers because of misleading advertisements. The paper also focuses on the different laws in this context and evaluates the relative efficacies of constitutional mechanism, laws and regulations available for easy redressal of consumers