What constitutes false advertising?

False advertising in North Carolina is defined as any commercial activity or advertisement that misrepresents materials, services, or products that are offered for sale. This includes false or misleading representations of characteristics such as quantity, purpose, origin, effect, or performance. It also covers activities such as lying, exaggerating, or omitting key information. False or misleading content can be seen in advertisements, promotions, labels, emails, websites, social media posts, and more. It is important to note that this is not limited to traditional advertising, such as TV or radio ads. Advertising is now seen in a variety of mediums and false advertising can be present in any of them. In North Carolina, the Attorney General’s Office is responsible for investigating false advertising, and has the power to pursue cases on behalf of the state. Storeowners and business owners can also pursue civil cases against businesses for false advertising if they are affected by unfair competition. In general, businesses are required to be honest and transparent in their advertising. It should accurately describe the products or services being sold, not make any false claims, and not mislead the customer into purchasing something they do not want or need. If any of these conditions are violated, it is considered false advertising and can lead to legal action.

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