What does the Lanham Act prohibit?
The Lanham Act is a federal law enacted by Congress in 1946 that prohibits unfair competition through false or misleading advertising. It applies nationwide, including in the state of California. Under the Lanham Act, it is illegal for any person or business to falsely advertise or promote their goods or services in a way that is deceptive or misleading to consumers. This includes making false or misleading statements about a product or service, creating a product that is designed to copy another product, or engaging in false or deceptive pricing practices. The law also bans any practices that are intended to monopolize the market or create a false impression of quality or performance. The main goal of the Lanham Act is to protect consumers, who may be unaware that they are being misled by a dishonest business, from being tricked into buying something that is not what it appears to be.
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