Communications Law

Ad*Access

Duke University offers this database of images and information about print advertisements appearing in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955. (Some collections appear to go a few years beyond 1955). Search or browse the collection, which covers ads for beauty and hygiene, radio, television, transportation and World War II. Information provided about ads includes the ad headline, sponsoring company, year it appeared, and the publication running the ad. The keyword search function was down on the day we tested access.

AdFlip

This database contains information about advertisements appearing in print since 1940. The search feature works for paid subscribers only. Others may browse the collection by year or decade. Information provided about the ad includes the product name, company, publication where the ad appeared and issue date.

AdLaw By Request

AdLaw By Request is a blog offering information, news, and updates on legal and regulatory activities pertaining to advertising and marketing. The site is hosted by the law firm Reed Smith.

Advertising World

The Department of Advertising at University of Texas-Austin offers this directory of Web sites on marketing and advertising. It covers a variety of topics, including branding, consumer psychology, demographics, licensing and syndication, outdoor advertising and more. Listings are self-entries subject to approval.

American Communication Association

This professional association offers the full-text of articles appearing in its online peer-reviewed publication, the American Communication Journal.

Consumer Find-It!

The Washington State Library, supported by various state organizations, offers this database of sources of consumer information. Search by keyword to find consumer protection information.

Tired of spam? Search "spam" without quotations to find numerous federal, Washington state, and private firm recommendations for dealing with junk e-mail. Trouble with a specific company? Search the company name to discover recalls and other consumer warnings and issues.

Consumer Sentinel

7 February 2001. The site gives law enforcement agencies access to consumer fraud complaints. It also provides information about various types of fraud including prize promotions, work-at-home schemes, telemarketing scams, and identity theft. Victims of consumer fraud also may file complaints here.

Europa Consumer Law Acquis Database

Find information on eight consumer law directives - the Doorstep Selling Directive 85/577, the Package Travel Directive 90/314, the Unfair Contract Terms Directive 93/13, the Timeshare Directive 94/47, the Distance Selling Directive 97/7, the Price Indication Directive 98/6, the Injunctions Directive 98/27, and the Consumer Sales Directive 99/44. In addition to reviewing the directives, you can discover their transposition into the law of member states, relevant case law, and citations to relevant research materials.

Database access is available in English, German and French.

Justia Communications and Internet Law Page

Provides overview of communications and internet law, with links to featured cases, legislation, regulations, news and blogs about this practice area.

Law Marketing Portal, The

Larry Bodine, a lawyer specializing in marketing strategy and Web site usability, maintains this site on law firm marketing. Find articles about the use of technology in law firm marketing, an email discussion list, and news, as well as forms, memos, RFPs, and other documents donated by members of the portal.

Marketinglaw.co.uk

International law firm Osborne Clarke Alliance offers information "for brand-owners and marketing professionals, including in-depth analysis of the latest marketing and brand law issues, national and international case reports, previews of up-and-coming legislation affecting marketing, plus legal checklists and template agreements." Parts of the site require registration, but access to many of the articles does not. Many of the article pertain to European Union law, but some cover other jurisdictions worldwide.

PackagingLaw.com

The law firm Keller and Heckman LLP offers this informative Web site about legal issues pertaining to labeling and packaging products. Find current news, in-depth articles on regulatory and compliance issues, and questions & answers pertaining to the Food Contact Notification program. The site also offers email update and submit-a-question services.

ROAD: Resource of Outdoor Advertising Descriptions

A project of the Hartman Center Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library and the Department of Web Services at Duke University, ROAD provides access to more than 50,000 descriptions of images of outdoor advertising from the 1920s through the 1990s. The database contains descriptions only (no images). Search by keyword to find company, product, outdoor advertising medium, city and state of placement, and more.

Spam Laws

John Marshall Law School professor David E. Sorkin offers easy access to U.S. federal and state, as well as European Union and other country, laws regarding mass email. The site covers both enacted laws and proposed legislation.

UK Tobacco Industry Advertising Documents Database

The Centre for Tobacco Control Research and NHS Health Scotland make available a database of more than 650 documents from United Kingdom advertising agencies that promoted tobacco products. The documents, which include letters and memoranda (PDF format) between tobacco companies and their advertising agencies, cover the years 1994 to 1999. The Web site also highlights marketing case studies developed by the Centre on discount brands, sponsorship, low tar product category, rolling tobacco and tobacco marketing and young people, as well as the Centre's publication (free download) entitled, "Keep Smiling - No One's Going to Die."