§ 52. — Dissemination of false advertisements.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC52]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 2--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION; PROMOTION OF EXPORT TRADE AND
PREVENTION OF UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION
SUBCHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Sec. 52. Dissemination of false advertisements
(a) Unlawfulness
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, or corporation to
disseminate, or cause to be disseminated, any false advertisement--
(1) By United States mails, or in or having an effect upon
commerce, by any means, for the purpose of inducing, or which is
likely to induce, directly or indirectly the purchase of food,
drugs, devices, services, or cosmetics; or
(2) By any means, for the purpose of inducing, or which is
likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase in or having
an effect upon commerce, of food, drugs, devices, services, or
cosmetics.
(b) Unfair or deceptive act or practice
The dissemination or the causing to be disseminated of any false
advertisement within the provisions of subsection (a) of this section
shall be an unfair or deceptive act or practice in or affecting commerce
within the meaning of section 45 of this title.
(Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, Sec. 12, as added Mar. 21, 1938, ch. 49,
Sec. 4, 52 Stat. 114; amended Pub. L. 93-637, title II, Sec. 201(c),
Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2193; Pub. L. 103-297, Sec. 8, Aug. 16, 1994, 108
Stat. 1550.)
Amendments
1994--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-297 inserted ``services,'' after
``devices,'' in pars. (1) and (2).
1975--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93-637 substituted ``in or having an
effect upon commerce,'' for ``in commerce''.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93-637 substituted ``in or affecting commerce''
for ``in commerce''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 54, 55 of this title; title
21 section 352.
