Comments on MotherReader: Book Bloggers and the FTC

As you say, this is going to be an interesting 45 ...

2009-10-07T20:50:19.314-04:00

As you say, this is going to be an interesting 45 days. The FTC hasn't a clue ... and to split hairs between books sent to print magazines - who also have online versions of their reviews - and online reviewers is nuts. One of my questions is the effect on authors using a reviewer's comments on their blog or website. Will they have to disclose that they gave/lent the book to that person to review?

::turning on sarcasm:: I don't see why everyone is...

2009-10-06T16:14:59.168-04:00

::turning on sarcasm:: I don't see why everyone is so upset about this. We can still review books from the library and those that we purchase ourselves, right? Leave those new release reviews to the people who get paid to write reviews! We should be satisfied with the *old* Pooh stories ... after all, we're not real reviewers, just bloggers. ::sarcasm off::

I will definitely be writing to someone about this.

I am just so confused by this. I'm reading so man...

2009-10-06T14:10:37.081-04:00

I am just so confused by this. I'm reading so many tweets and blog posts about it, and it seems like there are many different perspectives on what it all means. Clearly, the FTC still has some clarifying to do!!

It's frustrating that the FTC wants to lump book b...

2009-10-06T14:09:10.079-04:00

It's frustrating that the FTC wants to lump book bloggers in with the mommy bloggers, but such is the nature of a government agency. Fighting back -- or in this case, educating the FTC on the nature of book blogging -- is an option, but I'm also afraid that we're just going to have to wait and see how this all shakes out.

It may change the way we do things, but it also may amount to not much.

Thank you for this post. I tried to read the FTC r...

2009-10-06T13:45:36.832-04:00

Thank you for this post. I tried to read the FTC regulations as proposed and frankly, all I got was a headache as opposed to clarity. I agree that everyone involved - publishers, authors, bloggers and us publicists, too - need to make our voices heard. Ed's interview with Richard Cleland of the FTC was an eye-opener, and not in a good way.

Jennifer, it may be that stating where books are f...

2009-10-06T11:33:00.241-04:00

Jennifer, it may be that stating where books are from may be enough - or it may not. It's unclear. As it is unclear whether it will need to be revealed in every single post, as opposed to a blanket statement. The clue to this development lies in comments made about how individual tweets (!!!) could be part of this regulation.

Penny, I have a call in to the numbers given at the FTC website to find the best place to address our questions and concerns. If and when I find out, I'll add it to this post.

Thank you. From a Librarian's perspective, it woul...

2009-10-06T11:15:22.351-04:00

Thank you. From a Librarian's perspective, it would be a waste to loose all of the reviews out there now. Especially as more bloggers start blogging.
Thank you for all you do.
I know I can look up an add. for FTC.but it might be helpful to post that add. too?

Thanks for this very illuminating post. While I d...

2009-10-06T11:03:35.774-04:00

Thanks for this very illuminating post. While I did not like the fact that bloggers were being specifically targeted, as opposed to print or TV media, I didn't think that it really mattered.

I already have a statement on 5 Minutes for Books that is clear that most of our copies are from PR firms or publishers, and I thought that would still be enough.

But your commentary makes me realize that it could mean something more.