Comment Number: 522418-03114
Received: 6/17/2006 11:45:40 AM
Organization:
Commenter: John Lande
State: NJ
Subject: Business Opportunity Rule
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 437
No Attachments

Comments:

I am a retiree who supplements a meager retirement income from various internet businesses. Your proposed rules, while having honorable intent, has painted too broad a stroke. The implementation of these rules would, in the end, have caused more harm than good. It singles out internet marketers and ignores all the various advertisers who promote their products on the internet. It ignores all the auction houses such as E-Bay. I do agree that something must be done to prevent the scam artists from preying on the public but not in such a manner as to destroy the capabilities of legitimate businesses to conduct their operations in a viable manner. I would suggest the following: 1. Defer rulings for the time being. 2. Bring in leaders in the field of internet marketing for consultation. 3. Consider pre-approval by FTC or a designated board consisting of a group of leading internet marketing individuals prior to anyone being allowed to market a new internet business. 4. Establish a seal for those businesses that have been screened for approval and have passed said screening. This is for both new business and existing businesses. (Similar in concept to the Good Housekeeping Seal). 5. Establish a website linked to this seal where each individual internet business would could be accessed for a synopsis of their business and a listing of both positive and negative comments which could be posted by individuals who have joined this business. 6. Allow individual businesses to respond to negative comments as this would prevent unfair postings by unscrupulous competitors or indicate a resolution that has been provided to the negative poster. This would in effect allow the internet businesses to police themselves and relieve the FTC of the cost of responding to and investigating all the minor complaints and concentrate on only the most serious violators. Respectfully Submitted by John Lande