“Learn and Master Guitar” DVD producer fined over fake reviews

The Federal Trade Commission has fined a company which was found to be posting fake reviews of its products online.

Nashville, Tennessee-based Legacy Learning Systems and its owner, Lester Gabriel Smith, will pay $250,000 to settle the charges.

The company produces the Learn and Master Guitar program, marketed as a way to learn the guitar at home using DVDs and written materials.

The FTC said that it used an online affiliate program, through which it recruited ‘Review Ad’ affiliates to promote its courses. Methods of doing this included endorsements in articles, blog posts, and other online editorial material, with the endorsements appearing close to hyperlinks to Legacy’s website.

In return, these affiliates received commission on referred sales. Because no mention was made to readers that these ‘reviewers’ were getting commission, the FTC ruled that it amounted to deceptive advertising.

Source: http://www.tgdaily.com/