Us Code § 52 - Dissemination of false advertisements
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 52 — Dissemination of false advertisements, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 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, §12, as added Mar. 21, 1938, ch. 49, §4, 52 Stat. 114; amended Pub. L. 93–637, title II, §201(c), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2193; Pub. L. 103–297, §8, Aug. 16, 1994, 108 Stat. 1550.)
Editorial Notes
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".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Information About Scams Related to COVID–19
Pub. L. 116–287, §2, Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4882, provided that:
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) include—
"(i) information regarding mail, telemarketing, and internet fraud and illegal robocalls related to COVID–19 that identifies the most common scams; and
"(ii) information regarding where and how to report instances of scams related to COVID–19, including instructions on how to file a complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency;
"(B) disseminate information under such paragraph in a manner that prioritizes, and that is easily accessible by and user-friendly to, senior citizens and people with infirmities and disabilities;
"(C) disseminate information under such paragraph on an internet website of the Commission that serves as a source of information for the public about scams related to COVID–19; and
"(D) regularly update the information developed and disseminated under such paragraph to keep pace with the changing nature of scams related to COVID–19.
"(b)
"(c)
About This Section
15 U.S.C. § 52 is part of Title 15 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 15 U.S.C. § 52. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.