An Assessment of the Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2015

7 Pages Posted: 5 Nov 2015 Last revised: 7 Dec 2015

See all articles by Eric Goldman

Eric Goldman

Santa Clara University - School of Law

Date Written: November 1, 2015

Abstract

In response to the growing importance of online consumer reviews, businesses have sought to regain control over their professional reputation -- in some cases by contractually restricting their customers from writing reviews about them. The Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2015 would ban businesses from pursuing such anti-consumer terms. This essay assesses the Consumer Review Freedom Act, including whether or not we need the law as well as some strengths and weaknesses of the statutory drafting.

Keywords: consumer reviews, online reviews, non-disparagement, gag contracts, anti-review clauses, statutory analysis

JEL Classification: l14, K12, K2

Suggested Citation

Goldman, Eric, An Assessment of the Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2015 (November 1, 2015). Santa Clara Univ. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2-15, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2686021 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2686021

Eric Goldman (Contact Author)

Santa Clara University - School of Law ( email )

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
United States
408-554-4369 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.ericgoldman.org

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