Comparative advertising: European Commission's draft directive

No European country, apart from the UK, currently allows comparative advertising. The EEC's draft directives, although restrictive, may have the effect of allowing comparisons across Europe if they are not misleading or unfair, and have little effect on the UK.

Comparative advertising: European commission's draft directive

Ross L Denton

No European country, apart from the UK, currently allows comparative advertising. So despite the increasingly restrictive flavour of the Commission's successive draft directives on the subject, the effect may be generally to allow comparisons across Europe if they're not misleading and unfair - and not much affect the UK situation. Using competitors' trademarks in comparisons (not permitted in the UK, though the law is being reviewed there) is likely to be prohibited too.

Separately the Council of Europe has rejected a ban on alcohol advertising, though this does not preclude...

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