Category: consumer protection

Digital Marketing of Toys to Children Reflects Seamless Merging of Online & Online, inc. Play

Here’s a telling comment via a senior Disney executive:

“Disney says it sees online as a vital part of its strategy to turn its very well-known brand name into greater market share by making itself more relevant than ever to both children and parents…”That’s why [says Edward Catchpole, senior European VP for toys, Disney] all the sites we operate for our brands are not extensions, they’re seamless integrations, part of owning that toy, part of the play pattern. A young girl will run around pretending to be a fairy, then play with a toy and then go online and immerse themselves in a virtual world at one of our communities, like Pixie Hollow or Club Penguin. We also have a social network based around [Disney/Pixar movie] Cars in the US, which tends to be used more by boys,” Catchpole adds.”

source:  Vertical Focus: Toy retailing.  Sean Hargrave.  New Media Age [UK].  November 27, 2008 [sub required]

FTC Revolving Door: From Director of Consumer Protection to Law firm Partner at “the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences”

Lydia Parnes has been the director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC.  Think about where we are today in consumer protection–and the many problems we face.  Consider the role of the FTC on financial issues [the subprime market] to online privacy to youth obesity.  And then look at this January 13, 2009 press release from “Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide.”  Excerpt:

“…announced that Lydia Parnes will join the firm as a new partner in March. The current director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Parnes is a highly regarded expert in the field of consumer protection, particularly in the areas of privacy, data security, Internet advertising, and general advertising and marketing practices. She will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

“The global regulatory climate has grown more stringent and complex, and we have seen an increasing need for expanded expertise on consumer-protection issues from our clients, especially those in the technology and digital media sectors,” said CEO John Roos. “As one of the country’s foremost consumer-protection officials, Lydia brings unparalleled experience to the firm’s regulatory practice when it comes to privacy, security, and other consumer concerns.”

We don’t believe government officials should immediately work for industry in the areas they regulated after leading the government.  They should pursue careers in academia or non-profit organizations, if possible.  As long as there is a revolving door of this sort, doubts about the ability of the FTC to protect consumers will continue.