TechFold - Bold tech & web commentary

Utah Legislators Limit Keyword Advertising, Clog the Tubes with Dumbfounded Journos

AP is wiring out a story about how Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. and the Utah State Legislature have passed a into law a bill limiting keyword advertising. Google, the undisputed king of keyword advertising, is getting its legal machine going; the EFF is riled up; and law professors everywhere are shaking their heads - as one pointed out, only the Feds can pass laws regulating interstate commerce, which the internet clearly is.

Here’s a telling quote from the AP story that captures the ridiculousness of the whole affair:

Consumers might wonder what the fuss is all about. But House Majority Leader David Clark likened the deed to diverting a shopper who enters a particular department store to buy a dress shirt.

“You get right to the front door and somebody whisks you away to a different store,” Clark said.

So…

1. If consumers don’t care, who is pushing for this law? Some confused group of lobbyists? Or is it do-good legislators that don’t have a clue?
2. Stores can run promotions for brands. So when I go in to buy a Lacoste dress shirt and see the big Hilfiger display at the front of the store, does that violate this law too? Are stores now required to present all brands identically?

Anyway, I come from Canada, the land of well-intentioned, useless laws, and confused, out-of-touch parliamentarians, so its nice to see that were not alone.

Share This

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!