general

The Code of Marketing Communication Self-Regulation (IT / EN), which is administered by IAP, provides the core advertising rules in Italy. The code sets out the general rules of conduct in Title I, covers rules for 'sales systems' (e.g. distance selling and prize promotions) in Title II A and specific product categories under Title II B. IAP’s Digital Chart (IT / EN) reviews the most commonly used forms of online marcoms including influencer marketing (blogging/ vlogging/ celebrity; see GALA commentary July 5, 2023 here), native, in-app, SNS, advergames, and establishes criteria for the recognisability of these in line with article 7 of the IAP Code, Identification of advertising. Details under our channel section C, or see the linked file.

CONTENT LEGISLATION

Statutory regulation of advertising claims is under the Consumer Code (IT / EN key clauses inc. 2023 amends) LD 206/2005 which implemented the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive UCPD 2005/29/EC and protects consumers against e.g. misleading and aggressive advertising or marketing; LD 145/2007 (EN / IT) which implemented article 14 UCPD 2005/29/EC protects businesses from misleading advertising, and sets out conditions for comparative advertising (art. 4); and article 2598 (EN) of the Italian Civil Code on unfair competition. Details under content section B or see the linked documents. This case, courtesy of Gala/ Lex November 2021, is an example of how the Consumer Code is applied by the authorities, specifically the Italian Competition Authority AGCM, in the context of some apparently dubious advertising from Crystal Drops co. on the TikTok platform. March 2023 CC amends are a result of transposition from Directive 2019/2161 delivered by Legislative Decree No. 26 of March 7, 2023 (IT), which introduces clauses related to search rankings and how they are achieved, the validity of consumer surveys, the consistency of international campaigns and promotional pricing requirements, the latter shown under the Pricing header later in this section. See E-commerce and new specific information requirements (EN) from CMS Italy March 21, 2023 and for a broader picture Prohibited and controlled advertising in Italy (EN) from Jacobacci Avvocati March 12, 2024.

CHANNEL LEGISLATION

Broadcast/ AV/ Influencers

New Legislative Decree Amending The Audiovisual Media Services Code

Portolano Cavallo June 18, 2024

Inter alia, Introduces “audio-only content sharing platform service”

The arrival of Directive 2018/1808, which significantly amended the scope of the AVMS Directive 2010/13/EU by extending rules online and into video-sharing platforms in particular, was recognised by the Legislative Decree of 8 November 2021, No. 208 (IT), which largely repealed the former AVMS Code. This is a significant move in AV regulation, reflecting the 'digitisation' of European audiovisual media. Commercial communication content rules are not significantly changed, however - the Directive's amends in that context are here. Arguably the most important development is the new rules under article 28b of the Directive and 41/42 of the Decree for video-sharing platforms (VSPS). These rules include the application of the Directive's commercial communication articles linked earlier to VSPS and require the platforms to make available to those who post video(s) a means by which they can declare if such videos contain commercial content, if known, and similarly the platform must advise users accordingly. There is some debate about whether Influencers/ vloggers constitute an 'audiovisual media service.' Best source for understanding the issue and the regulators' view of it is ERGA's 2021 Analysis and recommendations concerning the regulation of vloggers (EN). Channel section C for more, or see the linked documents. In January 2024, Agcom (Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) is the communication industries regulator) launched their Influencer guidelines (IT; GT EN translation here); CMS Italy commentary here (EN). The guidelines classify some influencers one mil subscribers/ followers, 24 posts annually, 2%+ engagement as Audiovisual Media Services, making them equivalent to publishers under the November 2021 law linked above.

Privacy/ online commercial communications

Privacy issues should be overseen by specialist advisors

Privacy Sandbox news and updates

Data protection complaints about the use of ChatGPT in Italy

Harting/ Lex June 19, 2023

The Data Protection Code (DPC) LD 196/2003 (IT), containing provisions for the adaptation of national law to Regulation 2016/ 679 (GDPR) was amended and re-named (as shown) by LD 101/2018 (IT); section 1 of the DPC now provides that the processing of personal data will be according to the standards of GDPR (see para below). There’s an English translation of the DPC from the Data Protection Authority Garante here (Dec 2021 text). Section 130 of the DPC covers unsolicited communications, implementing the e-Privacy Directive 2002/58/EC providing for opt-in consent to electronic communications. Some data processing aspects of the article are now subject to GDPR. Legislative Decree 70/2003 IT / EN (the e-Commerce law, relevant articles: 7 - 9,12,13), which implements the e-Commerce Directive 2000/31/EC inter alia provides requirements applicable to advertising from ‘information society services.’ There's a 'succinct Q&A on the law and practice surrounding online advertising in Italy, covering key regulations and restrictions' from ICT Legal Consulting here (Oct 2022). European Data Protection Board (EDPB) Guidelines 8/2020 on the targeting of social media users, adopted April 2021, are here. And finally, Garante/ GPDP published in July 2021 Guidelines for cookies and other tracking tools (IT); the English version is on the link or here. Finally finally, this Feb 27, 2023 piece from CMS Italy/ Lex is a helpful catch-up with the EDPB cookie banner task force findings and potential implications in Italy.

GDPR application

Important Garante case GALA October 6, 2023

Above re data retention indicates new stance from regulator

Meta’s Ad Practices Ruled Illegal Under E.U. Law. From the NYT Jan 2023

The General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) applied directly in all EU member states from 25 May 2018, replacing the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. The European Commission page on GDPR is here. Member states, Italy included, tend to retain their national privacy legislation and ‘recognise’ GDPR. Italy’s key data protection law LD 196/2003, referenced above, was amended following an enabling law 163/2017 (IT) and Guidelines (IT) from Garante, the Data Protection Authority. There’s a helpful blog on those from DLA Piper here. Garante published on 24 May 2021 European Regulation: Guidelines for DPOs (IT) and in English The Personal Data Protection Code from March 2020, as linked above, which lays down the provisions to adapt the national legislation to GDPR. Specific rules related to the above are set out by channel in our section C, headers as relevant. See this significant piece from August 2022 The Garante warns against personalised ads based on legitimate interest by Orsingher Ortu Avvocati Associati/ Lex.

KEY CLAIM AREAS
Environmental

The Italian Council of State on “green” claims for polluting products
Orsingher Ortu May 23, 2024

The challenge of transparency in environmental marketing

CBA Studio Legale/ Lex March 25, 2024

Directive Empowering Consumers for Green Transition in force
Taylor Wessing Mar 21, 2024 and Womble Bond Apr 11, 2024

Green Claims Directive update Wiggin/ Lex March 21, 2024

Original EC press release here; EASA update Feb 2024 here

In self-regulation, article 12 of the IAP Code of Marketing Communication covers 'protection of the natural environment', albeit consisting of a single clause Advertising claiming or suggesting environmental or ecological benefits must be based on truthful, pertinent and scientifically verifiable evidence. Such advertising must ensure a clear understanding of which aspect of the product or activity the claimed benefits refer to. The English version of the iAP website contains the essentials; the Italian language website, somewhat more expansive, has a section 'Green claims' which sets out the issues surrounding environmental ads under three headings - green claims, article 12 and rulings on green claims. The first of these is a brochure which contains some important discussion/ direction on how to make claims, some reference to key rulings and expansion of issues such as Ecological and Organic, Compostable and Biodegradable, Recyclable and Life Cycle Assessment. The brochure is in Italian here and Google Translated (forgive us) here. The 'article 12' piece, in Italian here, covers some claims ground as in, for example, the dangers of generic or unsupported claims and references a number of cases. This last is also extended, as you might expect, by the third category of support information 'Decisioni', which covers the three areas set out in the earlier brochure. A 'basic' example we like is the IAP jury/ Comitato di Controllo decision 50/2021 (IT) December 2021 which addresses how Freshly Cosmetics transgressed article 12: broad claims, no substantiation. Ad here.

Internationally, chapter D Environmental Claims in Marketing Communications from the ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code (EN 2024) is also relevant, together with The ICC Framework for Responsible Environmental Marketing Communications 2021 (EN). Still internationally, the WFA launched their Planet Pledge in April 2021 and Global Guidance on Environmental Claims April 2022. DLA Piper's August 2024 Environmental Advertising Claims Guide covers all key markets including Italy. This last provides some important information and guidance in this jurisdiction.

The law

In national legislation, CMS Italy's piece Sustainability, Advertising and Greenwashing (EN) discusses some of the broader claims' compliance and the role of competition authority AGCM, who imposed a fine of 5 million euros in January 2020 on the company Eni S.p.A. for the dissemination of misleading advertising messages for their Diesel+ fuel; press release here (EN). Environmental claims in advertising are assessed against the Consumer Code referenced above and transposing the UCPD 2005/29/EC. Guidance for this latter legislation is from Commission Guidance on application of the UCPD (December 2021); see section 4.1.1. for environmental claims. ICLG's Consumer Protection Laws and Regulations from April 2023 sets out how various jurisdictions, Italy included, apply consumer protection law to environmental claims and New Green Claims Directive: working on stricter rules against Greenwashing from Bugnion SpA July 16, 2024 brings green issues in Italy and the EU up to speed.

Pricing in advertising

Pricing in advertising is often a source of complaint and sometimes competitor litigation. It’s best to check prices in ads, especially new ads, with legal advisors

The CJEU judgement in the 2016 Citroën/ZLW case ruled that when a price is included in advertising, the final price including VAT and all other price components must be stated; Arts 13-17 (EN) of the Consumer Code implement the Product Price Directive (PPD) 98/6;
In amendments from the Directive 2019/2161, the PPD incorporated a new article 6a which sets out provisions for reduced/ promotional pricing. These should have come into force in member states on May 28, 2022, though Italy delivered in March 2023, effective April 2nd, via Legislative Decree No. 26 of March 7, 2023 (IT). Relevant clauses in English are here. Commission guidance for the application of the article is here;
ECJ '30 day' judgement Aldi promotional pricing September 24, 2024 relevant to the above. The case is here; Pinsent Oct 4 commentary here;
The Consumer Code (EN 2023) includes other pricing references in B2C communications, particularly with regard to ‘bait and switch’ advertising; see article 23 (1e/f);
The information obligations in article 22.4 ‘Invitation to Purchase’ may also apply when a price is indicated in advertising;
The IAP Code of Marketing Communication (EN) in article 2 (misleadingness) prohibits ‘representations that could mislead consumers including omission, ambiguity, or exaggeration that are not obviously hyperbolical, particularly regarding the characteristics and effects of the product, prices, free offers...’

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SECTION B CONTENT RULES

This section is longer than most. To help navigate it, some of the text is 'anchored' and linked to respective headings immediately below

1. SELF-REGULATION; IAP Code

1.1. Fairness

1.2. Misleadingness

1.3. Terminology/ statistical data

1.4. Testimonials

1.5. Guarantees and warranties

1.6. Substantiation

1.7. Identification

1.8. Superstition, credulity, fear

1.9. Violence, vulgarity, indecency

1.10. Moral, civil, & religious beliefs; human dignity
1.11. Children and young people

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1.12. Protection of the natural environment

1.12b. Safety

1.13 Imitation, confusion and exploitation

1.14. Denigration

1.15. Comparative advertising

1.16. Variability

1.17. IAP Digital Chart

1.18. IAP Jury Decisions

2. LEGISLATION

2.1. Consumer Code

2.2. LD 145/2007 Comparative advertising

2.2.1. Case law and IAP rulings

2.3. Rules in audiovisual media

3. SPECIFIC CLAIM AREAS

3.1. Environmental claims

3.1.1. Self-regulation (national)

3.1.2. International self-regulation

3.1.3. Horizontal statutory legislation

3.1.4. Commission guidance

3.2 Pricing in advertising

1. SELF-REGULATION

The Code of Marketing Communication Self-Regulation IT / EN

Marketing communication must be honest, truthful and correct. It must avoid anything likely to discredit it (Art. 1)
See ruling from the IAP Jury regarding article 1 (and 10), in this case advertising deemed to discredit:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Moby.pdf

1.2. Misleading marketing communication (Art. 2)

Marketing communication must avoid statements or representations that could mislead consumers, including omissions, ambiguity or exaggeration that are not obviously hyperbolical, particularly regarding the characteristics and effects of the product, prices, free offers, conditions of sale, distribution, the identity of persons depicted, prizes or awards
In assessing whether or not a marketing communication is misleading, the benchmark is the reasonable consumer belonging to the relevant target group

..............................................................

Terms, quotations and references to scientific and technical tests must be used appropriately. Technical and scientific tests and statistical data with limited validity must not be presented in such a way as to make them appear generally valid (Art. 3, Terminology, data)
Testimonials and other forms of recommendation of a product, with a promotional intention, should be distinguishable as such as well as authentic and responsible (Art. 4, Testimonials)
Mandatory guarantees cannot be communicated in such a way as to convey the belief that they offer rights greater or different to those provided by law, when they do not (Art. 5, Guarantees and warranties)
Should guarantees or warranties be communicated that are greater or different to those that are mandatory, such marketing communication must specify the contents and conditions of the guarantee or warranty offered, or alternatively provide a brief but comprehensive description thereof together with reference to the written sources of information available at the point of sale or supplied with the product (Art. 5 Guarantees and warranties)
The contents of marketing communication must be capable of substantiation; such substantiation should be available to the Jury or Review Board to prove the truthfulness of the data, descriptions, statements, illustrations used and the consistency of any testimonies (Art. 6, Substantiation)

1.7. Identification (Art. 7)

Marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable as such. In the media and in the marketing communication when news and other editorial matter are presented to the public, the marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable as such via the adoption of appropriate measures. With reference to certain forms of marketing communication on the Internet, the most important and suitable measures are indicated in the Digital Chart Regulations
See ruling from the IAP Jury regarding article 7

.......................................................

Marketing communication should not play on superstition, credulity or, except in justifiable cases, fear (Art. 8, Superstition etc.)
Marketing communication should not contain statements, audio or visual treatments depicting physical or moral violence or, that may be considered indecent, vulgar or repugnant to prevailing standards (Art. 9, violence, vulgarity)
Marketing communication should not offend moral, civil and religious beliefs (Art. 10, Morality etc.)
Marketing communication should respect human dignity in every form and expression and should avoid any form of discrimination, including that of gender (Art. 10, Morality etc.)

See rulings from the IAP Jury regarding article 10:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Aquilantibath.pdf

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Mobyb.pdf

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Santhe.pdf

1.11. Children and young people (Art. 11)

Special care should be taken in marcoms directed to (or to which they may be exposed) children (U12) and young people
Such marcoms must not contain anything that could cause psychological, moral or physical harm to children or young people (adolescents), and must not take advantage of their natural credulity, lack of experience or their sense of loyalty
In particular, such marcoms must not suggest:

Violating generally accepted rules of social behaviour
Acting dangerously or seeking exposure to dangerous situations
That failure to posses the promoted product means either their own inferiority or their parents’ failure to fulfil their duties
That the role of parents and educators is inadequate in supplying healthy nutritional advice
Adopting poor eating habits or neglecting the need for a healthy lifestyle

Marketing communication for food products and beverages directed to children, or to which they might be exposed, is also subject to the provisions contained in the specific Regulation, which forms an integral part of this Code (the Regulation to which this point refers is here in Italian and here in English on the IAP website, otherwise downloaded here in English)
Marketing communication must not include a direct exhortation to children to buy the promoted product or to persuade other people to purchase it
The portrayal of children and young people in marketing communication must avoid playing on the natural sentiments of adults towards the young
Visual depictions of children, or persons resembling children, engaged in or seeming to engage in sexually explicit conduct are prohibited

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Advertising claiming or suggesting environmental or ecological benefits must be based on truthful, pertinent and scientifically verifiable evidence (Art.12, Environmental protection)
Such advertising must ensure a clear understanding of which aspect of the product or activity the claimed benefits refer to (Art. 12, Environmental protection)
Marketing communication involving products that may potentially endanger health, safety or the environment, especially when such dangers are not immediately recognisable, should indicate such dangers clearly (Art. 12 bis, Safety)
In any case marketing communication should not contain descriptions or representations that may lead consumers to be less cautious than usual or less watchful and responsible towards their own health and safety, including body images inspired by aesthetic models clearly associated with eating disorders that are harmful to health (Art. 12 bis, Safety)
Marketing communication should not copy or slavishly imitate that of others even if it concerns non-competitive products, especially if there is the risk of generating confusion with the marketing communication of others (Art. 13, Imitation, exploitation)
Moreover, any exploitation of the name, trademark, notoriety and corporate image of other marketers should be avoided, if it is intended to generate an undue advantage (Art. 13, Imitation, exploitation)
Marketing communication should not denigrate the activities, companies or products of others, even if not specifically named (Art. 14, Denigration)

1.15. Comparative advertising (Art. 15)

Comparative advertising is permitted when it helps to explain the technical or financial features and benefits of promoted products and services, objectively comparing the relevant basic, technically verifiable and representative features of competitive goods and services, that meet the same needs or are intended for the same purpose
Comparisons should be fair and not be misleading, nor generate the risk of confusion, or discredit or denigrate others. Comparisons should not draw unfair advantage from the notoriety of others

1.16. Variability (Art. 16)

Marketing communication which is acceptable for one medium or product may not necessarily be acceptable for another, due to the different characteristics of the various media and products
In the cases referred to in articles 17 (credit sales), 18 (distance selling), 21 (prize promotions), 27 (financial and real estate transactions), 28 (package tours) and 46 (social marcoms) below, messages that are limited to general statements are permitted to omit all the relevant necessary information
Compliance of a marketing communication with the provisions of the Code does not rule out the right of the media to decide, based on their contractual autonomy, to reject it on the grounds that it breaches stricter criteria they may have put in place

1.17. IAP Digital Chart

The IAP Digital Chart IT / EN establishes the criteria for the recognition or detectability of common forms of online marketing communications in compliance with Article 7 of the IAP Code. Details in Channel Section (Online Commercial Communications and Native). See also ruling below on article 7

1.18. Jury decisions

Also shown above under relevant articles; the linked files are summaries in English

A jury ruling reference article 10 relating to ‘Moral, Civil, and Religious Beliefs and Human Dignity’, in this case finding against a poster that is ‘crude’ and ‘sexist’
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Aquilantibath.pdf
A jury ruling reference article 10 and article 1 relating to ‘Moral, Civil, and Religious Beliefs and Human Dignity’, in this case finding against a particularly patriotic appeal that has ‘no foundation’:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Mobyb.pdf
A jury ruling reference article 10 relating to ‘Moral, Civil, and Religious Beliefs and Human Dignity’, in this case ruling against a particularly sexist presentation of a soft drink:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt10Santhe.pdf
This jury ruling, relating to article 7 Identification, is important because it finds against some of the frequently used techniques that are found on the web that fail to clarify that content is sponsored/ paid for:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenIAPrulingArt7Taboolab.pdf

On 11th February 2019, IAP launched a new online database containing all the formal adjudications from 1966 to present day, with real-time updates. This new tool ‘greatly simplifies the identification of adjudications and allows users to login through different devices. The database is available through a subscription, free for the first 30 days.’

https://archivio.iap.it/

2. LEGISLATION

Consumer Code LD 206/2005; unofficial translation here (inc. 2023 amends)
LD145/2007 on Comparative Advertising IT / EN
LD 208/2021 (IT) transposing the AVMS Directive

2.1. Key clauses Consumer Code

This is the key legislation that can and does affect marketing and advertising in Italy and indeed all member states as it is transposed from the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC; it is this legislation that may be used in e.g. any actions against environmental claims
The key articles are 20-22, which address Prohibition of unfair commercial practices, Misleading actions and Misleading omissions respectively, the latter including requirements for any ‘Invitation to Purchase’ Definition Means a commercial communication which indicates characteristics of the product and the price in a way appropriate to the means of the commercial communication used and thereby enables the consumer to make a purchase (Art. 18i)
Sections 23 & 26 contain the list of commercial practices which shall in all circumstances be regarded as misleading and aggressive, respectively; known as the blacklist
The Consumer Code LD 206/ 2005 was amended in March 2023 a result of transposition from Directive 2019/2161 delivered by Legislative Decree No. 26 of March 7, 2023 (IT), which introduces clauses related to search rankings and how they are achieved, the validity of consumer surveys, the consistency of international campaigns and promotional pricing requirements, the latter shown under the Pricing header later in this section. These amendments are included in the EN translation of the Consumer Code linked above

2.2. Key clauses LD 145/2007 (EN); Comparative advertising Section 4

Comparative advertising shall, as far as the comparison is concerned, be permitted when the following conditions are met:

It is not misleading within the meaning of Sections 21, 22 and 23 of Legislative Decree No 206 of 6 September 2005 enacting the ‘Consumer Code’
It compares goods or services meeting the same needs or intended for the same purpose
It objectively compares one or more material, relevant, verifiable and representative features of those goods and services, which may include price
it does not create confusion among traders, between the advertiser and a competitor or between the advertiser's trade marks, trade names, other distinguishing marks, goods or services and those of a competitor
It does not discredit or denigrate the trade marks, trade names, other distinguishing marks, goods, services, activities or circumstances of a competitor
For products with designation of origin, it relates in each case to products with the same designation
It does not take unfair advantage of the reputation of a trademark, trade name or other distinguishing marks of a competitor or of the designation of origin of competing products
It does not present goods or services as imitations or replicas of goods or services bearing a protected trade mark or trade name

2.2.1. Case law and AGCM and IAP rulings

Case law is reported essentially verbatim; in some instances, commentary has been taken from online contributions. None of this text represents a view or guidance from GRS, but information to be interpreted as marketers, agencies, or advisors see fit

Plasmon vs. Barilla: Court of Milan ruled that the compared foods were ‘non-homogenous’ as they are intended for consumers of different ages; Plasmon for children under 3 and Barilla for adults. We are unable to access a link to the case itself, but there is a solid report here:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITCompPlasmonBarillab.pdf
The IAP Jury ruled the comparison to be legitimate but the advertising misleading. The case is in Italian here:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITCompAdIAPAdjudicationBarillaPlasmon_2011.pdf
And the advertising is here:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITCompAdExamplePlasmon-Barilla.jpg
Also see in this context Freeze/ Botox case here, reviewed by the Competition Authority AGCM
European Court of Justice Case C-159/09, Lidl SNC vs. Vierzon Distribution SA which advised that comparative price advertising for foods is permitted under Directive 84/450/EEC (now Directive 2006/114/EC)

2.3. Content rules in audiovisual media

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive, amended by Directive 2018/1808 and transposed in Italy by LD 208/2021 (IT), sets out commercial communication content rules consisting largely of protection for minors, anti-discrimination rules, the environment, health and safety, and some Alcohol rules, assembled here
Rules apply in audiovisual media services within EU member states, those services defined here in summary, or see the link to the Directive. Video-sharing platforms are now in scope and some vlogs, which may be from influencers and constitute an 'audiovisual media service', may also be subject to the rules. The paper from ERGA Analysis and recommendations concerning the regulation of vloggers is the definitive view on the issue

3. SPECIFIC CLAIM AREAS

3.1. Environmental

3.1.1 Self-regulation (national)

Article 12 IAP Code; Protection of the Natural Environment:

Advertising claiming or suggesting environmental or ecological benefits must be based on truthful, pertinent and scientifically verifiable evidence
Such advertising must ensure a clear understanding of which aspect of the product or activity the claimed benefits refer to

Example cases:

Injunction No. 14/17 of 6/3/17 IT re print ad for cosmetic Vitality’s ‘Zero’ hair colouring cream. The claim “la prima colorazione con etichetta ambientale, buona con te, buona con l’ambiente” (the first colourant with an environmental label, good with you, good with the environment) was ruled in breach of article 12, as well as articles 2 misleadingness and 23, health claims. The Review Board confirmed that article 12 prohibits generic claims;
Jury Decision No. 69/2016 of 28/10/2016 IT and summary IT. The advertising focused on the ecological/ environmental qualities of diapers (100% natural, produced with raw materials of plant origin, biodegradable, compostable, Chemical free, Antibacterial - Phthalate-free). It was ruled contrary to articles 2 and 12, as the messages would induce consumers to believe, wrongly, that the nappies were natural, biodegradable and compostable.
The IAP website includes a section of archived decisions from the Review Board and Jury from 2011-2017 and includes archived decisions relating to ‘Green Claims’, accessible here

3.1.2. International self-regulation

The ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code (EN) will apply, in particular:

General Provisions; Section I of the Code, and
Chapter D: Environmental Claims in Marketing Communications section

These principles apply to all marcoms containing environmental claims, i.e. any claim in which explicit or implicit reference is made to environmental or ecological aspects relating to the production, packaging, distribution, use/consumption or disposal of products, regardless of the medium, including labelling, package inserts, promotional and point-of-sales materials, product literature as well as via telephone or digital or electronic media such as e-mail and the Internet
The ICC Framework for Responsible Environmental Marketing Communications (November 2021). 'The updated 2021 Environmental Framework provides added guidance on some established environmental claims and additional guidance on some emerging claims' and 'a summary of the principles of the ICC Code including those outlined in Chapter D on environmental claims and supplements them with additional commentary and guidance to aid practitioners in applying the principles to environmental advertising.' Appendix I carries an Environmental Claims Checklist 'that marketers may find useful in evaluating their environmental claims.'

3.1.3. 'Horizontal' legislation

The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive UCPD 2005/29/EC transposed into Italian law by the Consumer Code IT / EN (inc. 2023 amends)

There is no 'general' EU legislation harmonising environmental marketing claims; specific provision is made for sectors such as energy-related and organic products
UCPD provisions apply to all claims made in the context of B2C commercial practices; the directive is part-designed to complement sector-specific EU legislation as a ‘safety net’ by ‘filling the gaps’ (recital 10 UCPD)
Competitors may challenge environmental claims as unfair commercial practices before national courts, and the Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (the Market and Competition Authority) may also adjudicate; claims are assessed against the UCPD/ IT Consumer Code, application of which has been incorporated into a separate paper here:
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenApllicationUCPD2Environmental.pdf

3.1.4. Commission guidance

Guidance on the application of Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices December 2021, Section 4.1.1. Environmental claims

3.2 PRICING

Check prices in advertising with legal advisors

3.2.1. Self-regulation

IAP Code of Marketing Communication Self-Regulation (IT / EN) Art. 2 Misleading marketing communication. Marketing communication must avoid statements or representations that could mislead consumers, including omissions, ambiguity or exaggeration that are not obviously hyperbolical, particularly regarding the characteristics and effects of the product, prices, free offers, conditions of sale, distribution, the identity of persons depicted, prizes or awards. In assessing whether or not a marketing communication is misleading, the benchmark is the reasonable consumer belonging to the relevant target group

3.2.2. Legislation and key case

Italian Consumer Code LD 206/2005 from articles 21, 22, 23; unofficial trans EN inc. 2023 amends, for specific pricing clauses articles 13-17 EN, which transpose elements of the Product Pricing Directive (PPD) 98/6/EC. Some pricing guidance included within the UCPD Commission Guidance linked above under point 3.1.4
In amendments from the Directive 2019/2161, the PPD incorporated a new article 6a which sets out provisions for reduced/ promotional pricing. These should have come into force in member states on May 28, 2022; in Italy, transposition from the directive was delivered in March 2023 by Legislative Decree No. 26 of March 7, 2023 (IT), which amended article 17 shown in the above linked file in English
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): C‑476/14 (Citroën/ZLW) Judgement and AG Opinion; the CJEU ruled that car retailers may not advertise a price that does not include all necessary and unavoidable costs. This is an important judgement

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SECTION C: TV & RADIO/ AV

New Legislative Decree Amending The Audiovisual Media Services Code

Portolano Cavallo June 18, 2024 and GALA June 14

Inter alia, Introduces “audio-only content sharing platform service”

APPLICABLE REGULATION

Rules from the IAP Code (EN) and legislation in our earlier content section B apply to all media; audiovisual media services carry some specific content rules of their own, derived from the AVMS Directive and its amending directive 2018/1808 and transposed by LD 208/2021 (IT)
Those rules, assembled from the directive here, or see the link above, apply beyond TV and Radio broadcast programmes into VOD and other online services, most recently, as a function of the 2018 Directive, into video-sharing platforms in particular
The decree linked above also addresses 'channel' (i.e. placement) rules such as those for product placement and sponsorship as well as 'conventional' break TV advertising; see Chapter III, articles 46 and 48 for sponsorship and product placement respectively
The self-regulatory Code on Media and Minors applies to TV and is undersigned by all Italian broadcasters; Section 4 (EN) covers advertising. The code applies different levels of protection for minors according to the timeframe. The full code is here (IT)
AGCOM Influencer guidelines (IT; GT EN translation here) issued in January 2024 classify some influencers one mil subscribers/ followers, 24 posts annually, 2%+ engagement as Audiovisual Media Services, making them equivalent to publishers under the 2021 AV law linked above.

AV CONTENT RULES

Chapter III, LD 208/2021, art. 43

Extracts of the more general clauses. There are also clauses related to alcohol and to gambling

General principles: audiovisual commercial communications must be readily recognisable as such; surreptitious audiovisual commercial communications are prohibited. And must not:

Use subliminal techniques
Prejudice respect for human dignity
Include or promote any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation
Encourage behaviour prejudicial to health or safety
Encourage behaviour grossly prejudicial to the protection of the environment
Cause physical or moral detriment to minors; they must not:

Exhort minors to buy or hire a product or service by exploiting their inexperience or credulity
Encourage them to persuade their parents or others to purchase the goods or services being advertised
Exploit the special trust minors place in parents, teachers or other persons
Unreasonably show minors in dangerous situations

SPONSORSHIP
(Art. 46 of the LD)

The content and scheduling of a sponsored programme must not be influenced by the sponsor so as to affect the responsibility and editorial independence of the media service provider
Sponsored programmes must be clearly identified as such and the name or logo of the sponsor indicated at the beginning and end of the programme
They must not encourage the purchase or rental of the goods or services of the sponsor or of a third party, in particular by making special promotional references to those products or services
Television and radio news programmes and political affairs programmes must not be sponsored
The showing of a sponsorship logo during children’s programmes, documentaries and religious programmes is prohibited

PRODUCT PLACEMENT
(Art. 48 of the LD)

Permitted in cinematographic works (feature films released initially in the cinema), films and series made for TV, sports, and light entertainment programmes
Prohibited in children’s programmes
Placement may occur in return for payment or take place free of charge in exchange for certain goods and services, such as production props and prizes, with a view to their inclusion in a programme.
Programmes that contain product placement must not:

Influence editorial independence of the programme
Directly encourage purchase or rental of goods or services
Give undue prominence to the product
Viewers must be informed of the existence of Product Placement via an alert/ warning at the start and end of the programme, and when resuming after an advertising break

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SECTION C: CINEMA, PRINT, OUTDOOR

CINEMA

The content rules set out in our earlier section B from the IAP Code (EN) and from legislation apply in all media, except those rules from the AVMS Code
Rai Pubblicità is the SAWA (Screen Advertising World Association) representative in Italy. Contact them for any further information on cinema advertising in Italy:
http://www.raipubblicita.it/

The content rules set out in our earlier section B from the IAP Code and from legislation apply in all media, with the exception of rules from LD 2018/1808, which apply to audiovisual media services

OUTDOOR

The content rules set out in our earlier section B from the IAP Code and from legislation apply in all media, with the exception of those rules set out in the AVMS Code

The international association for OOH advertising is the World Out Of Home Organisation (WOO); membership list here
Use of billboards to 'dress' buildings which are in the process of being restored: companies are sponsoring the restoration of Italian historical monuments and therefore provide advertising banners to cover scaffolding etc. over the building. See Art. 49.3 Law on Cultural Heritage and Landscape. Under article 49.1, it is forbidden to place or post signs or other means of advertising on buildings and in protected areas as cultural assets. Restrictions are contained in:

Law on cultural heritage and landscape Art. 49 LD 42/2004 IT
Italian Traffic/ Highway Code (Codice della Strada) LD 285/92 IT Art. 23 Advertising on roads and vehicles
Regulations for the implementation and execution of the Highway Code articles 47-49 refers to Art. 23 of Highway Code (DPR 495/92 IT)
Regulations from municipalities will also apply

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SECTION C: ONLINE COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMENTARY/ NEWS

Q&A: online advertising in Italy. ICT September 24, 2024

The DSA: Consequences of the use of digital advertising Dentons/ Lex Aug 30, 2022: implications for ad industry

Garante fines energy company 10 million euros (IT) Oct 23, 2023

CONTEXT AND SCOPE

This particular section provides the broad regulatory picture for the commercial digital environment. More specific channel rules such as email, OBA etc. follow. Advertising online is subject to the rules in owned and (some) earned space as well as paid, which makes the definition of advertising important. The IAP version is ‘advertising and all other forms of communication including corporate and institutional messages whose aim is to promote the sale of goods or services irregardless (sic) of the modalities (means) used’.

GDPR

In the context of these channels, the influence of legislation is significant, particularly on the use of personal data. GDPR’s impact is shown under particular channel sections where relevant; in broad, if processing personal data, lawful processing rules from the GDPR now apply. For guidance, we show below the most relevant Data Protection Authority - Garante - statements, together with EU documentation

Privacy issues should be reviewed with specialist advisors

1. SELF- REGULATION

IAP Code EN / IT for content rules
IAP Digital Chart IT / EN establishes criteria for the recognition of common forms of online marketing communications
Marketing communications online are generally subject to the rules set out in our earlier content section B, with the exception of rules specific to broadcast advertising

2. LEGISLATION

Data Protection Code (DPC) Legislative Decree No. 196 of 30 June 2003 IT; section 130 unsolicited commercial communications EN (text released 22.12.2021)
In the context of e-Commerce/ an Information Society Service Definition Any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of servicesLegislative Decree 70/2003 e-Commerce law EN Information requirements articles 7, 8 & 9
Consumer Code (CC) LD 206/2005 (EN inc. 2023 amends) applies to business-to-consumer commercial practices, as defined under article 18. The decree carries the rules from the UCPD 2005/29/EC and covers content-related issues such as misleading acts and omissions, including e.g. 'invitation to purchase' (art. 22). Sanctions and distance selling rules, the latter particularly applicable to this channel, have been extracted and are shown here (EN)
LD 208/2021 (IT) is the vehicle for the AVMS Directive as amended by Directive 2018/1808 which applies to 'audiovisual media services' and brings into scope video-sharing platforms (VSPS) in particular. Some scope explanation here, or see the linked directive

GUIDANCE

The Italian Data Protection Authority Garante per la protezione dei dati personali is the independent authority established by the Personal Data Protection Code as responsible for monitoring application of the GDPR

Garante Guidelines relating to promotional activity and the fight against spam, July 4 2013 Doc. No. 2542348 IT Garante trans EN Doc. No. 4304228
Summary of these guidelines is also provided by Garante in “No to Spam, yes to consumer friendly marketing” 23/07/2013. Doc. 2554512 in English; Doc 2549317 in Italian
Note: both of the above documents remain on the Garante website as at December 2023; the documents pre-date GDPR
Guarantor guidelines various; this link takes you to the guidelines home page (IT)
Guidelines on the processing of personal data for online profiling; March 2015 (IT)
Guide to the application of the European Regulation on personal data protection February 2018 (IT)

Article 29 Working Party/ EDPB

Established by Article 29 of Directive 95/46/EC, hence the name. As of May 2018 the Article 29 Working Party was replaced by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). Nevertheless, WP29 papers/ guidelines remain valid. The 1997-2016 archive is here. Three key papers in this context are:

ERGA
European Regulator Group for Audiovisual Media Services

Reference LD 208/2121 above and its 'parent' Directive 2018/1808, there has been some discussion in regulatory circles whether a vlogger/ influencer constitutes an audiovisual media service. The definitive view and recommendation is in the 2021 ERGA paper Analysis and recommendations concerning the regulation of vloggers

1.1. Key clauses self-regulation

Ad labelling/ Identification

IAP Code Article 7 (Identification): Marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable as such. In the media and in marketing communication where news and other editorial matter are presented to the public, the marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable through the adoption of appropriate measures
Digital Chart IT / EN covering Endorsements (e.g. Celebrity/ Influencer/ Blogging, Vlogging) UGC, SNS; In-App; Advergame. This is the key document in this marcoms area. Scroll down in the IAP Digital Chart link to the sub-head that reads 'Digital Chart Regulations on the Recognisability of Marketing Communications Distributed over the Internet'.

Endorsements/ Influencers (extract from Section 2 IAP Digital Chart)

When a celebrity, influencer, blogger, or similar user of the Internet, whose actions might potentially influence the commercial choices of the public (hereinafter, collectively, “influencers”) accredits a product or a brand within their own content, as a form of marketing communication, one of the following labels must be clearly inserted at the beginning of the post, or in another message posted online:

“Pubblicità/Advertising”, or

“Promosso da … brand/Promoted by … brand” or

“Sponsorizzato da … brand/Sponsored by … brand”, or

“in collaborazione con … brand/In partnership with … brand”;

And/ or within the first three hashtags of a post, provided it is clear and prominent, one of the following labels should be inserted:

“#Pubblicità/#Advertising”, or

“#Sponsorizzato da … brand/#Sponsored by … brand”, or

“#ad” together with “#brand”

For contents available for “a limited time”, for instance the stories, one of the above labels should be superimposed in a clear and legible manner for any promotional content
Conversely, should the relationship between the influencer and advertiser not be underpinned by an existing agreement, but consist merely in the advertiser occasionally sending the influencer its products free of charge or for a modest consideration, rather than the notifications stated above, posts or other messages distributed online in which the influencer mentions or represents these products must feature a disclaimer of the following type:

“Product sent by… brand”, or equivalent
As per the previous subsection, the advertiser must clearly and unequivocally inform the influencer when sending the product of the obligation to insert this disclaimer
In such cases, the advertiser’s liability is circumscribed to informing the influencer of the obligation’s existence

2.1 Key clauses legislation and authority guidance

Invitation to purchase and advertising identification

If the communication constitutes an ‘Invitation to Purchase' Definition A commercial communication which indicates characteristics of the product and the price in a way appropriate to the means of the commercial communication used and thereby enables the consumer to make a purchase certain information must be provided, especially that related to price. Article 22 of the Consumer Code LD 206/2005 applies. This is a transposition of UCPD 2005/29/EC article 7 here
Where the medium used to communicate the commercial practice imposes limitations of space or time, these limitations and any measures taken by the trader to make the information available to consumers by other means shall be taken into account in deciding whether information has been omitted (Art. 22.3 LD 206/2005)

Article 23 Consumer Code; Commercial practices which in all circumstances are misleading

m)...........using editorial content in the media to promote a product where a trader has paid for the promotion without making that clear in the content or by images or sounds clearly identifiable by the consumer (advertorial)
aa) Falsely claiming or creating the false impression that the trader is not acting for purposes relating to his trade, business, craft or profession, or falsely passing oneself off as a consumer

Information requirements; from e-Commerce law LD 70/2003 (EN), Article 8

1. In addition to the information obligations stipulated for specific goods and services, marketing communications that constitute an information society service (Any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services) or form an integral part thereof must contain specific information, from first dispatch, clearly and unequivocally, aimed at indicating:

That this is a marketing communication
The individual or corporation on behalf of which the marketing communication is effected
That this is a promotional offer with discounts, prizes or gifts and the relative conditions of access and
That this concerns promotional contests or games, if permitted, and their terms of participation

Additionally, the service provider must make company information 'easily, directly and permanently accessible to the recipients of the service and competent authorities.' See Art. 7 LD 70/2003 for required information

LD 208/2121 (IT)

Commercial communication content rules as established in the AVMS Directive amended by Directive 2018/1808 are not significantly changed - the Directive's content rule changes are here - but they now apply to VSPS, which platforms must also provide a facility for those posting to declare where their video includes commercial communication, where known; the platform is required to advise users accordingly
The rules referenced above are found in Chapter III, article 43 of the legislative decree linked in the header above. This text is currently available only in Italian, albeit apparently unchanged from its previous home the Italian AVMS Code, and faithful to the Directives
Per above ERGA guidance, vloggers/ influencers may constitute an 'audiovisual media service.'

Influencer Marketing: review by competition authority

The Italian Competition Authority AGCM on Influencer Marketing practices; press release July 2017 here (IT) includes a number of proposed identifiers

The authority remains active on the issue of influencer marketing and has opened proceedings November 2023 against Meta/ Instagram (IT)

Following brands in social media

Garante guidelines on promotional activity/ marketing and the fight against spam, July 4 2013 Doc. No. 2542348 IT, GRS trans EN; Garante trans EN Doc. No. 4304228. Clause 6.1 ‘Social spam'

Note: the Consent rules referenced in this documentation and below may now be impacted by lawful processing rules from the GDPR. Garante have not, however, withdrawn documentation from their website, or adapted it accordingly. As this (communication by brands in social media) is highly sensitive territory, it’s best to review the position with specialist advisors

Privacy regulations will apply to communications sent through social media, for instance through private messages on Facebook or through Skype, WhatsApp or Messenger
However, DPA Decision No. 2542348 on Direct Marketing and Prevention of Spam states that if a person is a fan or a follower of a brand name, product or service on a social network such as a Facebook page or a Twitter account, it may be implied that the person consented to the delivery of marketing communications concerning that brand, product or company. The consent can be inferred from the context of the subscription. Such marcoms must cease when the person unregisters/ unsubscribes from the page or unfollows the account/ page
In any other case, the use of personal data taken from users’ profiles on social networks in order to send promotional messages constitutes unlawful processing of personal data, if carried out without the prior consent of the persons concerned

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SECTION C: COOKIES AND OBA

Q&A: online advertising in Italy. ICT September 24, 2024

Privacy Sandbox news and updates posted May 2024
The EU "Cookie Pledge" Preiskel & Co/ Mondaq 12 June 2023. Pledge here

Privacy issues should be reviewed with specialist advisors

Legislation and guidance

Section 122 Data Protection Code DPC EN implementing the Cookie Directive 2009/136/EC;
The introduction of the GDPR 2016/679 may mean that if/ when cookies identify individuals, GDPR lawful processing rules apply;
The key EDPB guidance in this context is Guidelines on Consent under Regulation 2016/679 (May 2020);
IAB Europe published ~~also in May 2020 their Guide to the Post Third-Party Cookie Era~~ ~~and~~ in July 2021 Guide to Contextual Advertising;
From ICAS' March 2022 newsletter: Google has published key actions for advertisers to take to prepare for a cookieless future as longer-term solutions for more advanced privacy-safe technology are still in development. Read the Privacy-Safe Growth Playbook ~~here;~~
IAB TCF Framework and GDPR from GALA/ Mondaq February 2022. News story here (EN);
Garante/ GPDP published in July 2021 Guidelines for cookies and other tracking tools (IT) English version here. Compliance by January 10, 2022;
There's a helpful commentary in English on the above from Martini Manna/ Lexo here;
See this significant piece from August 2022 The Garante warns against personalised ads based on legitimate interest by Orsingher Ortu Avvocati Associati/ Lex;
And this Feb 2023 piece from CMS Italy/ Lex is a helpful catch-up with the EDPB cookie banner task force findings and potential implications in Italy;
Important Garante case GALA October 6, 2023 re permissible period for data retention indicates new stance from regulator.

Key clause

Under Article 122 (1) of the DPC linked above: the use of cookies is only permitted if the ‘contracting party’ (user) has been properly informed and has given his/ her consent, unless the cookie is strictly necessary to provide the service explicitly requested by the users i.e. technical, session, analytics, functional; these cookies must still be disclosed in the privacy notice. See the linked DPC above for the full clause

OBA

European Union: Targeted advertising on social networks: Is consent mandatory? (EN)
Haas Avocats 19 September 2023

CJEU Landmark Data Protection Ruling for Online and Behavioural Advertising

William Fry/ Lex September 8, 2023. Connects with Meta news below

Privacy rules for targeted advertising in the UK and EU. Reed Smith/ Lex August 2023

Meta’s Ad Practices Ruled Illegal Under E.U. Law. From the NYT Jan 2023

EU Rules on Online Targeted Advertising Covington Burling Aug 2022 on existing targeted ad rules and DSA (in force Jan 2024)

Facebook's Meta to ban adverts that target people on 'sensitive topics' politics, race and sexual orientation.

Effective 19 January 2022

Profiling/ Behavioural cookies

Prior consent of the data subject is required along with disclosure in an information/ privacy notice, i.e. opt-in consent; see Google case
Under Doc. 3118884 (IT), separate consent must be obtained for third party cookies/ profiling. The third party cookie information must also be kept separate from the website owner’s first party cookie information (to prevent confusion)
In order to maintain the distinction of the responsibility of website managers and third parties, the website operators should provide links to the web pages which contain the information and third-party cookie consent. Refer to foot of Cookie Guidance document 3118884
Garante confirms that profiling cookies that are ‘persistent in nature’ should be notified (to Garante) - Sect. 5 Guidelines as per Art. 37 (g) DPC
Profiling and Electronic Communications (EN). Decision by Garante dated 25 June 2009. Profiling performed on identifiable personal data is only allowed if – under Section 23 of the Code* – the data controller can provide written proof that the data subject had given his/ her informed, free, and specific consent thereto. The consent in question obviously also applies to the processing of aggregate personal data. * Note: GDPR lawful processing rules may now apply; see below
From Article 29 WP (now the European Data Protection Board):
Guidelines on Automated individual decision-making and Profiling for the purposes of Regulation 2016/679
Garante guidelines on the processing of personal data for online profiling; March 2015 (IT)

Self-regulation

OBA, as with any other advertising, is ‘in remit’, i.e. subject to the IAP Code, and all the rules set out in content section B with the exception of the broadcast rules
From the Digital Marcoms section of the IAP Digital Chart (EN): “On the basis of another key EASA document, the ‘Best Practice Recommendation on Online Behavioural Advertising’, and the ‘IAB Europe EU Framework for Online Behavioural Advertising’, since November 2015 the IAP has also intervened/ taken action against so-called online behavioural advertising (or OBA for short). The link is to the IAP’s description (in Italian) of its role on OBA

First 2 paras of this link:

The IAP can intervene to protect consumers/ public, as well as to ensure compliance with the IAP Code, and even applied against so-called OBA, in compliance with the self-regulatory principles and rules by operators who adhere to the IAB Europe EU Framework
Many web operators have in fact committed themselves to the IAB Europe Framework to identify the OBA through a special icon, placed within the ad, which refers to precise information and allows users to disable the receipt of OBA ads
The above refers to the European Self-Regulatory programme for OBA, administered by EDAA. The OBA icon,

which can be found on digital advertising and on web pages to signal that OBA is on those sites, is licensed to participating companies by the EDAA. The consumer is provided with a link to http://www.youronlinechoices.eu/, a pan-European website with information on how data is used, a mechanism to ‘turn off’ data collection and use, and a portal to connect with national Self-Regulatory Organisations for consumer complaint handling. OBA segments may not be created for children (under 13)

ICC

OBA rules are under Chapter C, Article 22 of the ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code. We have extracted the rules here
The ICC's Resource Guide For Self-Regulation of Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA); as a Resource Guide, it doesn't tell you the rules per se, but provides an explanation of the global framework available for OBA self-regulation, a checklist from existing OBA self-regulatory implementations, and links to further resources
And finally, here is the ICC's Mobile supplement to the ICC Resource Guide for Self-Regulation of Interest-based Advertising

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SECTION C: DIRECT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

(DIRECT) ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INC SMS/MMS

Marketing communications via email/ SMS/ MMS are subject to the content rules set out in section B, except those that are specific to broadcast; the principal content rules are from the IAP Code (EN)
In legislation, the core content regulations are from the Consumer Code LD 206/2005 EN, which covers misleading and aggressive commercial practices, including advertising (see below)
If associated data processing involves personal data (that which identifies individuals), lawful processing rules from the GDPR may apply. Privacy issues should be reviewed with specialist advisors
In this Channel rules context, the main regulatory issues are from legislation that deals with Consent, Identification and Information requirements. Details below

LEGISLATION MOST RELEVANT TO THIS CHANNEL

The General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 applied directly in EU member states from 25 May 2018
Nationally, the Personal Data Protection Code (DPC) article 130 EN; the DPC was amended in August 2018 to ‘recognise’ GDPR
e-Commerce Law LD 70/2003; information requirements articles 7, 8 and 9 EN
Consumer Code (CC, EN) LD 206/2005 applicable to ‘business-to-consumer commercial practices’ i.e. ‘any act, omission, course of conduct or representation, commercial communication including advertising and marketing, by a trader, directly connected with the promotion, sale or supply of a product to consumers’ (Section 18d CC). The Consumer Code has a broad remit, therefore. In this context, most relevant clauses Section 26 (e.g. harassment clause shown below at the base of this section) and sections 22 and 23 re misleadingness
Sanctions and distance selling rules from the CC have been extracted and are shown here (EN)
See this November 2021 judgement from CJEU re unsolicited 'Inbox advertising' and related article from GALA/ Lexology here

GARANTE GUIDANCE

Garante guidelines relating to promotional activity and the fight against spam, July 4 2013 Doc. No. 2542348 IT, Garante EN Doc. No. 4304228
Summary of above guidelines: ‘No to Spam, yes to consumer friendly marketing’ 23/07/2013 Doc. No. 2554512 EN; Doc. No. 2549317 IT
Resolution on consent in the use of personal data for 'direct marketing' purposes, by conventional and automated means May 15, 2013; DPA Decision 2543820 EN / IT
How to lawfully Email advertising messages (IT)
Note: the above are relatively old documents and may not be fully consistent with GDPR lawful processing rules, but remain on the Garante website as at December 2021
Garante guidelines various; this link takes you to the guidelines home page (IT)
See this significant piece from August 2022 The Garante warns against personalised ads based on legitimate interest by Orsingher Ortu Avvocati Associati/ Lex.

CONSENT/ EDPB GUIDANCE

If consent is the basis for lawful processing, the optimum source for guidance for consent under GDPR is from the Article 29 Working Party (now the European Data Protection Board)
Guidelines on consent under Regulation 2016/679 (May 2020)
EDPB guidelines 8/2020 on the targeting of social media users here; adopted April 2021 (EN)

KEY CLAUSES

Section 121 (m) of the DPC: electronic mail is defined as any text, voice, sound or image message sent over a public communications network, which can be stored in the network or in the recipient’s terminal equipment until it is collected by the recipient

Opt-in: use of email, MMS or SMS-type messages, addressed to both individuals and companies for the purposes of direct marketing or sending advertising materials, are only allowed subject to obtaining the prior consent of the consumer or business (based on Section 130 (2) DPC)
If the marketing communication is in an e-Commerce context, i.e. relating to an Information Society Service Definition Any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services, information requirements from Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the e-Commerce Act LD 70/2003 (EN) apply
From the above, the marcom must clearly identify the sender and must be clearly identifiable as such. The recipient must also be informed that he/ she may object to the receipt of such communications in future
In the case of a promotional offer, with discounts, prizes or gifts, or promotional contests or games, 'conditions of access' and 'terms of participation' must be made available (Art. 8 of LD 70/2003, transposing Art. 6 of Directive 2000/31/EC)
The service provider must make company information 'easily, directly and permanently accessible to the recipients of the service and competent authorities.' See Art. 7 LD 70/2003 for required information
It is prohibited to send direct marketing emails which disguise or conceal the identity of the sender and do not provide a suitable address to enable the user to opt-out (Art. 130 (5) DPC)
If the communication constitutes an ‘Invitation to Purchase' Definition A commercial communication which indicates characteristics of the product and the price in a way appropriate to the means of the commercial communication used and thereby enables the consumer to make a purchase certain information must be provided, especially that related to price. Article 22 of the Consumer Code LD 206/2005 (EN) applies. This is a transposition of UCPD 2005/29/EC article 7 here

SOFT OPT-IN

Under Section 130 (4) DPC, where a data controller collects a customer’s email details in connection with a sale of a product or service and uses these details for direct marketing of its own products and services, consent of the user is not required provided that:

The products or services promoted by email are similar to those previously sold to the data subject
The data subject was previously informed that his/ her email address would be used for marketing purposes, and does not object to said use either initially or in the course of subsequent communications
At the time that the data was initially collected and on the occasion of each subsequent communication, the data subject must be informed of the possibility to object to the processing of his/ her data for marketing purposes, through simple means and without incurring any costs

GUIDELINES

Garante document Guidelines on Marketing and against Spam - 4 July 2013 [4304228]

From the Garante summary document ‘NO to Spam, YES to Consumer-Friendly Marketing’

PROMOTIONAL OFFERS AND SPAM

Promotional offers require prior consent. To send promotional messages and advertising via automated systems (pre-recorded calls, emails, faxes, SMS or MMS) the recipients´ prior consent must be obtained (opt-in requirement). This consent must be specific, free, informed and recorded in writing
Tighter controls must be in place on marketing companies. Clients commissioning marketing campaigns must be vigilant as appropriate to prevent spamming from contractors, sub-contractors or other entities they have entrusted with contacting prospective customers
Consent is necessary to use data on the Internet or social networks. The recipients´ specific consent is required before sending promotional messages to users of Facebook, Twitter and other SNS e.g. by posting such messages on the users´ virtual billboards – or to users of other messaging and VoIP services that are increasingly widespread such as Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, etc. The fact that a data happens to be available on the Net does not mean that it may be used freely to send automated promotional messages or for any other 'viral' or 'targeted" marketing purposes
'Grapevine' marketing does not require consent. Consent is unnecessary for emailing or texting promotional offers to friends in a personal capacity (i.e. for the so-called 'grapevine' marketing)

SIMPLIFIED RULES FOR COMPLIANT COMPANIES

Promotional emails to own customers. It is OK to email promotional messages to one´s own customers regarding goods or services that are similar to those they have already purchased (this is the so-called "soft spam")
Brand/ company "Fan" promotions. Companies and firms may send promotional messages to their 'followers' on SNS if these followers have clearly stated when signing in to the company´s page that they are interested in or give their consent to receiving such promotional messages on a given brand, product or service
Obtaining consent once for multiple activities. It is enough to obtain consent once for all marketing activities, such as sending ads or performing market surveys. The consent provided to receive automated promotional messages (emails, SMS-texting) also applies to such messages when sent via paper mail or through operator-assisted phone calls. Where a company plans to collect users´ personal data to then disclose or transfer such data to other companies for promotional purposes, it may obtain the users´ consent once and such consent will apply to all the third parties that are referred to in the specific information notices to be provided to users'

AGGRESSIVE COMMERCIAL PRACTICE

Making persistent and unwanted solicitations by telephone, fax, e-mail or other remote media except in circumstances and to the extent justified under national law to enforce a contractual obligation, without prejudice to Art. 130 of Legislative Decree No. 196 of 30 June (Art. 26 (1c) Consumer Code EN)

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SECTION C: MARKETERS' OWN WEBSITES

CONTEXT

The same principle that applies in paid space also applies in owned, such as marketers’ own websites and SNS spaces: if the communication from the owner is advertising, it’s in remit. Advertising is defined in the IAP Code here Definition ‘Advertising and all other forms of communication including corporate and institutional messages whose aim is to promote the sale of goods or services irregardless (sic) of the modalities (means) used, as well as forms of communication regulated by Title VI.’ (Charity appeals). Clearly, much content on owned websites won’t be advertising; for exemptions, e.g. UGC, see the EASA Recommendation linked below for some non-binding guidance. The IAP’s Digital Chart is also important in this context, as it explains disclosure/ recognisability requirements for various forms of website marcoms. Issues arise from the introduction of the GDPR: in the event that data processing (which may include cookies) identifies individuals, then lawful processing rules from the GDPR apply. Privacy issues should be reviewed with specialist advisors

SELF-REGULATION

IAP Code EN / IT Title I; in particular in this context, article 7 Identification; and Title II, article 18 Distance Selling, albeit the code applies to advertising online generally and as identified above in owned websites
IAP Digital Chart IT / EN covering Endorsements e.g. Celebrity/ Influencer/ Blogging, Vlogging, UGC, SNS, In-app, Advergames etc.
EASA’s Best Practice Recommendation Digital Marketing Communications 2023 establishes some exemptions such as User-Generated Content (unless endorsed by the marketer), under Section 2 of the linked document

KEY CLAUSES SELF-REGULATION

IAP Code Article 7 Identification: Marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable as such. In the media and in marketing communication where news and other editorial matter are presented to the public, the marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable through the adoption of appropriate measures. With reference to certain forms of marketing communication on the Internet, the most important and suitable measures are indicated in the Digital Chart Regulations
IAP Digital Chart: for clauses, see the earlier Online Commercial Communications header in this Section C, or the linked code (scroll down to ‘Digital Chart Regulations on the Recognizability of Marketing Communication Distributed over the Internet’). Two relevant articles extracted below:

3) VIDEO

If a video produced and disseminated online are of a marketing communication nature, a prominent written disclosure must be inserted in the description of the video and in its opening scenes, that makes the promotional end-purpose of the video evident (by way of example: “brand presents…”, or “in partnership with… brand”)
In a live stream these warnings, even verbal, should be repeated periodically. In particular, the public must be informed about the inclusion of an advertiser or the videomaker’s products/brands for promotional purposes through ad hoc disclaimers in the video’s opening and closing shot, or when the products/brand feature in shots
Should on the other hand the relationship between the videomaker and advertiser not be underpinned by an existing agreement, but consist merely in the advertiser occasionally sending its products free of charge or for a modest consideration, and these products are mentioned, used or framed in the video, the videomaker must feature a written or verbal disclaimer of the following type: “this product was sent to me by…”, “product sent by…”.
As per the previous subsection, the advertiser must clearly and unequivocally inform the influencer when sending the product of the obligation to insert this disclaimer. In such cases, the advertiser’s liability is circumscribed to informing the influencer of this obligation’s existence

10) ADVERGAME

The promotional nature of an advergame must clearly be stated through the use of specific descriptors: “Promoted by … brand/ Promosso da … brand”, or “Sponsored by … brand/ Sponsorizzato da … brand”.
These descriptors must be placed within boxes at both the beginning and end of the game

LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES

Mandatory information that Information Society Service Providers (ISSPs)Definition Any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services must ensure is easily, directly and permanently accessible by recipients Art. 7 LD 70/2003 (EN)
Provisions related to Unsolicited Communications and consent requirements from section 130 of the Data Protection Code (EN) will apply
Consumer Code (CC) LD 206/2005 (EN) applies to business-to-consumer commercial practices, as defined under article 18. The decree carries the rules from the UCPD 2005/29/EC and covers content-related issues such as misleading acts and omissions, including e.g. 'invitation to purchase' (art. 22). Sanctions and distance selling rules, the latter particularly applicable to this channel, have been extracted and are shown here (EN)
The Consumer Code linked above in English carries the clauses related to search rankings, consumer reviews, and consistency of international campaigns, requirements established by Directive 2019/2161 and transposed (a little late) by LD No. 26 of March 7, 2023 (IT)
LD 208/2121 (IT) carries the rules from the AVMS Directive and its amending Directive 2018/1808; scope is extended into video-sharing platforms in particular. Whether the rules apply in this (Marketers own website) context will depend on whether the site constitutes or includes an audiovisual media service. Vlogging/ influencer activity may anyway be in scope. See ERGA's 2021 Analysis and recommendations concerning the regulation of vloggers
The definitive guidance on Consent under GDPR is this WP29 Explanation Article 29 Working Party is or was the board of Data Protection Authorities around the EU; now replaced by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) document: Guidelines on consent under Regulation 2016/679
EDPB guidelines 8/2020 on the targeting of social media users here; adopted April 2021 (EN)
In December 2021, the European Commission issued Guidance on the interpretation and application of the UCPD, updating the 2016 version. This is the definitive guidance on how to apply the most important consumer protection - as that relates to commercial communications - regulation in the EEA. The 'Digital Sector' is under 4.2 and includes e.g. Influencer marketing, user reviews etc.

VIRAL

Clause 6.2 Garante Guidelines on Marketing and against Spam, July 4 2013 EN:

"Viral" marketing is a marketing mechanism exploiting the communication potential of a bunch of direct recipients to convey a message to a substantial number of end-users. It evolved from the "grapevine" approach, from which it differs because the marketers´ intention to initiate a promotional campaign is unquestionable from the start. Like a virus, the message containing the concept, product or service that may prove interesting to a user is conveyed by that user to other contacts, who in turn pass it on to yet other contacts, and so on
"Viral marketing" is usually referred to Internet users that suggest or recommend certain products or services to other users. Of late, this marketing technique is being used increasingly for products that are not directly related to the Internet; however, the channel used for conveying messages remains the web community where communication is fast, free and friendly
To facilitate dissemination, marketers offer incentives, bonuses or other benefits to the recipients, who accept in exchange to forward (sometimes to email or text) the marketing message to other recipients
Where the above activity is performed via automated tools for marketing purposes, it may be a type of spam if the principles and rules set out above fail to be complied with as part of the legislation in force – with particular regard to Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 and 130 of the Code
At all events (Note: In any event?), the Code does not apply if a user, having received a marketing message, forwards such message on a purely personal basis - to recommend a given product or service to own friends - via automated tools. Conversely, the Code does apply to the processing of data performed by a user that forwards or discloses such a marketing message to multiple recipients after obtaining their personal data (phone numbers, email accounts) from either public directories or the Web

SOCIAL MEDIA

Garante Guidelines on Marketing and against Spam, July 4 2013 Doc. No. 2542348 IT; Garante trans EN Doc. No. 4304228. Clause 6.1: Social Spam'

EDPB guidelines 8/2020 on the targeting of social media users here; adopted April 2021 (EN)

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SECTION C: NATIVE ADVERTISING

CONTEXT

Also known as sponsored or branded content, this is online and offline advertising designed to fit in with its ‘habitat’, to give consumers a visually consistent experience. IAB Europe’s December 2016 How to Comply with EU Rules Applicable to Online Native Advertising provides some categories of native ads, some good practice recommendations, and a summary of EU rules and their December 2021 Guide to Native Advertising provides 'up-to-date insight into native ad formats and key considerations and best practices for buyers.'

SELF-REGULATION

IAP Code of Marketing Communication Self-Regulation EN / IT

IAP Digital Chart IT / EN Native: in-feed units, paid search units, recommendation widgets

Key is article 7 IAP Code: Marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable as such. In the media and in marketing communication where news and other editorial matter are presented to the public, the marketing communication must be clearly distinguishable through the adoption of appropriate measures. With reference to certain forms of marketing communication on the Internet, the most important and suitable measures are indicated in the Digital Chart Regulations (linked above as IAP Digital Chart)
Rules for some native forms are shown below from the IAP Digital Chart. Or see the linked document (scroll down to ‘Digital Chart Regulations on the Recognizability of Marketing Communication Distributed over the Internet’)

6) In-feed units

In-feed units that have the nature of a marketing communication must make this evident through the insertion of labels in such a position and form as is suited to ensuring they are clearly visible. Here are some examples:

“Pubblicità/Advertising”, “Promosso da … brand/Promoted by … brand”

“Sponsorizzato da … brand/Sponsored by … brand”

“Contenuto Sponsorizzato/Sponsored content”

“Post Sponsorizzato/Sponsored post”

“Presentato da … brand/Presented by … brand”

Including in combination with specific graphic effects, such as for example the insertion of frames and/or drop-shadows and/or highlighting of the text or shading

7) Paid search units

Paid search units must clearly show their marketing nature through a graphic separation of content from so-called organic search-related content, along with a descriptor that explicitly informs users that the content is of a promotional nature (such as, for example, “Pubblicità/Advertising”), placed close to the sponsored search result, and in such a manner as to be visible and evident

8) Recommendation widgets

Promotional content disseminated as recommendation widgets must make its nature as marketing communication evident through the adoption of one of the following methods:

An indication that the box contains sponsored content
An indication alongside individual items of content featuring the name or the logo of the advertiser and an indication of the content being sponsored

If the content is developed by a “technology provider” (the party that developed the widget), as well as stating the above information, it is also necessary to state its origin and mention the supplier’s name

LEGISLATION

'Blacklist': Article 23 (1) (m) and (aa) Consumer Code LD 206/2005 EN

Misleading omission: article 22(1), (2) and 22 (5) Consumer Code

The Blacklist

Relevant extracts from the list of commercial practices which in all circumstances are misleading

Without prejudice to the provisions of the AVMS Code EN (LD 177/ 2005, requires that broadcast commercial communications are readily recognisable) using editorial content in the media to promote a product where a trader has paid for the promotion without making that clear in the content or by images or sounds clearly identifiable by the consumer (advertorial) (Art. 23 (1) (m))
Falsely claiming or creating the false impression that the trader is not acting for purposes relating to his trade, business, craft or profession, or falsely passing oneself off as a consumer (Art. 23 (1) (aa))

Misleading omission

Article 22 (1): a commercial practice shall be regarded as misleading if, in its factual context, taking account of all its features and circumstances and the limitations of the communication medium, it omits material information that the average consumer needs, according to the context, to take an informed transactional decision, thereby causing or being likely to cause the average consumer to take a transactional decision that they would not have taken otherwise
Article 22 (2): it shall also be regarded as a misleading omission when… a trader… fails to identify the commercial intent of the commercial practice if not already apparent from the context, and where, in either case, this causes or is likely to cause the average consumer to take a transactional decision that they would not have taken otherwise
Under Article 22 (5): information requirements under e-Commerce Law (LD 70/2003) will be regarded as material; article 8 (1) of LD 70/2003 states: marketing communications that constitute an information society service or form an integral part thereof must contain specific information, from first dispatch, clearly and unequivocally, aimed at indicating a) that this is a marketing communication. This will apply to online communications

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Following feedback, we no longer cover Telemarketing

SECTION C: DIRECT POSTAL MAIL

REGULATIONS MOST RELEVANT TO THIS CHANNEL

The rules set out in content section B apply to commercial communications in Direct Postal Mail, except those specific to online and to broadcast. Principal source of rules is the IAP Code of Marketing Communication (EN)
In legislation, the Consumer Code (EN inc. 2023 amends) is applicable to ‘business-to-consumer commercial practices’ as defined under article 18. The decree carries the rules from the UCPD 2005/29/EC and covers content-related issues such as misleading acts and omissions, including e.g. 'invitation to purchase' (art. 22). Sanctions and distance selling rules, the latter particularly applicable to this channel, have been extracted and are shown here (EN)
The introduction of the GDPR 2016/679 from May 2018 may impact on processing operations: if the mailing database involves the processing of personal data (i.e. data that can identify an individual), then it may be subject to GDPR lawful processing rules. Privacy issues should be reviewed with specialist advisors
The Data Protection Code (DPC; EN), amended in August 2018 to incorporate elements of the GDPR, applies
DPA Decision Doc. No. 1526724 (IT) extends the 'Soft Opt-in' principle established in Section130 (4) of the DPC to Direct Mail

KEY CLAUSES

The opt-out system established in article 130 (3) for telemarketing has been extended (Decree Law 70/2011) to incorporate Direct Mail advertising. This means that when data (i.e. postal addresses) are processed from printed and electronic telephone directories for the purposes of marketing by direct mail, it will not be necessary to obtain prior consent from the user/ contracting party provided that their address is not on the opt-out register
As with telemarketers, companies will be able to carry out marketing activities by postal mail provided they subscribe to the opt-out register and cleanse/ match their lists against the register to ensure that they do not contact those users/ contracting parties who have registered an objection
Soft Opt-in: Definition The law allows the data controller to use the address already provided by the party concerned (company/ individual) for direct marketing of the own products or services, provided the products are similar to those previously soldDPA Decision 19/06/2008 (IT) allows the use of ‘soft spam’ in the context of direct mail as per provisions from Section 130 (4) DPC in the context of email marketing. It is permitted to send direct marketing mail if a commercial relationship already exists
Where a data controller collects a customer’s postal address in the context of a sale of a product or service and uses that address for direct marketing of its own products and services, consent of the user/ contracting party is not required provided that:

The products or services are similar to those previously sold
The interested party (individual/ company) has been adequately informed of the possibility not to receive further commercial communications either at the point of initial contact or via subsequent communications

This same principle has been re-iterated in the Guide 'Privacy: working with business' issued on 28 May, 2013 (see 2nd column, p.14) here (IT)
Counsel have concluded that whilst the Garante has not (expressly) excluded the extension of the soft-spam exception to postal marketing, a cautious approach would still be recommended in this regard; check with advisors

INVITATION TO PURCHASE

Article 22 of the Consumer Code (EN)

In the case of an invitation to purchase Definition A commercial communication which indicates characteristics of the product and the price in a way appropriate to the means of the commercial communication used and thereby enables the consumer to make a purchase the following information shall be regarded as material, within the meaning of paragraph (1), if not already apparent from the context:

The main characteristics of the product, to an extent appropriate to the medium and the product
The geographical address and the identity of the trader, such as his trading name and, where applicable, the geographical address and the identity of the trader on whose behalf he is acting
The price inclusive of taxes, or where the nature of the product means that the price cannot reasonably be calculated in advance, the manner in which the price is calculated, as well as, where appropriate, all additional freight, delivery or postal charges or, where these charges cannot reasonably be calculated in advance, the fact that such additional charges may be payable by the consumer
The arrangements for payment, delivery, performance and the complaints handling policy, if they depart from the requirements of professional diligence
For products and transactions involving a right of withdrawal or cancellation, the existence of such a right

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SECTION C: EVENTS/ SPONSORSHIP

Ambush marketing: the European summer of sport. Taylor Wessing May 16, 2024

GUIDE: The Olympic Games 2024 - Beating around le ambush. Lewis Silkin 25 Jan, 2024

Spotlight: organisation and commercialisation of sports events in Italy. Sports Generation/ Lex September 2022

First Enforcement of Law Decree No. 16/2020 on Ambush Marketing by the Italian Competition Authority against Zalando (EN)

from Portolano Cavallo/ Gala/ Mondaq May 9, 2022

More on the law here from Bird&Bird June 2020 and the law itself is here (IT)

KEY RULES

There is no sponsorship code per se in Italy
Sponsorship material should observe the content rules set out in section B; principal source of rules is the IAP Code of Marketing Communication (EN)
Some product categories, such as alcohol, will be restricted to adult audiences by general clauses on the avoidance of minors. See relevant sectors on the Wikiregs main website/ HP
ICC Sponsorship rules are a solid ‘catch-all' for sponsorship activity nationally and internationally; see Chapter B of the ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code (EN); extracts below

B1. Principles governing sponsorship

All sponsorship should be based on contractual obligations between the sponsor and the sponsored party. Sponsors and sponsored parties should set out clear terms and conditions with all other partners involved, to define their expectations regarding all aspects of the sponsorship deal
Sponsorship should be recognisable as such
The terms and conduct of sponsorship should be based upon the principle of good faith between all parties to the sponsorship
There should be clarity regarding the specific rights being sold and confirmation that these are available for sponsorship from the rights holder. Sponsored parties should have the absolute right to decide on the value of the sponsorship rights that they are offering and the appropriateness of the sponsor with whom they contract

B2. Autonomy and self-determination

Sponsorship should respect the autonomy and self-determination of the sponsored party in the management of its own activities and properties, provided the sponsored party fulfils the obligations set out in the sponsorship agreement

B3. Imitation and confusion

Sponsors and sponsored parties, as well as other parties involved in a sponsorship, should avoid imitation of the representation of other sponsorships where such imitation might mislead or generate confusion, even if applied to non-competitive products, companies or events

B4. “Ambushing” of sponsored properties

No party should seek to give the impression that it is a sponsor of any event or of media coverage of an event, whether sponsored or not, if it is not in fact an official sponsor of the property or of media coverage. The sponsor and sponsored party should each take care to ensure that any actions taken by them to combat ‘ambush marketing’ are proportionate and that they do not damage the reputation of the sponsored property nor impact unduly on members of the general public

B5. Respect for the sponsorship property and the sponsor

Sponsors should take particular care to safeguard the inherent artistic, cultural, sporting or other content of the sponsorship property and should avoid any abuse of their position which might damage the identity, dignity, or reputations of the sponsored party or the sponsorship property
The sponsored party should not obscure, deform or bring into disrepute the image or trademarks of the sponsor, or jeopardise the goodwill or public esteem associated with them

B6. The sponsorship audience

The audience should be clearly informed of the existence of a sponsorship with respect to a particular event, activity, programme or person and the sponsor’s own message should not be likely to cause offence. Due note should be taken of existing professional ethics of the sponsored party
This article is not, however, intended to discourage sponsorship of avant-garde or potentially controversial artistic/cultural activities, or to encourage sponsors to exercise censorship over a sponsored party’s message

B7. Data capture/ data sharing

If personal data is used in connection with sponsorship, the provisions of article 19 are applicable

B8. Artistic and historical objects

Sponsorship should not be conducted in such a way as to endanger artistic or historical objects
Sponsorship which aims to safeguard, restore, or maintain cultural, artistic or historical properties or their diffusion, should respect the public interest related to them

B9. Social and environmental sponsorship

Both sponsors and sponsored parties should take into consideration the potential social or environmental impact of the sponsorship when planning, organising and carrying out the sponsorship
Any sponsorship message fully or partially based on a claim of positive (or reduced negative) social and/or environmental impact should be substantiated in terms of actual benefits to be obtained. Parties to the sponsorship should respect the principles set out in the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development (available from www.iccwbo.org)
Any environmental claim made with respect to the sponsorship should conform to the principles set out in chapter D, Environmental Claims in Marketing Communications

B10. Charities and humanitarian sponsorship

Sponsorship of charities and other humanitarian causes should be undertaken with sensitivity and care, to ensure that the work of the sponsored party is not adversely affected

B11. Multiple sponsorship

Where an activity or event requires or allows several sponsors, the individual contracts and agreements should clearly set out the respective rights, limits and obligations of each sponsor, including, but not limited to, details of any exclusivity. In particular, each member of a group of sponsors should respect the defined sponsorship fields and the allotted communication tasks, avoiding any interference that might unfairly alter the balance between the contributions of the various sponsors
The sponsored party should inform any potential sponsor of all the sponsors already a party to the sponsorship
The sponsored party should not accept a new sponsor without first ensuring that it does not conflict with any rights of sponsors who are already contracted and, where appropriate, informing the existing sponsors

B12. Media sponsorship

The content and scheduling of sponsored media properties should not be unduly influenced by the sponsor so as to compromise the responsibility, autonomy or editorial independence of the broadcaster, programme producer or media owner, except to the extent that the sponsor is permitted by relevant legislation to be the programme producer or co-producer, media owner or financier
Sponsored media properties should be identified as such by presentation of the sponsor’s name and/ or logo at the beginning, during and/or at the end of the programme or publication content. This also applies to online material
Particular care should be taken to ensure that there is no confusion between sponsorship of an event or activity and the media sponsorship of that event, especially where different sponsors are involved

B13. Responsibility

As sponsorship is conceptually based on a contract of mutual benefit, the onus for observing the Code falls jointly on the sponsor and the sponsored party, who share the ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the sponsorship, whatever its kind or content
Anyone taking part in the planning, creation or execution of any sponsorship has a degree of responsibility, as defined in article 23 of the General Provisions, for ensuring the observance of the Code towards those affected, or likely to be affected, by the sponsorship

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The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) may also be able to help/ inform

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SECTION C: SALES PROMOTIONS

Manifestazioni a premio: nuove FAQ pubblicate dal Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy
Lexia Avvocati February 28, 2024

CONTEXT

This website was created to provide international rules on marketing communications; we do not claim authority on specific Sales Promotions (SP) regulation, especially retail legislation, or law on the mechanics and administration of promotions. Italy in particular has some intricate legislation that we show below, but which we recommend be managed/ interpreted by specialist advisors. Self-regulatory codes and consumer protection legislation relating to promotional pricing is also shown below.

Note that promotional schemes requiring a purchase to take part, and offering prizes only on the basis of random chance, are considered to be a lottery and are generally illegal;

sales promotional material should observe the rules set out under the earlier content section B

LEGISLATION

Article 8 e-Commerce Law EN (LD 70/2003) applies to promotions advertised online, which must:

Be clearly identifiable as a commercial communication
Clearly identify the person or legal entity on whose behalf the commercial communication is sent
Provide details of any promotional offers such as discounts, prizes and gifts and their terms and conditions
Provide details of any promotional competitions and games, where permitted and their conditions of participation

Consumer Code EN LD 206/2005; Legislative Decrees No. 145/2007 and 146/2007, implementing Directives 2006/114/EC and 2005/29/EC on misleading and comparative advertising and unfair commercial practices respectively. The Code sets out those commercial practices that will be considered unfair in all circumstances (Art. 23), and aggressive commercial practices in articles 24-26 inclusive

Promotional pricing

See also pricing requirements under Point 3.2 in our content section B

From article 23 of the Consumer Code; commercial practices which in all circumstances are misleading (relevant extracts only):

e) Making an invitation to purchase products at a specified price without disclosing the existence of any reasonable grounds the trader may have for believing that he will not be able to offer for supply or to procure another trader to supply, those products or equivalent products at that price for a period that is, and in quantities that are, reasonable having regard to the product, the scale of advertising of the product and the price offered (bait advertising)

f) Making an invitation to purchase products at a specified price and then:

1. Refusing to show the advertised item to consumers, or

2. Refusing to take orders for it or deliver it within a reasonable time, or

3. Demonstrating a defective sample of it with the intention of promoting a different product (bait and switch)

g) Falsely stating that a product will only be available for a very limited time, or that it will only be available on particular terms for a very limited time, in order to elicit an immediate decision and deprive consumers of sufficient opportunity or time to make an informed choice

In the context of prize promotions, the following is an aggressive commercial practice: Creating the false impression that the consumer has already won, will win, or will on doing a particular act win, a prize or other equivalent benefit, when in fact either there is no prize or other equivalent benefit, or taking any action in relation to claiming the prize or other equivalent benefit is subject to the consumer paying money or incurring a cost (Art. 26 (h) Consumer Code)
New promotional pricing/ price reduction rules were established in Directive 2019/2161, which amended Directive 98/6/EC (the Product Pricing Directive), provisions transposed in Italy by LD No.26 of March 7, 2023 (IT) into the Consumer Code, article 17. The rules are set out in English here

Additional prize promotions legislation

Decree of the President of the Republic of 26 October 2001 No. 430 (DPR); Ministry Decree 2010/19313/Games/LTT of July 5th 2010; see also links section E for complete list of regulations relevant to sales promotions
DPR 430/2001 regulates both Prize Contests/ Competitions (Concorsi a premio) and Prize Operations (Operazioni a premio). Prize contests/ competitions operate by means of chance or skill, whilst prize operations award a prize to all those who purchase or sell a particular product or a certain quantity of products

Key Points/ obligations for promoters

Scope: Any activity related to the promotion must be carried out in Italy (Art. 1 DPR); in the case of online prize promotions, the server on which the competition is run/ which collects the entries must be located on Italian territory
Prize competitions and operations can only be carried out by industries that manufacture or commercialise the products or services being promoted, or by a consortium of such industries (Art. 5 (1) DPR)
Non Italian companies (whose headquarters are not based in Italy) will be obliged to appoint a specifically designated fiscal representative, resident in Italy, to conduct/ organise the prize contest or operation (Art. 5(2) DPR)
The Promoter can appoint a promotional agency to fulfil the relevant requirements, e.g. completing the documents and issuing the insurance/ security policy for the promotion (Art. 5 (3) DPR)
The winner must be selected either in the presence of an Italian Notary or an Officer of the Chamber of Commerce (so as to guarantee public faith in accordance with Art. 20 LD 112/1998). If the method used for the awarding of the prizes requires technical knowledge (i.e. where winners are selected electronically), the notary must be supported by an appropriate expert (Art. 9 (1) DPR)
Money cannot be offered as a prize (Art. 4 DPR)
Be aware that there are tax implications for sales and promotions, and specialist advice should be sought
Prior notification of the prize contest and operation is required to the Ministry of Economic Development (Exec. Decree 2010/19313)

Prize contest/ competition

Cannot last for more than one year from commencement date (Art. 1 (3) DPR)
The prior notice, in addition to the competition rules (terms and conditions) and a bank guarantee/ security equal to the aggregate value of the prizes must be filed with the Ministry of the Economic Development at least 15 days prior to the start of the contest/ competition via an online facility at www.impresa.gov.it (Exec. Decree 2010/19313 and Art. 7 (1a) DPR)
In addition to providing a guarantee equal to 100% of the prizes offered, promoters cannot deduct VAT on the prizes of promotions and must pay tax equal to 25% of the value of the prizes awarded (Art. 30 DPR 600/1973)
Prize winners should receive their prizes within 180 days of the closure of the promotion (Art. 7 (3) DPR)
In case of Online Prize Promotions, the server collecting the entries must be located in Italy. If the server is abroad, the registrations must be reflected real time from the external server to the Italian server
Further information here

Prize operation

Cannot last for longer than five years from their commencement date (Art. 1 (3) DPR)
Prior notice to the Ministry of Economic Development just has to be given prior to the start of the operation (no time limit) along with a bank security equal to 20% of the general value of the prizes (Art. 71b DPR)
Notification should be made via the Prema online service at www.impresa.gov.it
A notarised declaration of the terms and conditions (including details of promoters, duration, territorial scope, methods of implementation, nature, approximate value of prizes, term of delivery) should be held in the company’s registered office for a period of 12 months following the conclusion of the operation (Art. 10 (3) DPR)
The prizes must be issued within 6 months from the conclusion of the prize operation or the date of their request (Art. 1(3) DPR)
Further details here

SELF-REGULATION

From the IAP Self-Regulation Code of Marketing Communication (EN)

Article 20. Special sales

Marketing communication relating to special sales of any kind, in particular promotional sales, should clearly specify the additional benefit deriving from the purchase, as well as the duration of the offer. The duration of the offer does not need to appear on the packaging

Article 21. Prize promotions

Marketing communication relating to prize promotions involving competitions or premium operations, should provide consumers with clear and simple information on eligibility to participate, closing dates and prizes; for competitions the information should include the number and total value of prizes, the procedure for awarding prizes and the media to be used for publicising the results

From the ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code (EN), Chapter A

A2. Terms of the offer

Sales promotions should be so devised as to enable the consumer to identify the terms of the offer easily and clearly, including any limitations. Care should be taken not to exaggerate the value of the promotional item or to obscure or conceal the price of the main product

A4. Administration of promotions

Sales promotions should be administered with adequate resources and supervision, anticipated to be required, including appropriate precautions to ensure that the administration of the offer meets the consumers' reasonable expectations.

In particular:

The availability of promotional items should be sufficient to meet anticipated demand consistent with the express terms of the offer. If delay is unavoidable, consumers should be advised promptly and necessary steps taken to adjust the promotion of the offer. Promoters should be able to demonstrate that they have made, before the event, a reasonable estimate of the likely response. Where a purchase or a series of purchases are a precondition for obtaining the promotional item, promoters should ensure promotional items are sufficiently available to match the number of purchases being made
Defective goods or inadequate services should be replaced, or appropriate financial compensation given. Any costs reasonably incurred by consumers as a direct result of any such shortcoming should be reimbursed immediately on request
Complaints should be efficiently and properly handled

A5. Safety and suitability

Care should be taken to ensure that promotional items, provided they are properly used, do not expose consumers, intermediaries, or any other persons or their property to any harm or danger
Promoters should ensure that their promotional activities are consistent with the principles of social responsibilities contained in the General Provisions, and in particular take reasonable steps to prevent unsuitable or inappropriate materials from reaching children

A6. Presentation to consumers

Complex rules should be avoided
Rules should be drawn up in language that consumers can easily understand
The chances of winning prizes should not be overstated

Information requirements

Sales promotions should be presented in such a way as to ensure that consumers are made aware, before making a purchase, of conditions likely to affect their decision to purchase

Information should include, where relevant:

Clear instructions on the method of obtaining or participating in the promotional offer, e.g. conditions for obtaining promotional items, including any liability for costs, or taking part in prize promotions
Main characteristics of the promotional items offered
Any time limit on taking advantage of the promotional offer
Any restrictions on participation (e.g. geographical or age-related), availability of promotional items, or any other limitations on stocks. In the case of limited availability, consumers should be properly informed of any arrangements for substituting alternative items or refunding money
The value of any voucher or stamp offered where a monetary alternative is available
Any expenditure involved, including costs of shipping and handling and terms of payment
The full name and address of the promoter and an address to which complaints can be directed (if different from the address of the promoter)
Promotions claiming to support a charitable cause should not exaggerate the contribution derived from the campaign; before purchasing the promoted product consumers should be informed of how much of the price will be set aside for the cause

Information in prize promotions

Where a sales promotion includes a prize promotion, the following information should be given to consumers, or at least made available on request, prior to participation and not conditional on purchasing the main product:

Any rules governing eligibility to participate in the prize promotion
Any costs associated with participation, other than for communication at or below standard rate (mail, telephone etc.)
Any restriction on the number of entries
The number, value and nature of prizes to be awarded and whether a cash alternative may be substituted for a prize
In the case of a skill contest, the nature of the contest and the criteria for judging the entries
The selection procedure for the award of prizes
The closing date of the competition
When and how the results will be made available
Whether the consumer may be liable to pay tax as a result of winning a prize
The time period during which prizes may be collected
Where a jury is involved, the composition of the jury
Any intention to use winners or winning contributions in post-event activities and the terms on which these contributions may be used

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SECTION D SRO SERVICES

COPY ADVICE

IAP (the self-regulatory body Istituto dell’Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria) provides copy advice on request and subject to a fee of 900€ + VAT for IAP members and 1.000€ + VAT for non-members. The whole list of tariffs can be found here on the IAP website.

The validity and completeness of the information, supplied with the approval of the advertisement, binds the IAP Review Board not to intervene against the approved communication. Copy advice is given within five working days, but particularly complex cases may require up to eight working days. In practice, however, the process usually takes less time. IAP can also offer an “express copy advice” within 24 hours.

The IAP website home page is http://www.iap.it

COMPLAINTS HANDLING

IAP handles complaints from consumers, competitors and other interested parties
Fee:
- Consumers: Free
- Competitors: 3,500€ (IAP members) and 4,000€ (non-members)
Complaints must be submitted via an online form or in writing
File a complaint here
View decisions - here

CLEARANCE

Direct to broadcaster

Allow 3-5 days TV/VOD

For help contact the Traffic Bureau administration@trafficbureau.net

SECTION E SOURCES/ LINKS

EUROPEAN LEGISLATION

GDPR

Regulation (EU) 2016/679 Of The European Parliament and of The Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation). The GDPR came into force May 25 2018

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj

The GDPR is accompanied by Directive 2016/680, which is largely concerned with supervising procedures, and which should have been transposed into member states’ legislation by 6th May 2018

European Data Protection Authority

Article 29 Working Party/ EDPB

The Article 29 Working Party was established under article 29 (hence the name) of Directive 95/46/EC, the Personal Data Protection Directive. The arrival of the GDPR heralded the demise/ re-working of A29WP, and its replacement by the European Data Protection Board:

https://edpb.europa.eu/.

All documents from the former Article 29 Working Party remain available on this newsroom

Article 29 Working Party archives from 1997 to November 2016:

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/documentation/index_en.htm.

Five more recent and significant documents:

Guidelines 03/2022 on deceptive design patterns in social media platform interfaces: how to recognise and avoid them
Guidelines on Automated individual decision-making and Profiling for the purposes of Regulation 2016/679
Guidelines on consent under Regulation 2016/679 (May 2020)
Opinion 5/2019 on the interplay between the ePrivacy Directive and the GDPR. Adopted on 12 March 2019
Guidelines 8/2020 on the targeting of social media users adopted April 2021

Commercial practices: UCPD

Directive 2005/29/EC of The European Parliament and of The Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 (the ‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’ UCPD). This is the legislation that most impacts marketing and advertising in Europe and whose origins form the foundations of Self-Regulatory regimes. The core provisions relate to unfair commercial practices, defined as ‘likely to materially distort the economic behaviour with regard to the product of the average consumer.’ In turn, unfair commercial practices are those that:

are misleading (misleading actions or misleading by omission) as set out in Articles 6 and 7, or
are aggressive as set out in Articles 8 and 9: ‘use of harassment, coercion and undue influence.’ This clause more often relates to ‘active conduct’.

Annex I (known as ‘the blacklist’) contains the list of those commercial practices which ‘shall in all circumstances be regarded as unfair’. These are the only commercial practices which can be deemed to be unfair without a case-by-case test (i.e. assessing the likely impact of the practice on the average consumer's economic behaviour). The list includes e.g. encouragement to children to ‘pester’ (28), clear identification of commercial source in advertorial (11) and making ‘persistent and unwanted solicitations’ (26). The UCPD includes several provisions on promotional practices e.g. Article 6 (d) on the existence of a specific price advantage, Annex I point 5 on bait advertising, point 7 on special offers, points 19 and 31 on competitions and prize promotion, and point 20 on free offers. Some amendments to Directive 2005/29/EC are provided in Directive 2019/2161 linked below; these are supposed to be transposed by November 2021 and in force in member states by May 2022.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/29/oj
Guidance: On 17 December 2021, the European Commission adopted the Commission Notice on the interpretation and application of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (‘the UCPD Guidance’), updating the 2016 version

The Omnibus Directive

Directive (EU) 2019/2161 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC and Directives 98/6/EC, 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the better enforcement and modernisation of Union consumer protection rules. This directive, which 'aims to strengthen consumer rights through enhanced enforcement measures and increased transparency requirements', sets out some new information requirements related to search rankings and consumer reviews under the UCPD 2005/29/EC, new pricing information under Directive 2011/83/EU in the context of automated decision-making and profiling of consumer behaviour, and price reduction information under the Product Pricing Directive 98/6/EC. More directly related to this database, and potentially significant for multinational advertisers, is the clause that amends article 6 (misleading actions) of the UCPD adding ‘(c) any marketing of a good, in one Member State, as being identical to a good marketed in other Member States, while that good has significantly different composition or characteristics, unless justified by legitimate and objective factors’. Recitals related to this clause, which provide some context, are here. Helpful explanatory piece on the Omnibus Directive 2019/2161 from A&L Goodbody via Lexology here. Provisions are supposed to be transposed by November 2021 and in force in member states by May 28, 2022.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/2161/oj

Pricing

Directive 98/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers. The purpose of this Directive is to stipulate indication of the selling price and the price per unit of measurement of products offered by traders to consumers in order to improve consumer information and to facilitate comparison of prices (Article 1). For the purposes of this Directive, selling price shall mean the final price for a unit of the product, or a given quantity of the product, including VAT and all other taxes (Article 2a). While this legislation seems prima facie most suited to ‘goods on shelves’ as it requires unit prices (the final price, including VAT and all other taxes, for one kilogramme, one litre, one metre, one square metre or one cubic metre of the product), the Directive was used as the basis for a significant ECJ judgement on car pricing in advertising. Some amendments to Directive 98/6/EC related to price reduction information are provided in Directive 2019/2161 linked above; these are supposed to be transposed by November 2021 and in force in member states by May 28, 2022. The article concerned, 6a, is extracted here. Commission guidance on its application is below this entry.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1998/6/oj

Commission notice: Guidance on the interpretation and application of Article 6a of Directive 98/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021XC1229(06)&from=EN

Comparative advertising

Directive 2006/114/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 concerning misleading and comparative advertising. Article 4 of the MCAD provides that comparative advertising is permitted when eight conditions are met. The most significant of those for our purposes are a) it is not misleading within the meaning of Articles 2 (b), 3 and 8 (1) of this Directive or articles 6 and 7 of Directive 2005/29/EC (see above) and b) it compares goods or services meeting the same needs or intended for the same purpose. There are other significant conditions related to denigration of trademarks and designation of origin, imitation and the creation of confusion. Codified version:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32006L0114

Audiovisual media

Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services: the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, or AVMSD. This is the codified version of the much-amended Directive 89/552/EEC and represents the core European broadcast legislation, providing significant structural and content rules, applied largely consistently across member states. From a marcoms perspective, the core articles are 9 (Discrimination, safety, the environment, minors and some prohibitions), 10 (Sponsorship), 11 (Product Placement) and 22 (Alcoholic beverages rules).

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32010L0013

AVMSD amendment

Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) in view of changing market realities. The background to this significant development of the AVMSD is here and there's a helpful piece from Simmons and Simmons LLP/ Lexology here. In broad terms, the Directive addresses the changes in media consumption in recent years and pays particular attention to the protection of minors in that context, extending rules to e.g. shared content on SNS. There are ‘strengthened provisions to protect children from inappropriate audiovisual commercial communications for foods high in fat, salt and sodium and sugars, including by encouraging codes of conduct at EU level, where necessary’. See article 4a. Rules for alcoholic beverages are extended to on-demand audiovisual media services, but those provisions (social/ sexual success etc.) are not amended.

Article 28b addresses video-sharing platform providers (VSPS), containing requirements to prevent violent, criminal, or otherwise offensive material and bringing the 'general' AV commercial communication rules such as those for the environment, human dignity, discrimination, minors etc. into these platforms. VSPS must also provide a functionality for users who upload user-generated videos to declare whether they contain commercial communications as far as they know or can be reasonably expected to know; VSPS must accordingly inform users. There has been some debate as to whether vloggers/ influencers are in scope, i.e. they or their output constitute an audiovisual media service. Definitive opinion/ recommendation is from the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) paper 'Analysis and recommendations concerning the regulation of vloggers.' The annex of the paper contains national examples. The Directive entered into force 18th December 2018; member states are required to have transposed into national law by 19th September 2020.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/1808/oj

e-Privacy

Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications, the ‘E-privacy Directive’). This Directive ‘provides for the harmonisation of the national provisions required to ensure an equivalent level of protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and in particular the right to privacy and confidentiality, with respect to the processing of personal data in the electronic communication sector.’ The directive was amended by Directive 2009/136/EC; the ‘Cookie directive’, provisions found under article 5.3 of the E-Privacy Directive. Article 13 for Consent and ‘soft opt-in’ requirements

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/58

The ‘Cookie Directive’ 2009/136/EC amending Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector. Article 2 provides amends to the E-privacy Directive above

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009L0136

e-Privacy Regulation draft (10 February 2021)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications and repealing Directive 2002/58/EC (Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications):

https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6087-2021-INIT/en/pdf

Statement on the ePrivacy Regulation and the future role of Supervisory Authorities and the EDPB. Adopted on 19 November 2020:
https://edpb.europa.eu/sites/default/files/files/file1/edpb_statement_20201119_eprivacy_regulation_en.pdf

February 2022 Clifford Chance/ Lex E-Privacy check-in: where we are, and where we're headed
March 2022 Härting Rechtsanwälte/ Lex ePrivacy Regulation: EU Council agrees on the draft

e-Commerce

Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market ('Directive on electronic commerce'). ‘information society services’ are defined as ‘any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services.’ Article 5 covers general information such as contact details from the ‘service provider’, which information should be made ‘easily, directly and permanently accessible to the recipients of the service’. The Directive also sets out under article 6 more specific information requirements for commercial communications which are part of, or constitute, an information society service. These include identifiability requirements and accessibility to conditions for promotions.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32000L0031

The Digital Services Act

Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act). European Commission pages on the DSA are here. Wikipedia entry is here. Helpful legal commentary, which also addresses the Digital Markets Act, is from DLA Piper/ Lex February 2023: Online advertising: A regulatory patchwork under construction. Key marcoms issues for advertisers/ platforms are the identification of advertising material and parameters used for its targeting and the prohibition of advertising based on profiling that uses using special data categories such as religious belief, health data sexual orientation etc. (art.26), or if the platform has reason to believe the recipient is a minor (art. 28). The Regulation applies from February 2024.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32022R2065

The Digital Markets Act

Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act). European Commission pages are here; from those: 'Some large online platforms act as "gatekeepers" in digital markets. The Digital Markets Act aims to ensure that these platforms behave in a fair way online. Together with the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act is one of the centrepieces of the European digital strategy.' Wikipedia entry is here. Article 2a prohibits the processing, for the purpose of providing online advertising services, personal data of end users using services of third parties that make use of core platform services of the gatekeeper, unless the end user has been presented with the specific choice and has given consent within the meaning of Article 4, point (11), and Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679. The Regulation entered into force on 1st November 2022 and applied on 2nd May, 2023. Gatekeepers will be identified and they will have to comply by 6th March 2024 at the latest.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925

NATIONAL LEGISLATION

Consumer protection

Consumer Code. Legislative Decree No. 206 of 6 September 2005. Entry into force 23/10/2005. The Code applies to all forms of advertising regardless of the means used. Key amendments are from Legislative Decree August 2, 2007, No. 146 implementing the Unfair commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) 2005/29/EC (see arts. 18-27 Consumer Code), and Legislative Decree February 21, 2014 No. 21 implementing the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EC (arts. 45-67 Consumer Code). This is the core legislation related to marketing and advertising, covering misleadingness in the form of misleading acts and omissions and including rules on 'invitation to purchase' (art. 22) and distance selling. Directive 2019/2161 - the Omnibus Directive - amended both the UCPD and the Product Pricing Directive PPD 98/6/EC, creating new rules in the UCPD related to the transparency of search rankings, the authenticity of consumer reviews and the consistency of international campaigns. New price reduction rules were established in the PPD. These amends were transposed (rather late in Italy) by the Legislative Decree No. 26 of March 7, 2023 (IT) into the Consumer Code and are found under articles 17, 22 and 23:

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2005-09-06;206!vig=

Unofficial non-binding GRS translation:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITConsumerCode2023EN.pdf

Business protection

Legislative Decree of 2nd August 2007, No. 145. Implementing Article 14 of Directive 2005/29/EC, amending Directive 84/450/EEC on misleading advertising, now codified as Directive 2006/114/EC concerning misleading and comparative advertising. Entry into force 21/09/2007. The Decree is exclusive to the protection of businesses, as Directive 2006/114/EC applies to B2B relations. Article 4 sets out the conditions under which comparative advertising is considered lawful. The Decree covers advertising only where such advertising may harm a competitor, but does not cause direct consumer detriment. Where a consumer is affected, the Consumer Code is applicable.

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2007-08-02;145!vig=

AGCM translation is here

Italian Civil Code

Royal Decree of 16 March 1942 No. 262. Approval of the text of the Civil Code. (GU 79 of 04.04.1942) Entry into force 19.4.1942:

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262!vig=

- Section 2250 provides the information that must be shown on websites/ emails; mirrors the provisions set out in Article 7 LD 70/2003

- Section 2598 outlines the basic principles of unfair competition and does not include any direct reference to advertising. However, practice in some case law has taken advantage of the broad definition provided in article 2598 (3) to incorporate misleading, confusing or denigrating advertising within the meaning of acts of unfair competition. In the case L’Oreal v Johnson & Johnson, comparative advertising was deemed to constitute unfair competition. Article 2598 (3) states that: “anyone commits an act of unfair competition who directly or indirectly uses any other means not in conformity with the principles of professional correctness, and able to damage another’s company”. English translation of key articles:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITCivilCode2250_2598.pdf

e-Commerce

Legislative Decree of 9th April 2003, No. 70. Entry into force 14/05/2003. Implementing Directive 2000/31/EC on certain legal aspects of information society services; known as the E-Commerce Directive. This decree applies to Information Society Service Providers (ISSP’s), defined as “any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means, and at the individual request of a recipient of the service” (Art. 2 LD 70/2003). The requirement for an ISS to be “normally provided for remuneration” does not restrict scope to services giving rise to buying and selling online; the Decree also covers services that are not directly remunerated by those who receive them, such as those services offering online information. The Decree establishes information requirements for commercial communications, i.e. any form of communication designed to promote, directly or indirectly, the goods, services or image of a company, organisation or person pursuing a commercial, industrial or craft activity, or exercising a regulated profession (Art. 8). Article 12 sets out information required to conclude a contract electronically.

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2003-04-09;70!vig=

English translation of relevant articles:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITLDApr03Ecommerce.pdf

Privacy/ GDPR implications

Law 20 November 2017, No. 167 Provisions for the fulfilment of the obligations deriving from Italy's membership of the European Union - European Law 2017: Entry into force 12/12/2017. (LEGGE 20 novembre 2017, No. 167 Disposizioni per l'adempimento degli obblighi derivanti dall'appartenenza dell'Italia all'Unione europea - Legge europea 2017). This ‘enabling’ law prepared for Regulation (EU) 679/2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data:

http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2017/11/27/17G00180/sg

Guidelines from the national authority

From the Italian Data Protection Authority Garante per la Protezione dei data Personali Guide on the application of EU Regulation in the matter of protection of personal data updated edition February 2018 (IT)

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenGuidaallapplicazionedelRegolamentoUE2016_679.pdf

Personal data

Legislative Decree of 30th June 2003, No. 196. Personal Data Protection Code (containing provisions for the adaptation of national law to Regulation (EU) No. 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals concerning the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC). Entry into force 01/01/2004. The Decree originally implemented Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and Directive 2002/58/EC, the E-Privacy Directive. The Legislative Decree of 10 August 2018, No. 10 re-named the Code and applied amendments resulting from the introduction of GDPR, essentially repealing and re-structuring large sections; see link below. The core consent rules from articles 23 and 24 are now assigned to the GDPR regime. Title X, Chapter I covers privacy in electronic communications, providing opt-in/ opt-out requirements for marketing across various channels, implementing Directive 2002/58/EC. The key section 130 is amended in some data processing aspects, but its opt-in provision remains. There is comment in Italian regulatory circles that the legitimate interest aspect of the GDPR does not seem to be addressed. See DLA Piper blog here. The regulatory authority is the Data Protection authority garante per la protezione dei dati personali; see entries below

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2003-06-30;196!vig= (IT)

English translation from Garante:

https://garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/9740796

The DPA

Note: the arrival of the GDPR created a new regime in the lawfulness of the processing of personal data. Most of the entries/ DPA decisions below were established pre GDPR. While decisions may well remain applicable (some are not impacted by GDPR, and some may anyway be consistent with GDPR), interpretation of the different aspects of decisions to different aspects of marketing communications may vary. In short, especially while this territory is somewhat uncertain, the opinion of specialist advisors should be obtained

Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali). The DPA or ‘Garante’ was established in 1997 when the former Data Protection Act came into force (675/1996). It is an independent authority set up to protect fundamental rights and freedoms in connection with the processing of personal data.

www.garanteprivacy.it

The application of EU Regulation in the matter of protection of personal data; updated edition February 2018:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenGuidaallapplicazionedelRegolamentoUE2016_679.pdf (IT)

Guidelines on the processing of personal data for online profiling; March 19, 2015

https://garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/3881513 (IT)

How to lawfully email advertising messages
https://garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/1589969 (IT)
European Regulation: Guidelines for DPOs; May 24 2021
https://garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/9589388 (IT)

Guidelines for cookies and other tracking tools; June 10 2021

www.garanteprivacy.it/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/9677876 (IT)

FAQ on cookies (June 2021)
https://garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/faq/cookie

See also under the header Direct Marketing below

B2B unsolicited communications

DPA Decision 13 November 2012. This decision is on the applicability of Section 130 (Data Protection Code – LD 193/2003)) relating to protection from unsolicited marketing. It confirms that the provisions on marketing obligations are still applicable to legal entities and not only to natural persons. The decision came in response to legislative amendments (Decree Law 201/2011), which excluded legal entities from the definition of ‘data subject’ and consequently protection from unsolicited communications. Decree No. 69/2012, subsequently amended the Code to replace 'data subjects' with 'contracting parties', extending the protection to legal entities once again. Garante confirmed that while legal entities now benefit from the protection under section 130 as 'contracting parties', they remain excluded from other sections, which still refer to 'data subjects' or 'personal data'.

http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/2094796 IT)

Privacy/ opt-out register

Presidential Decree 7 September 2010, No. 178. Regulation establishing and managing the public register of subscribers who are opposed to the use of their phone number for sales or sales promotions. Entry into force 17/11/2010. The Presidential Decree created the public opt-out register or Register of Opposition (registro pubblico delle opposizioni as referenced in Article 130 (3-bis) of the Data Protection Code in relation to telemarketing activities, which now allows companies to make unsolicited telemarketing calls to any individual whose number is listed in a public telephone directory (electronic/ printed) provided that they have not objected by registering their telephone number on the Register. In July 2011, the opt-out system was extended to include direct mail (Decree Law 13 May 2011, No. 70). In English (Garante translation):

http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/1788873

Law of January 11, 2018, No. 5. New provisions on the registration and functioning of the register of oppositions and establishment of national prefixes for telephone calls for statistical, promotional and market research purposes:

www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2018/02/03/18G00021/sg (IT)

Opt-out Register registro pubblico delle opposizioni. The Register is a 'do not call' list of telephone numbers; legal entities as well as individuals are entitled to register (see definition of subscriber in DPR). The Data Protection Authority La Garante supervises the operation of the Register as per Article 130 (3-quart) DPC, 3c in the amended version of the Code.

Cookies

Legislative Decree 28 May 2012, No. 69. Amending Legislative Decree 30 June 2003, No. 196, establishing the law relating to the protection of personal data in the implementation of the Directive 2009/136/EC, which amended Article 5 (3) of Directive 2002/58/EC (E-Privacy Directive). Article 122 introduces new provisions on the use of cookies by website operators: that storing information on users’ equipment or access to information stored therein is allowed only on condition that users are informed on the use of cookies on the relevant website and that users provide their consent.

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2012-05-28;69!vig=

English translation of article 122:

https://garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/9740796

For guidance on cookies, see entries under the DPA above

Direct mail

Italian DPA via its decision dated 19 June 2008 (published in Italy's Official Journal no. 152 dated 1st July 2008 as well as on www.garanteprivacy.it under web document No. 1526724, link below). Re Soft Opt-in principle outlined in Art. 130 (4) of the DPC for email marketing extended to Direct mail marketing:

http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/1526724

Direct marketing (general)

Guidelines relating to promotional activity and combating spam: July 4th 2013 Doc. no. web. 2542348. The Guidelines lay down the first consolidated set of measures and precautions helping companies plan marketing campaigns with special focus on unsolicited marketing using social networking services (SNS), viral and targeted marketing. Doc. No. 2542348 (IT) GRS trans EN; Garante trans EN Doc No. 4304228

Section 2: Consent to processing of personal data for purposes of direct marketing. Section 6.1: Social Media and 6.2: Viral Marketing. IT:

http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/2542348

English translation of key provisions:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGaranteDoc2542348B.pdf

DPA Guidelines 23/07/2013 No. 2554512. 'No to spam, yes to consumer friendly marketing' (EN). Guidelines by the Garante on unsolicited commercial communications. Provides a summary of the guidelines from Doc. no. 2542348.

EN: http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/2554512

IT: http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/2549317

General decision: Consent to data processing for direct marketing purposes by means of traditional and automated systems. May 15, 2013 Doc. No. Web 2543820. This decision aims further to simplify the requirements applying to direct marketing. It complements Doc no. 2542348 and clarifies that consent obtained for the purposes of direct marketing by means of emails, sms, fax etc…(as per Art. 130(1&2) DPC) also covers marketing carried out by more traditional methods such as telemarketing, direct mail:
http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/2543820 (IT)
English translation of key provisions:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITDPADocNo2543820B.pdf

Sales promotions

D.P.R. (Presidential Decree) No. 430 of 26 October 2001 on ‘Regulations concerning the comprehensive revision of standards governing contests, reward-based loyalty programmes and local draws pursuant to article 19 (4) of Law 449/1997 of 27 December’. The Decree regulates both prize competitions and prize operations, the two types of sales promotions with prizes that are permitted in Italy. Prize Contests (concorsi a premio) are awarded on the basis of chance (raffle) or special skill; Prize Operations (Operazioni a premio) concern the provision of prizes to each and every purchaser of a product. Prior notification to the Ministry of Economic Development (via Prima online at www.impresa.gov.it) is required.

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:2001-10-26;430!vig=2014-10-10

Consumer Code LD 206/2005 (shown above under Legislation) implements the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC. Sales promotions fall within the scope of the Directive: commercial practices such as combined or tied offers, discounts, price reductions, promotional sales, commercial lotteries, competitions, and vouchers are regulated by its provisions, transposed into the Consumer Code.

Note: The above selections are only two important regulations within Sales Promotions, which is a heavily regulated activity in Italy. The full list of decrees can be found here:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITGenSPcollection.pdf

Audiovisual media

The Consolidated Text on Radio and Audiovisual Media Services (Testo unico dei servizi di media audiovisivi e radiofonici), known as the AVMS Code; Legislative Decree No. 177 31st July 2005. The AVMS Directive 2007/65/EC, codified 2010/13/EC, was implemented by Legislative Decree No. 44/2010, the ‘Romani Decree’, which amended the original Broadcasting Code so as to align it to the AVMS Directive. The AVMS Code regulates TV and Radio and incorporates all audiovisual media services (linear: analogue and digital TV, live streaming, webcasting and near VOD; non-linear: VOD). The Act is enforced by the Italian Communications Authority AGCOM who adopted two regulations in 2010 which confirmed that the scope of the regulations will extend to those service providers that have editorial responsibility and an annual income in excess of €100,000; it will not include UGC portals such as Youtube, Vimeo. Consolidated text:

~~http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2005-07-31;177!vig~~

~~English translation of key provisions:~~

~~http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITLDSingle177-2005AVMSCode.pdf~~

Repealed by the below (art. 70)

Legislative Decree No. 208/2121 of 8 November, 2021. Implementation of Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of November 14, 2018, amending Directive 2010/13/EU, on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States, concerning the consolidated act for the supply of audiovisual media services in view of changing market realities. This Decree, as it describes in the title, implements Directive 2018/1808 which amended the AVMSD 2010/13/EU, reflecting the 'digitisation' of audiovisual media in Europe and so extending scope online and in particular to video-sharing platforms (VSPS). The Decree repeals the AVMS Code (LD 177/2005) above and carries many of its provisions. For our (commercial communication) purposes, those are largely found in Chapter III - article 43 for the 'general' AV rules prohibiting discrimination, offense, protecting minors etc. and articles 46 and 48 for sponsorship and product placement. VSPS provisions are under Chapter II and require those platforms to identify commercial content where they are aware of it. Helpful piece on the Directive from Simmons and Simmons LLP here.

https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:DECRETO.LEGISLATIVO:2021-11-08;208!vig=

Law No. 112 of 3 May 2004 (‘Gasparri Law’). Regulations establishing principles for the organisation of the radio and television system and Rai-Radiotelevisione Italiana SpA, as well as granting authority to the Government to issue a consolidated radio and television law. RAI is Italy’s national public broadcasting company; article 10 Protection of Minors in TV programmes mirrors the AVMS Code and Framework Law (125/2001), stating broadcasters must observe the Self-Regulatory Code on Media and Minors. Broadcasters are also required to apply specific measures in programming from 16.00 to 19.00 and within programmes aimed at minors. Consolidated text:

http://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2004-05-03;112!vig=

The Self-Regulatory Code on Media and Minors (EN):

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/IT_MinorsSelf-RegCodeTV.pdf

SELF-REGULATION

The IAP Self-Regulation Code of Marketing Communication, 68th edition effective February 9th, 2021 (Codice Di Autodisciplina Della Comunicazione Commerciale). The IAP (Istituto dell’Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria) is Italy’s advertising standards authority since 1966. Rules are enforced by the Review Board (Comitato di Controllo) and Jury (Giurì). The Code is binding only on IAP members or those advertisers otherwise contracted. Scope: The term 'marketing communication' is defined as any type of communication, either private or public, including advertising, used to promote the sale of goods or services irrespective of the means used. The Code includes general rules and behaviours to which marcoms must comply in Title I. Special Rules of the Code in Title II covers A. marcoms rules applicable to sales systems and B. specific product categories. The Code also incorporates a number of Regulations (EN), which 'form an integral part of the Code'. These include e.g. the 'Digital Chart' (see below) and in February 2021 the Regulation governing marketing communication for food products and beverages to protect children and ensure healthy eating, added in the context of amends to the AVMS Directive.

EN: http://www.iap.it/about/the-code/?lang=en

IT: http://www.iap.it/codice-e-altre-fonti/il-codice/

IAP Digital Chart

The objective of the Chart is to review the most common forms of marketing communication on the web and in the digital world in general, and to establish criteria for the recognisability of marketing communication in compliance with Article 7 of the IAP Code. The forms of online communication covered in the Digital Chart include:

Endorsements via celebrities/ influencers/ bloggers, vloggers, and UGC

Native advertising in the form of in-feed units, paid search units, and recommendations widgets

SNS

In-app advertising and

Advergames

In Italian:

https://www.iap.it/codice-e-altre-fonti/regolamenti-autodisciplinari/digital-chart/

IAP translation: scroll down to the entry ‘Digital Chart Regulations on the Recognizability of Marketing Communication Distributed over the Internet':

https://www.iap.it/regulations/?lang=en

International Chamber of Commerce: ICC

ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code 2018

https://iccwbo.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/09/icc-advertising-and-marketing-communications-code-int.pdf (EN)

ICC Advertising and Marketing Communications Code 2024

https://iccwbo.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/ICC_2024_MarketingCode_2024.pdf (EN)

Chapter A: Sales Promotion

Chapter B : Sponsorship

Chapter C : Direct Marketing and Digital Marketing Communications

Chapter D : Environmental Claims in Marketing Communications

Chapter E: Children and Teens (2024 code)

The ICC Framework for Responsible Environmental Marketing Communications 2021. 'The updated 2021 Environmental Framework provides added guidance on some established environmental claims and additional guidance on some emerging claims' and 'a summary of the principles of the ICC Code including those outlined in Chapter D on environmental claims and supplements them with additional commentary and guidance to aid practitioners in applying the principles to environmental advertising.' Appendix I carries an Environmental Claims Checklist 'that marketers may find useful in evaluating their environmental claims.'
http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/iccenvironmentalframework_2021.pdf

ICC Resource Guide for Self-Regulation of Online Behavioural Advertising: It’s a ‘resource guide’, rather than rules per se, showing: explanation of global framework available for OBA self-regulation, checklist from existing OBA self-regulatory mechanisms on how to implement the global principles and links to further resources. The ICC's OBA rules are under C22 of their General Code; we have extracted the rules here

https://iccwbo.org/news-publications/policies-reports/icc-resource-guide-for-self-regulation-of-online-behavioural-advertising/ (EN)

Mobile Supplement to the ICC Resource Guide for Self-Regulation of Interest-based Advertising

https://iccwbo.org/news-publications/policies-reports/mobile-supplement-icc-resource-guide-self-regulation-interest-based-advertising/ (EN)

ICC Guide for Responsible Mobile Marketing Communications

https://iccwbo.org/news-publications/policies-reports/icc-guide-responsible-mobile-marketing-communications/ (EN)

The ICC’s Guidance on Native Advertising Is in English here:

https://iccwbo.org/news-publications/policies-reports/icc-guidance-on-native-advertising/ (EN)

Minors

Self-Regulatory Code On Media and Minors (Codice di autoregolamentazione media e minori). The Code was signed by major public and private broadcasting companies and approved on 29 Nov 2002. The agreement was recognised by law No. 112/04 Article 10 (1) (the Gasparri Law – see earlier entry), and referenced in the AVMS Code Article 34 (6). The enactment of these statutes has made the Agreement binding on all TV broadcasters regardless of the type of platform employed (analogue, satellite, digital terrestrial, IPTV online TV). Section 4 provides rules on advertising with three levels of protection: General, Enhanced 7am-4pm and 7pm-10.30pm, and Specific 4pm-7pm

IT / EN

Section 4 GRS translation:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/IT_MinorsSelf-RegCodeTV.pdf

The Internet

Self-Regulatory Code on Internet Services (Codice di Autoregolamentazione per i Servizi Internet; ISC). Put together by AIIP, the Association of Italian Internet Providers, and Assinform, the Italian Association of Information and Communication Technology. Section 9e of the Internet Services Code specifically refers to the IAP Self-Regulatory Code of Marketing Communication. Therefore, the IAP Code will be binding on the companies that adhere to the ISC.

http://www.privacy.it/codeonprovideraiip.html

Telecoms

Asstel Telemarketing Code. Asstel is the official Employers’ Association of the telecommunication operators (fixed, mobile, internet etc.). Their Code lays out consumer protection rules in Telemarketing:

http://www.asstel.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Codice-di-Condotta.pdf

English Translation:

http://www.g-regs.com/downloads/ITAsstelCode.pdf

National authorities and associations

The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM). The Competition Authority, also known as the Antitrust Authority, was established in Italy in 1990 by Law 287/1990. As of 2007, the Authority has been responsible for the protection of consumers from unfair commercial practices, as well as from all misleading advertising. In order to ensure fair market competition, it may also intervene in comparative advertising:

http://www.agcm.it/en/index.php

Italian Communications Authority (Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni) AGCOM. An independent body set up in accordance with Law No. 249 of 31 July 1997, an ‘umbrella’ authority for both the audio-visual and the telecommunications sectors. Agcom is empowered to issue regulations and guidelines for advertising in this area, usually in the form of deliberations.

http://www.agcom.it/

DMA Italy. Association for Data Driven Marketing. The mission of DMA Italy, a member of FEDMA (see below), is to facilitate the practice of direct communication in all media channels available today (off-line, on-line, mobile, social). DMAItalia do not, as far as we can establish, publish a Code:

www.dmaitalia.it

INTERNATIONAL

IAB/ Europe

IAB Italy. From their website (GT) ‘... is the Italian charter of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the most important association in the field of digital advertising worldwide and represents the entire chain of the interactive communication market in Italy. ‘

https://www.iab.it/

How to Comply with EU Rules Applicable to Online Native Advertising:

https://iabeurope.eu/all-news/how-to-comply-with-eu-rules-applicable-to-online-native-advertising/

IAB Transparency and Consent Framework:

https://iabeurope.eu/transparency-consent-framework/

IAB TCF Framework and GDPR from GALA/ Mondaq February 2022. News story here (EN)

World Federation of Advertisers: WFA

From the website: 'WFA is the only global organisation representing the common interests of marketers. It brings together the biggest markets and marketers worldwide, representing roughly 90% of all the global marketing communications spend, almost US$ 900 billion annually. WFA champions responsible and effective marketing communications':

https://www.wfanet.org/

This is their ‘GDPR Guide for Marketers’:

http://info.wfa.be/WFA-GDPR-guide-for-marketers.pdf

The WFA launched their Planet Pledge in April 2021

And Global Guidance on Environmental Claims April 2022

EASA

The European Advertising Standards Alliance is a non-profit organisation based in Brussels; it brings together national advertising self-regulatory organisations (SROs, such as the ARPP) and other organisations representing the advertising industry in Europe and beyond. EASA is "the European voice for advertising self-regulation". The following link provides access to alliance membership:

http://www.easa-alliance.org/members

EASA’s Best Practice recommendations

Digital Marketing Communications (2023)

Online Behavioural Advertising (2021)

Influencer Marketing (2023)

FEDMA

Federation of European Direct and Interactive Marketing (FEDMA). FEDMA is the principal source of knowledge of the DM channel across Europe:

http://www.fedma.org/index.php?id=30

ESA

The European Sponsorship Association can be found at:

www.sponsorship.org

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Reduce

Advertising Rules Worldwide

Italy

A. Overview

SECTION A OVERVIEW

B. Content Rules

SECTION B CONTENT RULES

C. Channel Rules

1. TV/Radio/VOD

SECTION C: TV & RADIO/ AV

2. Cinema/Press/Outdoor

SECTION C: CINEMA, PRINT, OUTDOOR

3. Online Commercial Communications

SECTION C: ONLINE COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

4. Cookies & OBA

SECTION C: COOKIES AND OBA

5. Emails & SMS

SECTION C: DIRECT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

6. Own Websites & SNS

SECTION C: MARKETERS' OWN WEBSITES

7. Native Advertising

SECTION C: NATIVE ADVERTISING

8. Telemarketing

9. Direct Postal Mail

SECTION C: DIRECT POSTAL MAIL

10. Event Sponsorship/ Field Marketing

SECTION C: EVENTS/ SPONSORSHIP

11. Sales Promotion

SECTION C: SALES PROMOTIONS

D. Advice & Clearance

SECTION D SRO SERVICES

E. Links

SECTION E SOURCES/ LINKS

e-Privacy Regulation draft (10 February 2021)