Yes, this is the normal conversational test. But in advertising copy, one can be held to account for false statements, intentional or not.
I always call advertising-copy misstatements "lies", just because the level of responsibility is higher and the copy writer has no excuse for endangering the company's future. As it happens, the courts agree.
I suppose there was a period of time that this fact was accepted. Take a look at [1], and then [2]. There is a difference of two years between the articles. There might be some out of date articles still on the web promoting that this is a true statement.
Given that the main idea behind the product is to produce light without any standard energy sources, and not "a new bug repelling lamp!", I would give them the benefit of doubt. Also, the people behind the lamp are regular designers, not a big company which had all the time and energy to verify everything in the article.
Note: I respect your catch. I'm not promoting such misstatements in promotion videos, but the word "lie" is farfetched. Too harsh. Especially with all the other bashing going on here.
> ... but the word "lie" is farfetched. Too harsh.
Perhaps. I just get tired of seeing so many casual "misstatements of fact" in advertising copy that can mislead the public and/or cause injury (the latter in the case of tanning beds and other technologies where public health is at risk).
But I agree it's farfetched. It sprang from annoyance and the lack of a better single word.
Comments
Yes, this is the normal conversational test. But in advertising copy, one can be held to account for false statements, intentional or not.
I always call advertising-copy misstatements "lies", just because the level of responsibility is higher and the copy writer has no excuse for endangering the company's future. As it happens, the courts agree.
I suppose there was a period of time that this fact was accepted. Take a look at [1], and then [2]. There is a difference of two years between the articles. There might be some out of date articles still on the web promoting that this is a true statement.
Given that the main idea behind the product is to produce light without any standard energy sources, and not "a new bug repelling lamp!", I would give them the benefit of doubt. Also, the people behind the lamp are regular designers, not a big company which had all the time and energy to verify everything in the article.
Note: I respect your catch. I'm not promoting such misstatements in promotion videos, but the word "lie" is farfetched. Too harsh. Especially with all the other bashing going on here.
[1] http://www.energycircle.com/blog/2009/06/16/newsflash-leds-d...
[2] http://www.energycircle.com/blog/2011/08/17/correction-led-l...
> ... but the word "lie" is farfetched. Too harsh.
Perhaps. I just get tired of seeing so many casual "misstatements of fact" in advertising copy that can mislead the public and/or cause injury (the latter in the case of tanning beds and other technologies where public health is at risk).
But I agree it's farfetched. It sprang from annoyance and the lack of a better single word.