I’ll be headed back to Chicago to attend the Annual BAA/PMA Marketing Law Conference which takes place next month, November 9-11, at the Downtown Chicago Marriott. This year’s conference is titled “FACE-OFF: Dynamic Technologies vs. Regulatory Controls”. It is known as the broadest marketing and advertising law conference in this country which features deep, practical legal content presented from speakers from major brands, inside and outside counsel and regulatory agencies. It also includes some great networking and two large cocktail parties.
Last year’s conference, which I attended, had another record attendance of 750, with over 200 major brands present. I summarized the conference in this post in which I stated that there were two central themes that appeared to be prominent. The first was Real-Time Marketing and how more brands were now starting to put much more effort into connecting their product or service with consumers in the moment. The other central theme was focused on the FTC’s Endorsement & Testimonial Guidelines, which even though not new, there were clear signs that the FTC was starting to heavily monitor the happenings online and on social media. So what insights will this year’s conference generate?
Some of the topics at this year’s conference will again include real time marketing and social as well as explore new technologies. Speakers from Oculus, Twitter, Google, Buzzfeed, Whole Foods, Lyft, Airbnb, Spotify and Microsoft will present. In fact one of the keynotes will be from Jordan McCollum who is general Counsel for Oculus VR. Another keynote will be from the FTC Commissioner Terrel McSweeny who will discuss further the FTC policy and enforcement priorities going forward into next year. Sweeps, contests, gaming, loyalty programs and IP issues will again be discussed. Linda Goldstein from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, the first main speaker who always delivers an exciting and chock full presentation, will review the past year as it relates to those topics.
The last day of the conference will again feature another highly anticipated presentation from Ron Urbach, Chairman of Davis & Gilbert LLP, this year titled “Brand Activation: Law in Review”. At last year’s conference Ron showed us a video he and his team created of a group of fictitious millennials who were using social media and technology to launch new products, and of course, not doing it all legally. Besides the key presentations there will be many break-out sessions and round-table discussions covering many different topics. You can see the whole agenda here.
If you’re interested in attending you should register here quickly since regular pricing will increase after Oct. 10. I’ll be right on Michigan Ave. at the Marriott from Wed. Nov. 9 till Fri., Nov. 11, so make sure to say hello if you’re there. Hopefully I will get a chance to run next door for my annual visit to Nordstrom’s shoe dept!
