UK authority deems Samsung LED TV ads "misleading"

David Katzmaier | Sep 03, 2009

(Credit: DisplaySearchBlog)

When Samsung's first edgelit LED-backlit LCD displays hit stores last spring, we were careful to point out that despite the company's use of the term "LED TV" to describe the sets, they were just LCD displays with a fancier backlight. That didn't stop Samsung from using the term in its worldwide advertising, however, some of which has appeared on CNET.

In the UK though, the company will have to stop using "LED TV" to describe these sets. The Advertising Standards Authority, a self-governing body set up to police advertising standards, has ruled that the term violates two of the country's advertising codes for being misleading. According to the ruling, "the ads must not appear again in their current form".

(Update: The ASA determined that the term "LED TV" can be used in the UK, provided there is additional description to clarify that the TVs in question are using LED backlighting technology.)

Of course, the ruling has no bearing outside the UK. The Federal Trade Commission enforces truth-in-advertising standards in the US, but has not yet taken similar action.

Among makers of LED-backlit LCD displays, currently, Samsung's US Web site, as well as those of LG and Toshiba, use the phrase "LED TV", while Sony's and Sharp's do not. We're hoping Vizio avoids the misleading lure of "LED TV" as well.

Via CNET Crave via DisplaySearchBlog

Filed under: Home AV
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Sincere

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Sincere says...
Yes as they should because some people will still say they are LED when they are only edge lit.....Samsung should fix this everywhere.....it is a little misleading....

Sep 03, 2009 18:35

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lv208306

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lv208306 says...
This is classified under the legal term "Misrepresentation" which is a serious matter. What the term means is that it deceives people to believe that the product is such which is actually not.

Sep 18, 2009 14:33

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