LegalMatters: Sweepstakes: Legal Considerations and Best Practices

JB: How can a nonprofit make sure it has all its i's dotted and t's crossed legally?

MA: Again, it's always a good idea to use a specialist. Importantly, in a direct mail package, there are mandatory legal disclosures, in addition to the official rules that must be made. That is, you must say, "No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning" on the reply device, in the solicitation and at the beginning of the rules. The same is true for a telemarketing script, i.e., various legal disclosures must be made at certain points within the script and you must tell the consumer where she can get the official rules.