On this page
Start with the exact proposed claim
Write the sentence, chart and surrounding presentation the customer will see. Ask what a reasonable reader would take from it, including implied claims about evidence or typical results. A title saying a test proves a result can promise more support than a narrow field observation supplies.
The FTC policy requires prior support for objective claims and considers the support the advertisement actually communicates. It does not provide a universal sample size or declare a single customer trial sufficient.
A cycle-time result is not automatically a cost saving
Fictional example: under stated test conditions, an average process cycle falls from 10 minutes to 8 minutes. The observed reduction is 2 minutes, or 20% of the 10-minute baseline. That calculation does not establish 20% lower total operating cost.
Labour use, capacity, setup, downtime, scrap and other costs may move differently. The same result on one line also does not establish performance across every U.S. site. Retain the actual observations and uncertainty rather than changing the metric in the headline.
Give the owner a claim-and-evidence card
This is ELN’s preparation method. It is not a publication approval or a substitute for establishing the level of evidence the actual product claim needs.
| Record | What to keep |
|---|---|
| Proposed statement | The exact words and visual context, including any implied typical result. |
| Measure and comparison | What was counted, the baseline and the actual calculation. |
| Conditions | Equipment, configuration, work, period and important exclusions. |
| Supporting evidence | The records and relevant review supporting the claim being made. |
| Limits and permissions | Unmeasured outcomes, appropriate customer permissions and any necessary specialist checks. |
Check each use of the result
A customer reference, technical demonstration, website and partner-recruitment deck can convey different messages. Keep the purpose and audience with each version. Permission to mention a customer does not establish that an economic claim is supported.
If a result is used to promote franchise sales or operator earnings, check that separate regime rather than treating this product-claim exercise as clearance. Correct the live versions when the supported claim changes.
Scope
- Federal policy and an original fictional measurement example only. No trial, advertisement, testimonial or earnings representation is approved; actual evidence sufficiency and other applicable rules depend on the claim and context.
Next step
Use Market comparison to record the measured customer result and the wider questions it does not answer. Keep the claim card and evidence in the authorised review file before public use.
Sources & review notes
Federal Trade Commission
Passage, dates and research notes
official-guidance · Prior substantiation, express/implied objective claims and the support actually communicated
Read the complete policy body, with emphasis on the reasonable-basis and prior-support sections. The original trial example is not a finding that one test establishes sufficient proof.
Detailed rule records (1)
The FTC policy addresses a reasonable basis before disseminating objective express or implied claims, including the level of evidence the advertisement communicates.
FTC Policy Statement Regarding Advertising SubstantiationBookmark this guide or mark it as read.
Progress privacy
Saving is off by default. Without it, progress lasts only on this page. If you turn it on, this browser profile stores public content IDs and the progress you record. Anyone sharing the profile could see them. No plan inputs or contact details are included. Reset or export in learning settings.
This is a reading aid, not evidence of disclosure delivery, expertise or legal approval.