Should companies be liable of false advertising?

It depends on the egregiousness of their claims and the type of product. Mostly, in free market America, the rule of law is Caveat Emptor.

The FDC does regulate claims for drugs. Cigarette and alcohol advertising are subject to regulation. Much of the rest requires challenge in the courts by lawsuits, which happens.

A good read on the subject is “With These Words I Can Sell You Anything” by William Lutz

@btko Don’t you mean a depressing, but good read? :)

haha well maybe!

Companies ARE liable for false advertising. They are experts at circumventing the rules and finding loopholes, however. A good rule of thumb would be to not believe what a commercial is telling you. Ever.