The Consumer Review Fairness Act, signed into law by President Obama in December 2016, protects consumers’ rights to post online reviews.

In recent years, many companies and service providers have required their customers to sign contracts that prevent the consumer from posting online reviews.  Some contracts assert a copyright interest in any review written by the customer, effectively preventing publication and sharing of the review.  One of the biggest offenders in this regard is a company called Medical Justice, which provides standard contracts for use in the medical profession

In some cases, companies have even sued customers who broke the agreements and posted disparaging reviews.

The new law invalidates contracts that prohibit consumers from posting reviews.  The law does not invalidate existing laws against libel and slander.

Learn more about the business of online reviews at the Rating and Review Professional Association.

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