Code of Ethics
1. Consumer Protection & Respect Are Paramount
MWKS respects and promotes best-practices that protect consumers at all times.
2. Honesty “ROI”: Relationships, Opinions & Identity
Honesty of Relationship -
MWKS practices openness about the relationship between consumers, our Brand Ambassadors and our clients. We stand against shill and stealth marketing practices. MWKS complies with FTC regulations that state: “When there exists a connection between the endorser and the seller of the advertiser product which might materially affect the weight of credibility of the endorsement (the connection is not reasonably expected by the audience) such connection must be fully disclosed.”
Honesty of Opinion -
MWKS complies with FTC regulations regarding testimonials and endorsements, specifically: “Endorsements must always reflect the honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experience of the endorser. Furthermore, they may not contain any representations which would be deceptive, or could not be substantiated, if made directly by the advertiser.”
Honesty of Identity -
MWKS complies with FTC regulations regarding identity in endorsements that state: “Advertisements presenting endorsements by what are represented, directly of implication, to be “actual consumers” should utilize actual consumers, in both the audio and video or clearly and conspicuously disclose that the persons in such advertisements are not actual consumers of the advertised product.”
3. Respect for Rules of the Venue
MWKS respects the rights of any online or offline communications venue (such as a website, blog, social network, forum, chatroom, etc.) to create and enforce its rules as it sees fit. At MWKS we never create campaigns or encourage behavior which would violate or disrespect those rules.
4. Manage Relationships with Minors Responsibility
MWKS believes that working with minors in online marketing programs carries important ethical obligations, responsibilities and sensitivity.
We comply with all applicable laws dealing with minors and marketing, including COPPA, and regulations regarding age-restrictions for particular products and services. We insure that all our campaigns comply with existing media-specific rules regarding minors (such as day-part restrictions) and full disclosure.
5. Honest Downstream Communications
At MWKS we recognize that we cannot control what real people say or how a message will be presented after multiple generations of conversations. Nevertheless, MWKS upholds our Honesty ROI in any and all of our downstream communications.
6. Protection of Privacy & Permission
MWKS respects the privacy of consumers at all times. Every word-of-mouth online marketing program is structured using the highest privacy, opt-in, and permission-based standards. MWKS complies with all relevant regulations. Any personal information gathered from consumers through their participation is used only in the confines of that particular program, unless the consumer voluntarily gives MWKS permission to use it for other purposes.