Legal and regulation

Helpful information on the advertising rules for ads about legal services and regulatory matters.

In addition to our rules, advertisers have an obligation to stick to any relevant legislation that relates to their sector, product or service. Our rules are designed to reflect the law, and some sections of the Advertising Code have explicit references to relevant legislation. However advertisers’ legal obligations are not covered in full and it remains the advertiser’s responsibility to seek out legal advice and make sure they have taken any relevant legislation into account when preparing their ads.

We do not enforce or interpret the law and if we believe it is better to refer a matter, or enquirer, to a law enforcement body, we will do so.

The main rules advertisers should be aware of are: ads should comply with the law and should not incite anyone to break it, and advertisers must not state or imply a product can legally be sold if it cannot.

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Latest rulings

Currys Group Ltd
- Upheld
- Internet (video)
- 30 March 2022
A pre-roll YouTube ad for Currys which showed people riding e-scooters was banned for irresponsibly suggesting that electric scooters could be used in public places in the UK.

View all rulings

Legal and regulation

Helpful information on the advertising rules for ads about legal services and regulatory matters.

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Relevant codes

Appendix 2 Advertising rules for on-demand services regulated by statute

01 Compliance

Appendix 1 The CPRs and BPRs

History of self-regulation

Appendix 3 - VSPs Advertising rules for video-sharing platforms regulated by statute

How the system works

Appendix 1 Statutory framework for the regulation of broadcast advertising

Appendix 2 Extracts from directive 89-552-EEC as amended (audiovisual media services directive)

01 Compliance

31 Other categories of radio advertisements that require central copy clearance

27 Introduction and dating services

Appendix 3 The CPRs and BPRs