An Act To Amend the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1659
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: BOYLE, FARNSWORTH, SAVIELLO, GATTINE, HERBIG, KRUGER, ROCHELO, SANBORN, THERIAULT
Amends: 10 MRSA §1212

Legislative Document 
No. 1659 
S.P. 653 
In Senate, December 23, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 23, 2013.  Referred to the Committee 
on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and 
ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BOYLE of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative FARNSWORTH of Portland and 
Senator: SAVIELLO of Franklin, Representatives: GATTINE of Westbrook, HERBIG of 
Belfast, KRUGER of Thomaston, McCABE of Skowhegan, ROCHELO of Biddeford, 
SANBORN of Gorham, THERIAULT of Madawaska. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §1212, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1973, c. 625, §53, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Lists.  A person engages in a deceptive trade practice when, in the course of his 
the person's business, vocation or occupation, he the person: 
A.  Passes off goods or services as those of another; 
B.  Causes likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the source, 
sponsorship, approval or certification of goods or services; 
C.  Causes likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to affiliation, 
connection or association with, or certification by, another; 
D.  Uses deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin in connection 
with goods or services; 
E.  Represents that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, 
ingredients, uses, benefits or quantities that they do not have, or that a person has a 
sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation or connection that he the person does not 
have; 
F.  Represents that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered, 
reconditioned, reclaimed, used or secondhand; 
G.  Represents that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality or grade, or 
that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another; 
H.  Disparages the goods, services or business of another by false or misleading 
representation of fact; 
H-1.  Pays a person to post an online review to disparage or praise goods, services or 
a business; 
H-2.  Posts an online review that disparages or praises goods, services or a business 
and the person is paid or contracted to do so; 
I.  Advertises goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised; 
J.  Advertises goods or services with intent not to supply reasonably expectable 
public demand, unless the advertisement discloses a limitation of quantity; 
K.  Makes false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence 
of or amounts of, price reductions; or 
L.  Engages in any other conduct which that similarly creates a likelihood of 
confusion or of misunderstanding. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act by prohibiting a person 
from posting online reviews that disparage or praise goods, services or a business if that 
person is paid or contracted to disparage or praise the goods, services or business and by 
prohibiting a person from paying for such reviews.