Operation of a website that engages in advertising and sales carries all the rewards and pitfalls of operating a traditional businessand more. For example, advertising and sales have long required significant investment and infrastructure, while today, anyone with a computer and $10 can establish a business and advertise. In the past, advertising was reviewed and cleared before release, and businesses retained counsel to guide them in complying with the law. The ease with which business and promotion can be launched and carried out on the Internet has created a flood of new exposures.
Small businesses and individuals are not the only ones impacted. Large companies and institutions that do not follow a structured protocol regarding their website operations can be exposed to liability as well. The all-important website can, if not monitored, be a business killer.
