Internet Lawyer: Consumer Advocate or Devil’s Advocate?
Some cannot understand how one can simultaneously represent some of the biggest Internet info product marketers while attacking others for unethical conduct. A public relations stunt? Loose cannon? What the heck is going on?
To understand the what, you’ll need to learn the why I’m about to share with you for the first time.
My grandparents and great-aunt instilled old-fashioned ethics in me from childhood. They grew up during the Great Depression and spent their working lives as blue collar employees. To them, “get-rich-quick” meant the stock market crash of 1929, massive unemployment, and doing without.
If I could sum up their views on how to live, it would be these words: “Do what is right.”
Have I always done the right thing? Of course not.
Like you, I’m human and have made mistakes (and hopefully learned enough not to repeat them).
But doing what is right is the goal post that I aim for each and every day.
Is there a conflict between representing “big gurus” and doing what is right? Not if the goal of those gurus is also to do the right thing.
Do these clients make mistakes? Of course. They’re human too.
And if there comes a time where a business decision is made to profit from knowingly doing wrong to customers, that’s where the attorney-client relationship quickly comes to an end.
Some claim that I’ve been too harsh on certain marketers who have engaged in fraudulent and deceptive business practices. But there is a difference. Those marketers who I’ve publicly criticized for such misconduct have not made a mistake. They’ve chosen a way of doing business that is designed to profit by taking advantage of others.
Exposing these Internet scams is done because it is the right thing both for consumers and honest online business owners who shouldn’t be tarnished by association with the so-called “guru” marketers.
This holiday season will be a tough one for me. My grandparents have passed away. In recent years, my great-aunt has been the sounding board that invariably answers “do the right thing.” Now terminally ill, I’ll be visiting with her for the last time this Thanksgiving.
I hope that in the coming years, I live up to her expectations to do what’s right. If that means offending some scam artists masquerading online as gurus, so be it.
Do old-fashioned ethics have a place in the way we do business with each other on the Internet? Absolutely.
That’s why a group of Internet marketers committed to doing the right thing has just formed the Internet Ethics Council. If you’re truly committed to treating your customers with courtesy and respect, you’ll want to join us. To learn more, click here.
About the Author
With an advanced international law degree from Georgetown University and more than 15 years of real world legal experience, Attorney Mike Young is President of the Internet Ethics Council and creator of Website Legal Forms Generator software. He helps entrepreneurs protect and grow their businesses online.
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Mike, it looks like you aren’t just a member of this “ethics counsel” but that your firm is the registrant of the domain name. Where does the money go? What other internet marketers got together with you to form this group? It sounds like a great idea, so I’m sure you won’t mind a little more transparency.
Dan,
Thanks for stopping by. The IEC was created because, quite simply, some of us have had enough of the deceptive and fraudulent marketing practices that gives IM a bad name. The rotten apples are spoiling the barrel. The key to the IEC is the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Board of Advisers. The board was assembled based on ethical standards rather than list size or “guru” status. However, I’m sure you’ll recognize some of the names. As for net profits, there are none at this point. The IEC has been subsidized to get it off the ground as part of cleaning up IM. Feel free to e-mail me with any additional questions or concerns.
And of course, with your background, you’re always welcome to become a member.
Best wishes,
-Mike