Truth in advertising in the EU

The EU has recently banned the practice of dishonest or misleading advertising.

One of the targets of the ban (as it applies to theatrical productions) is the practice of quoting critics out of context in order to make it appear that the critic liked a show. For example, if you are producing a play and a critic writes, "You have to see it in order to comprehend the full extent of the wretchedness of this show, though I wouldn't advise seeing it under any circumstances," you can no longer print posters for your production that quote the critic as having said, "You have to see it..."

Laugh if you want to, but apparently this has been a common practice in England even until recent days.

Michael Billington discusses the ban on the Guardian's website.

Variety also had an article this past Monday about the ban.