---
title: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-421. False or fraudulent statements in advertising prohibited; broadcaster or publisher acting in good faith excepted; penalties.
collection: code
id: 10-1-421
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-421 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-421
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-421.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-421/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t10-(v8)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=1992b47e_0#page=338
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COMMERCE AND TRADE / SELLING AND OTHER TRADE PRACTICES / DECEPTIVE OR UNFAIR PRACTICES / FALSE ADVERTISING
---

# O.C.G.A. § 10-1-421. False or fraudulent statements in advertising prohibited; broadcaster or publisher acting in good faith excepted; penalties.

(a) No person, firm, corporation, or association or any employee thereof, with intent directly or indirectly to dispose of real or personal property or to perform services, professional or otherwise, or to do anything of any nature whatsoever to induce the public to enter into any obligation relating thereto, shall make or disseminate or cause to be made or disseminated before the public in this state, in any newspaper or other publication, radio, television, or advertising device or by public outcry or proclamation or any other manner or means whatever, any statement concerning such real or personal property or services, professional or otherwise, or concerning any circumstances or matter of fact connected with the proposed performance or disposition thereof which is untrue or fraudulent and which is known or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known to be untrue or fraudulent.

(b) Nothing in this Code section shall apply to any visual or sound broadcasting station or to any publisher or printer of a newspaper, magazine, or other form of printed advertising who broadcasts, telecasts, publishes, or prints such advertisement in good faith without knowledge of its false or fraudulent character.

(c) Whoever violates this Code section shall be fined not less than $200.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or imprisoned not more than 20 days, or both.

## History

Ga. L. 1961, p. 197, § 1; Ga. L. 1963, p. 507, § 1.

## Cross References

Solicitation of professional employment by or on behalf of attorneys, §§ 15-19-54, 15-19-55.

Prohibition against persons or organizations misleading public as to involvement with law enforcement agency, § 35-10-1 et seq.

Unauthorized use of terms “certified public accountant,” “public accountant,” etc., § 43-3-31.

Advertising for architectural services by unqualified persons, § 43-4-10.

Advertising of chiropractic services by unqualified persons, § 43-9-19.

Unauthorized use of persons’ names for purpose of soliciting charitable contributions, § 43-17-12.

Advertising by dispensing opticians, § 43-29-15.

Unauthorized use of terms “M.D.,” “Doctor,” “Doctor of Osteopathy,” etc., §§ 43-34-22, 43-34-40.

Authority of Georgia Real Estate Commission to take disciplinary action against real estate brokers in connection with false, misleading, etc., advertising of property, § 43-40-25.

Time-share program false advertising prohibited, § 44-3-185.

## Law Reviews

For note criticizing this provision and proposing an alternative, see 12 Mercer L. Rev. 360 (1961).