Section 1716.14. Prohibited acts and practices - noncomplying solicitation is a nuisance

(A) The following acts and practices are hereby prohibited and declared unlawful as applied to the planning, conducting, or executing of any solicitation of contributions for a charitable organization or charitable purpose or to the planning, conducting, or executing of a charitable sales promotion:

(1) Committing any deceptive act or practice;

(2) Misleading any person as to any material fact concerning the solicitation of contributions for a charitable organization or charitable purpose or concerning a charitable sales promotion;

(3) Using any representation that implies that the contribution is for or on behalf of a charitable organization, or using any emblem, device, or printed matter belonging to or associated with a charitable organization, without first having been authorized in writing to do so by the charitable organization;

(4) Using a name, symbol, or statement that is so closely related or similar to that used by another charitable organization, public official, or public agency in such a manner that the use of the name, symbol, or statement tends to confuse or mislead a person being solicited for contributions, except that the name, symbol, or statement may be used if written permission is obtained from the other charitable organization, public official, or public agency and filed with the attorney general prior to any solicitation for a charitable purpose or prior to engaging in any charitable sales promotion;

(5) Misleading any person in any manner in the belief, or making or using any representation to any person that implies, that the organization on whose behalf a solicitation or charitable sales promotion is being conducted is a charitable organization or that the proceeds of the solicitation or charitable sales promotion will be used for a charitable purpose if either of those is not the fact;

(6) Misleading any person in any manner in the belief, or making or using any representation to any person that implies, that any other person sponsors, endorses, or approves of the solicitation or charitable sales promotion when that other person has not given its consent in writing to that representation or to the use of its name for any of those purposes;

(7) Using or exploiting the fact of registration in such a manner as to lead any person to believe that the registration in any manner constitutes an endorsement or approval by the state;

(8) Representing directly or by implication that a charitable organization will receive a fixed or estimated percentage of the gross revenue from a solicitation campaign that is greater than that set forth in the contract filed with the attorney general pursuant to section 1716.08 of the Revised Code, or that a charitable organization will receive an actual or estimated dollar amount or percentage per unit of goods or services purchased or used in a charitable sales promotion, that is greater than that agreed to by the commercial co-venturer and the charitable organization;

(9) Filing false or misleading information in any document required to be filed with the attorney general under this chapter;

(10) Filing false or misleading information in response to a request from the attorney general under section 1716.15 of the Revised Code;

(11) Failing to provide complete and timely payment to a charitable organization of the proceeds from a solicitation campaign or a charitable sales promotion;

(12) Operating in violation of, or failing to comply with, any of the requirements of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter.

(B) The act of soliciting contributions for any charitable organization or charitable purpose or engaging in a charitable sales promotion without complying with the requirements of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, is a nuisance.

Effective Date: 11-22-1999