§ 750.33False advertising; penalty; excepted participants in publication

Sec. 33.
    (1) A person who, with intent to sell, purchase, dispose of, or acquire merchandise,
 securities, service, or anything offered or sought by the person, directly or indirectly, to or
 from the public for sale, purchase, or distribution, or with intent to increase the consumption
 of merchandise, securities, service, or other thing offered or sought, or to induce the public in
 any manner to enter into an obligation relating to or interest in the merchandise, securities,
 service, or other thing offered or sought, makes, publishes, disseminates, circulates, or places
 before the public, or causes directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated,
 circulated, or placed before or communicated to the public, in a newspaper or by radio
 broadcast, television, telephone, or telegraph or other mode of communication or publication
 or in the form of a book, notice, handbill, poster, bill, circular, pamphlet, letter, or


                                                                Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 91 of 2026
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 communication, including communication by telephone or telegraph to 2 or more persons, or
 in any other way, in advertisement of any sort regarding merchandise, securities, service, or
 anything so offered to or sought from the public, or regarding the motive or purpose of a sale,
 purchase, distribution, or acquisition, which advertisement contains an assertion,
 representation, or statement or illustration, including statements of present or former sale price
 or value, which is false, deceptive, or misleading, or calculated to subject another person to
 disadvantage or injury through the publication of false or deceptive statements or as part of a
 plan or scheme with the intent, design, or purpose not to sell the merchandise, commodities, or
 service so advertised at the price stated therein, or otherwise communicated, or with intent not
 to sell the merchandise, commodities, or service so advertised is guilty of a misdemeanor
 punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00.
    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an owner, publisher, printer, agent, or employee of a
 newspaper or other publication, periodical, or circular, or of a radio station or television
 station, who in good faith and without knowledge of the falsity or deceptive character thereof,
 publishes, causes to be published, or takes part in the publication of an advertisement
 described in subsection (1).
    (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any person, firm, or corporation providing telephone
 service to subscribers as a public utility.