Today I’ve been actively seeking out affiliate programs to monetize my websites and blogs. While searching, a new concern entered my awareness. Adding affiliate banners to my sites, in a sense is a direct endorsement of that product or service to my visitors. Even adding Google Adsense to my sites can be considered a direct endorsement.
These random thoughts surfaced because of the recent deaths at a Sedona Seminar where James Arthur Ray killed 3 people in a make shift Sauna… I learned a long time ago that when these types of thoughts surface that I need to listen and sort out any possible consequences.
If I had been directly or indirectly compensated by James Ray & JRI for Seminars Sales to people that died or were injured, what is my liability?
Are the people who were directly and indirectly compensated for promoting James Arthur Ray and his seminars liable for the deaths and injuries suffered by the company and staff they promoted? In America, anyone can sue another for anything at anytime. Here are the people that may be at risk from the deaths & injuries caused by James Ray:
- Oprah is the perfect target if James Ray is ever arrested for what he did in Sedona.
- The Seminar Industry’s Who’s Who that Personally endorsed, promoted and cross promoted James Ray’s “Harmonic Wealth” book & Seminars?
- JRI affiliates and promoters that put the butts in chairs at the FREE James Ray Sales Seminars? What’s their liability?
Is there liability for directly endorsing and promoting a Company that killed 4 people and injured so many others? I’m glad that I never promoted JRI Seminars! I’m certainly considering these questions as I choose ways to monetize my sites.
Well I’m back to finding low risk affiliate programs that have a low potential for killing anyone. I’m also am making sure that I add proper disclosures to meet FTC Guidelines and carefully reading all the affiliate agreements and limits of liability I’m required to accept to be accepted as an affiliate… FUN.
Damn I wish I found it entertaining and fulfilling to mindlessly drink beer and watch hours of football.
Terry Hall
Mr Clean
Wow, Terry — you’re so funny.
You know, I had a very similar thought just yesterday about the Hotels where Ray has his initial sign-up seminars, as well as his “Harmonic Wealth Weekends”. I even wrote about it. What are your thoughts on their potential liability in all this?
@Darren, I personally feel that the venues. affiliates and promoters are not liable for the actions of James Ray and JRI, but I’m not an attorney. My lay-opinion and $2.50 will get you a Venti Americano @Starbucks.
Thanks for stopping by. What’s the link to your post?
No, I tend to agree with you on that, Terry. If that were the case, it would open up an untenable can of worms.
I didn’t write that in my posts, however, it was in a private email to a fellow admin on the back end of my facebook page.
I believe you’ve been to our two “Spiritual Warrior Tragedy” pages? Please visit as often as you like.
If liability were that easy to spread around you would have to go after every newspaper, magazine, radio station, tv channel, and website that ever advertised that product or service.
No, James, (or his scapegoat,) will end up taking the rap for this one.
I’ve been posting updates on this tragedy since it happened. You can check them out here: http://bobcrawfordonline.com/growingyourself/
This might be the end of JRI… or not, after all, if a crack-smoking mayor can stay in office I’m sure there will still be plenty of people willing to attend James Ray seminars.
Peace,
Bob
Lest we forget Presidents having non-sexual sexual relations with interns. Speaking of the Clintons and their shenanigans… What is the correlation between James Ray, Billary Clinton and Mark Fabiani?
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test comment2 – terry hall web integrator and business development consulting
The hotels and host venues all cancelled James Ray’s events. He flat out lied about being the one to decide to cancel. I confirmed with Green Valley Ranch that they originated the termination of his seminar that was supposed to be held there in the beginning of November, although they refused further comment.
Hi Cassandra thanks for stopping by and reminding us that people like James Arthur Ray are masters at spinning words to their own benefit in their own right. Then, hiring the Pros From Dover, Fabiana et al. he was able to add multiple layers to his tales.
Hi Terry,
James Ray goes through PR staff like I go through toilet paper. Fancy Pants Fabiani doesn’t really appear to have his heart in it this time though. I rather suspect that even in Fancy Pants’ PR mind there is a difference between little extra-marital-under-the-desk-polka and covering up a homicide. He very well may be sitting around doing crossword puzzles having himself a good chuckle every time his paycheck arrives. He certainly hasn’t managed to do anything yet, although rumor has it that James Ray is about to make a bid to influence traditional media.