A quick search for "false advertising" on Google news uncovers a hotbed of legal controversy surrounding big brands -- more than 50 pages worth for articles published in 2014 alone. Companies like Nestle, Nordstrom and Red Bull have sat under the media spotlight for the misleading claims made in their marketing efforts.
Not only have advertising lawsuits damaged individual brands, but the prevalence of these controversies in mainstream media has left consumers with a sour aftertaste. This negative attitude about the advertising industry perpetuates a multitude of myths. The four most common follow.