Data Privacy and Protection Laws: Including CCPA, state privacy laws, GDPR (for EU residents), and COPPA (for minors). These laws govern how personal data must be collected, stored, processed, and protected during market research activities.
Consumer Protection Laws: Federal Trade Commission Act, state consumer protection laws, and Fair Credit Reporting Act. These ensure fair treatment of consumers and regulate how consumer information can be used in research.
Intellectual Property Laws: Copyright Act, Trade Secrets Act, and patent laws. These protect research findings, methodologies, and any innovative processes or products developed during research.
Electronic Communications Regulations: CAN-SPAM Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and Electronic Communications Privacy Act. These govern how researchers can communicate with participants electronically.
Research-Specific Regulations: Market Research Society Code of Conduct, ESOMAR International Code, and IRB requirements. These provide ethical guidelines and standards for conducting market research.
Contract Law: State-specific contract laws, Uniform Commercial Code, and Statute of Frauds. These govern the formation and enforcement of the market research agreement itself.
Employment Laws: Fair Labor Standards Act, state employment laws, and independent contractor regulations. These apply when engaging research participants and determining their employment status.
Industry-Specific Regulations: Including HIPAA for healthcare research, financial services regulations, and other industry-specific privacy requirements that may apply depending on the research subject matter.
