如新公司内部指引

　　Risks Associated with Direct Selling and Our Sales Force Challenges to the form of our network marketing system or to our business practices could harm our business. We may be subject to challenges by government regulators regarding the form of our network marketing system. Legal and regulatory requirements concerning the direct selling industry generally do not include “bright line” rules and are inherently fact-based and subject to interpretation. As a result, regulators and courts have discretion in their application of these laws and regulations, and the enforcement or interpretation of these laws and regulations by government agencies or courts can change.
　　直销相关风险，以及我们销售团队面临的网络营销系统形式或商业实践的挑战，可能对我们的业务造成损害。我们可能会受到政府监管机构对我们网络营销系统形式的挑战。直销行业相关法律和监管，通常要求不包括“明确界限”的规则，但应基于事实做出解释。因此，监管机构和法院在适用法律和规定方面拥有裁量权，政府机构或法院对这些法律和规定的执行或解释可能会发生变化。
　　During the past several years, settlements and other judicial orders between the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and other direct selling companies and guidance from the FTC have addressed inappropriate earnings and lifestyle claims, problematic compensation structures and the importance of focusing on consumers. These developments have created ambiguity as to the proper interpretation of the law and related court decisions. The FTC has been active in its enforcement activities, and any adverse rulings or legal actions could impact our business if direct selling laws or anti-pyramid laws are interpreted more narrowly or in a manner that results in additional burdens or restrictions on direct selling companies. For example:
　　过去几年，美国联邦贸易委员会（FTC）与其他直销公司之间达成的和解和其他司法命令，以及FTC的指导，已经在一定程度上解决了不适当收入和生活方式的声明、有问题的薪酬结构以及关注消费者的重要性。FTC一直在积极执法，任何不利裁决或法律行动都可能对我们的业务产生影响。如果直销法律或反金字塔法律的解释更为狭隘，或导致直销公司承担额外负担或以被限制的方式进行解释。例如：
　　In 2015, the FTC took aggressive actions against a multi-level marketing company, alleging an illegal business model and inappropriate earnings claims.
　　2015年，美国联邦贸易委员会（FTC）对一家多层次营销公司采取行动，指控其非法商业模式和不适当的收入声明。
　　In 2016, the FTC entered into a settlement with a multi-level marketing company, requiring the company to modify its business model, including basing sales compensation and qualification only on sales to retail and preferred customers and on purchases by a distributor for personal consumption within allowable limits. Although this settlement does not represent judicial precedent or a new FTC rule, the FTC has indicated that the industry should look at this settlement, and the principles underlying its specific measures, for guidance.
　　2016年，FTC与一家多层次营销公司达成和解，要求该公司修改其商业模式，包括仅基于向零售和优先客户销售，以及分销商只能在允许范围内以个人消费购买的销售额，来确定销售补偿和资格。尽管这项和解并不代表司法先例或新的FTC规则，但FTC已表示，该行业应参考这项和解及其具体措施所依据的原则，作为指导。
　　In 2019, the FTC entered into a settlement with a multi-level marketing company, alleging an illegal business model and compensation structure and inappropriate earnings claims. The company agreed to a prohibition from engaging in multi-level marketing.
　　2019年，FTC与一家多层次营销公司达成和解，指控其非法商业模式和补偿结构以及不适当的收入声明。该公司不得不接受被禁止从事多层次营销活动。
　　During 2020 to 2022, the FTC issued letters that warned several direct-selling companies to remove and address claims that they or members of their sales force were making about their products’ ability to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19 and/or about the earnings that people who suffered the loss of a job or income could make.
　　在2020年至2022年期间，FTC向多家直销公司发出警告信，要求它们删除并处理它们或其销售团队对产品治疗、治愈或预防新冠肺炎能力的声明，以及关于失业或收入减少者能获得的收入声明。
　　In 2021, the FTC sent a notice to more than 1,100 companies, including us, that outlined several practices that the FTC determined to be unfair or deceptive in prior administrative cases. These practices relate to earnings claims, other money-making opportunity claims, and endorsements and testimonials. Pursuant to the FTC’s “penalty offense authority,” companies that received the notice are expected to comply with the standards set in the prior administrative cases and could incur significant civil penalties if they or their representatives fail to do so.
　　2021年，FTC向包括我们在内的1100多家公司发出通知，概述FTC在先前的行政案件中确定的不公平或欺骗性的几种做法。这些做法涉及收入声明、其他赚钱机会声明、代言和证词。根据FTC的处罚权，收到通知的公司应遵守先前行政案件中设定的标准，如果它们或其代表不遵守，可能会受到重大民事处罚。
　　In 2022, the FTC issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPR”) indicating that it is considering proposing a rule regarding earnings claims.
　　2022年，FTC发布了一项《拟议规则制定的预先通知（ANPR）》，表示正在考虑提出一项关于收入声明的规则。
　　In 2023, the FTC won a suit against various entities and individuals involved in two multi-level marketing programs, alleging illegal business models and inappropriate earnings claims. The defendants were permanently barred from engaging in multi-level marketing programs. Although we take steps to educate our sales force on proper claims, if members of our sales force make improper claims, or if regulators determine we are making any improper claims, this could lead to an FTC investigation and could harm our business.
　　2023年，FTC赢得了针对两个多层次营销计划中多个实体和个人的诉讼，指控其存在非法商业模式和不恰当的收益声明。被告被永久禁止参与多层次营销计划。尽管我们采取措施教育销售团队正确宣传，但如果销售团队的成员作出不恰当宣传，或者监管机构判定我们进行任何不当宣传，这可能导致FTC进行调查，并可能对我们的业务造成损害。
　　In this regard, FTC’s increased scrutiny of disclaimers, as discussed in the ANPR, could lead to more FTC actions regarding improper claims. In addition, if the requirements related to compensation structures in the actions listed above lead to new industry standards or new rules, or if they limit the levels in the network for which payments can be made, our business could be impacted and we may need to amend our global sales compensation plan. 
　　在这方面，正如ANPR所述，FTC对免责声明的严格审查可能会导致更多关于不当声明的FTC行动。此外，如果上述行动中与补偿结构相关的要求导致新的行业标准或新规则，或者它们限制了可以支付的网络层级，我们的业务可能会受到影响，我们可能需要修改全球销售补偿计划。
　　With a majority of our revenue in the United States coming from sales to retail customers and preferred customers, we believe that we can demonstrate consumer demand for our products, but we continue to monitor developments to assess whether we should make any changes to our business or global sales compensation plan. If we are required to make changes or if the FTC seeks to enforce similar measures in the industry, either through rulemaking or an enforcement action against our company, our business could be harmed.
　　由于我们在美国的收入主要来自零售客户和优选客户，我们相信我们能够证明消费者对我们产品的需求，但我们仍将继续关注发展态势，以评估我们是否需要对业务或全球销售补偿计划进行任何调整。如果我们被要求做出改变，或者FTC试图通过制定规则或对我们公司采取执法行动来在行业中实施类似措施，我们的业务可能会受到损害。

　　【资料】：
　　FTC在定义“非法商业模式”时，通常会关注公司的运营方式是否违反消费者权益保护法、公平竞争法或其他相关法规。非法商业模式可能包括欺骗性营销手段、不公平或欺骗性的销售行为、未充分披露产品或服务信息、对消费者进行虚假或误导性的承诺等行为。
　　具体来说，FTC可能会审查公司的营销材料、销售实践、退换货政策以及收入声明等方面，以确定是否存在误导消费者或违反法律的行为。例如，如果公司夸大了产品的功效或隐瞒了重要信息，就可能被视为非法商业模式。
　　此外，多层次营销（MLM）公司在这一方面的审查尤为严格，因为这类公司的结构往往涉及复杂的佣金和奖励制度，容易引发滥用和误导行为。因此，FTC可能会特别关注多层次营销公司的商业模式，以确保其符合相关法规，保护消费者的权益。
　　需要注意的是，具体的定义和判断标准会根据具体情况和法规的变化而有所不同。因此，公司应该仔细研究相关法规，确保自己的商业模式合法合规，并遵循FTC的指导原则，以维护良好的商业声誉和消费者信任。
　　“不当宣传”在销售中具体指商家在进行商品销售时，采用了不当的、误导性的或虚假信息进行宣传和推广，导致消费者产生误解或受到欺骗的行为。这包括在宣传材料中添加不真实的内容、使用庸俗或与所售商品不相关的词汇，以及借助特定人物形象（如军人、老中医等）进行虚假宣传等。
　　具体来说，不当宣传可能表现为以下几个方面：
　　1.商品未参加平台官方活动或未使用平台营销工具，但在宣传中却声称有限量限时购类的虚假营销信息，如即将恢复原价、限购、限今天购买等。
　　2.在宣传图片或文字中使用与所售商品不相关或具有误导性的词汇，如夸大其词、使用夸张的描述等。
　　3.借助特定人物形象，如老中医、医生、军人等进行虚假宣传，通过虚构或夸大其身份和经历来误导消费者。
　　这种行为不仅违反了广告法和其他相关法律法规，也损害了消费者的权益，破坏了市场的公平竞争秩序。因此，商家在进行销售宣传时，应遵守相关法律法规，确保宣传内容的真实性和合法性，以维护消费者的权益和市场的公平竞争。