Given that winners of the $1 million prize were chosen in advance rather than randomly, does this approach qualify as deceptive marketing or false advertising?
Hey everyone, I see both sides here but I’m leaning towards it being more of a clever buzz-generating tactic rather than outright deception. I mean, if it’s clearly stated somewhere that winners were preselected and people are aware of that, then it’s arguably not legally deceptive—it’s the fine print doing its job. However, it does feel a bit off that the big prize seems less like a random stroke of luck and more like part of the master plan to build hype. It definitely makes you wonder if the excitement is genuine or just canned support for an idea. Just my two cents – sometimes the line between marketing savviness and misleading tactics can be really blurry. 
i think its just a savvy marketing move. if they clarify details in fine print, then its not really false advertisin. it’s more about control and building buzz than pure deception