(1) A person who, with intent to sell, purchase, dispose of, or acquire merchandise, securities, service, or anything offered or sought by the person, directly or indirectly, to or from the public for sale, purchase, or distribution, or with intent to increase the consumption of merchandise, securities, service, or other thing offered or sought, or to induce the public in any manner to enter into an obligation relating to or interest in the merchandise, securities, service, or other thing offered or sought, makes, publishes, disseminates, circulates, or places before the public, or causes directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before or communicated to the public, in a newspaper or by radio broadcast, television, telephone, or telegraph or other mode of communication or publication or in the form of a book, notice, handbill, poster, bill, circular, pamphlet, letter, or communication, including communication by telephone or telegraph to 2 or more persons, or in any other way, in advertisement of any sort regarding merchandise, securities, service, or anything so offered to or sought from the public, or regarding the motive or purpose of a sale, purchase, distribution, or acquisition, which advertisement contains an assertion, representation, or statement or illustration, including statements of present or former sale price or value, which is false, deceptive, or misleading, or calculated to subject another person to disadvantage or injury through the publication of false or deceptive statements or as part of a plan or scheme with the intent, design, or purpose not to sell the merchandise, commodities, or service so advertised at the price stated therein, or otherwise communicated, or with intent not to sell the merchandise, commodities, or service so advertised is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00.

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an owner, publisher, printer, agent, or employee of a newspaper or other publication, periodical, or circular, or of a radio station or television station, who in good faith and without knowledge of the falsity or deceptive character thereof, publishes, causes to be published, or takes part in the publication of an advertisement described in subsection (1).

    (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any person, firm, or corporation providing telephone service to subscribers as a public utility.