For your public interest minded lawyers

I'm running to lunch, but have a request. Let's have some fun on this consumer protection issue re gift certificates, and make a little difference while we're at it.

Here's your fact pattern.

Big online business sells gift certificates that expire after 2 years. State law in some states regulates gift certificate experitation - in some states they can never expire, in other states they expire in 5 years.

Question: Has the online business violated state law by saying its certificates expire in 2 years?

Who benefits from State X's 5 year expiration law - does the law apply to the state in which the person buys the certificate, the state law in which the recipient of the certificate resides, or the state in which the company does business?

For example, I live in DC. DC law says 5 years (I think). Amazon says 2 years. Does DC law cover this scenario?

And finally, what's the penalty if the company has violated DC law?

Finally, to be in accordance with the law, what would big companies need to say on their web sites with regards to WHEN gift certificates expire - this is kind of my previous question - do they have to say it depends on the state of the purchaser, the state of the recipient, or what?

Go to it! Let's get some company policies changed, to the benefit, literally, of millions of people.