Don’t Let Summer Fuel Costs Strain Your Budget

With summer on the way, hotter days and vacation road trips are coming up fast. Because the costs of cooling your home and filling up your car can add up, the Federal Trade Commission is offering tips to save you money. Saving Starts @ Home: The Insider Story on Conserving Energy, available at www.ftc.gov/energysavings, offers […]

FTC Begins Rulemaking to Address Unfair and Deceptive Mortgage Practices

In an effort to better protect financially distressed homeowners, the Federal Trade Commission has initiated a rulemaking proceeding involving foreclosure rescue and loan modification services. The FTC is seeking public comment to determine whether certain practices by companies providing these services are unfair or deceptive and should be reined in by proposed rules that would […]

FTC Files Joint Amicus Brief in Matter of American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League; FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of Whole Foods Market

FTC Files Joint Amicus Brief in Matter of American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League The Federal Trade Commission has joined the U.S. Department of Justice in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League, No. 08-661 (U.S. S. Ct.). The case involves […]

FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Commissioner William E. Kovacic to Participate in Eighth Annual International Competition Network Conference in Zurich, Switzerland

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz will participate in the eighth annual International Competition Network (ICN) conference in Zurich, Switzerland, from June 3-5, 2009. At the conference, senior government antitrust officials, private-sector antitrust experts from around the world, and representatives from intergovernmental organizations will meet to discuss competition issues. The ICN conference will focus on […]

FTC Authorizes Suit To Stop CSLs Proposed $3.1 Billion Acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics

The Federal Trade Commission has authorized a lawsuit to block CSL Limited’s proposed $3.1 billion acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corporation, charging that the deal would be illegal and would substantially reduce competition in the U.S. markets for four plasma-derivative protein therapies – Immune globulin (Ig), Albumin, Rho-D, and Alpha-1. These therapies are used to […]

FTC Sues Mortgage Foreclosure ‘Rescue’ Operation That Targeted Spanish-Speaking Consumers

The Federal Trade Commission has charged a mortgage foreclosure “rescue” operation with falsely promising Spanish-speaking consumers who are behind on their mortgage payments that it would stop foreclosure. Many people who paid the defendants ultimately lost their homes, and others avoided foreclosure only through their own efforts. At the FTC’s request, a federal court temporarily […]

FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of BASF and Ciba Specialty Chemicals

For Your Information May 26, 2009 Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter of BASF and Ciba Specialty Chemicals. The vote approving the final order was 4-0. (FTC File No. 081-0265; the staff contact is Wallace W. Easterling, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2936; see press release dated […]

FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of BASF and Ciba Specialty Chemicals

For Your Information May 26, 2009 Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter of BASF and Ciba Specialty Chemicals. The vote approving the final order was 4-0. (FTC File No. 081-0265; the staff contact is Wallace W. Easterling, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2936; see press release dated […]

FTC Staff Advises Louisiana Legislature That Amended Bill Would Further Restrict Competition to Provide Dental Care to States Most Vulnerable Children

Federal Trade Commission staff have filed a comment stating that the amended version of proposed Louisiana House Bill 687, if enacted, would further restrict competition to provide dental care to underserved children in the state, without providing any countervailing benefits to consumers. The staff believes that recent amendments to the bill would restrict the market […]

FTC Chairman Appoints Willard Tom as General Counsel and Announces Four Other Senior Appointments

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz announced the appointment of Willard K. “Will” Tom as General Counsel for the agency, and the appointment of Peter J. Levitas, Mark W. Frankena, Howard Shelanski, and Judith Bailey to senior positions in the agency’s Competition and Economics Bureaus and the Office of Congressional Relations. “We’re very pleased to […]