Whether you use oil, natural gas, or electricity, there are many ways to ensure that you stay warm at home this winter without heating the great outdoors. The Federal Trade Commission’s consumer alert “Weathering the High Cost of Heating Your Home” tells you how to select energy-efficient home appliances, spot problems that waste fuel, shop […]
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Commission Extends Time for Whole Foods to Divest Wild Oats Stores Through March 2010
At the request of the divestiture trustee, the FTC has extended the time Whole Foods Markets, Inc., via the trustee, will have to divest certain Wild Oats stores and the Wild Oats intellectual property, as required under a Commission order dated May 29, 2009. Under the Order, Whole Foods is required to divest 32 stores, […]
FTC Order Restores Competition Lost Through Schering-Plough’s Acquisition of Merck
Merck & Co., Inc. must sell its interest in Merial Limited, an animal health joint venture with Sanofi-Aventis S.A., and Schering-Plough must sell its assets related to significant drugs for nausea and vomiting in humans, in order for Schering-Plough to complete its proposed $41.1 billion acquisition of Merck, the Federal Trade Commission announced today. The […]
Statement of FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz On Passage of H.R. 3126, the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2009 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee
“Americans are still experiencing a period of extreme financial distress, and the modest new authority given to our agency will help ensure that we have the tools necessary to fight fraud and go after those who perpetrate it. We commend the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and especially Chairman Waxman, for their visionary work on […]
FTC Calls for Improved Advertising and Billing Practices to Empower Consumers and Facilitate Competition Among Telephone, Cable and Other Communications Providers
In response to a request by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for comment, the Federal Trade Commission has urged adoption of policies to protect and empower consumers as they buy and use communications services, including telephone, cable, and Internet access services. The FTC’s comment suggests that the FCC: adopt a policy requiring advertised prices of […]
U.S. Court of Appeals Enforces Subpoenas in FTCs Androgel Investigation; In Separate Case, FTC Files Petition to Compel Enforcement of Subpoena Issued to Boehringer Ingelheim
The Federal Trade Commission today announced two subpoena enforcement actions challenging tactics that delay agency investigations. First, the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia affirmed a district court decision enforcing three subpoenas to videotape testimony as part of the FTC’s investigation of generic Androgel competition. In a separate matter, the FTC petitioned the […]
Commission Proposes New Light Bulb Labels, Seeks Public Comments; Commission Dismisses Individual Defendant from Case Against “Making Home Affordable” Imposters
Commission Proposes New Light Bulb Labels, Seeks Public Comments The FTC has proposed new labeling requirements for “lamps,” commonly known as light bulbs, in response to a congressional mandate. The marketplace has been changing quickly with the emergence of newer, more energy-efficient technologies – such as compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and light-emitting diode (LED) […]
FTC Seeks Public Comments on Petition by BASF SE to Sell Ciba’s IB and BV Businesses to Dominion Colour Corporation
The FTC is seeking public comments on a petition by BASF SE for approval to divest Ciba Holding Inc.’s Indanthrone Blue (IB) and Bismuth Vanadate (BV) Pigments Businesses to Dominion Colour Corporation. Divestiture of the two businesses is required by a Commission consent order issued on May 14, 2009. The FTC order was issued to […]
Halloween’s Coming: Trick or Tweet from the FTC
Just in time for Halloween: The Federal Trade Commission has 12 Tweets about protecting yourself, your kids, and your computer when online. If you tweet or update your status on a social networking page, the FTC hopes you’ll post one of these short messages about how to keep online goblins, ghouls, and ghosts away from […]
Maker of Rayon Clothes Barred from Deceptive “Bamboo” Claims
Just because bamboo is green does not mean that companies who purport to make clothing and other textiles from processed bamboo can make unsupported “green” claims. The Federal Trade Commission today announced a settlement with a company that allegedly falsely claimed its rayon products are made of bamboo fiber, retain bamboo’s antimicrobial properties, and are […]