FTC, DOJ Seek Public Comment on Proposed Statement of Antitrust Enforcement Policy Regarding Accountable Care Organizations

The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice issued a joint statement about how the agencies will enforce U.S. antitrust laws in regard to new Accountable Care Organizations – groups of health care providers that will be collaborating under the Affordable Care Act of 2010 to improve health care quality and reduce costs. The joint […]

Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Sign Antitrust Cooperation Agreement With Chile

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz today signed an antitrust cooperation agreement with the Chilean antitrust agency on behalf of the FTC. The agreement also was signed by Christine Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and Felipe Irarrázabal, Chile’s National Economic Prosecutor. The agreement will enable the antitrust […]

Court Shutters Telemarketers Peddling Bogus Timeshare Resales

At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal district court has issued a temporary restraining order against a Florida-based telemarketing scheme that allegedly tricked timeshare owners who sought to sell their timeshare properties. According to the FTC’s complaint, since at least 2006, Vacation Property Services, Inc., two related companies, and their three principals have made […]

FTC Charges Deceptive Privacy Practices in Googles Rollout of Its Buzz Social Network

Google Inc. has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it used deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy promises to consumers when it launched its social network, Google Buzz, in 2010. The agency alleges the practices violate the FTC Act. The proposed settlement bars the company from future privacy misrepresentations, requires it to […]

Florida Bill That Would Ease Physician/Nurse Practitioner Supervisory Requirements Would Benefit States Health Care Consumers

The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has sent comments to Florida State Representative Daphne Campbell, at her request, regarding House Bill (H.B) 4103, which would remove some of the constraints on the supervisory arrangements between doctors and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) that are now required under Florida law. According to the comments, the […]

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Marketer of Children’s Vitamins Made Deceptive Claims about DHA and Brain and Eye Development

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission finalized an Order settling charges that a major vitamin marketer and its subsidiaries made false and unsupported claims that their Disney and Marvel Heroes line of children’s multivitamins contained a significant amount of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 fatty acid) and promoted healthy brain and eye […]

Toys R Us to Pay $1.3 Million Penalty for Violating FTC Order

Toys “R” Us, Inc. has agreed to pay a $1.3 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated a 1998 order governing its dealings with its suppliers. The order prohibits Toys “R” Us from urging any supplier to limit supply of products or refuse to sell to discounters. It also bars […]

Statement by FTC Bureau of Competition Director Richard Feinstein on the Court Ruling Granting a Preliminary Injunction in the ProMedica/St. Luke’s Hospital Matter

For Release March 29, 2011 Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition Director Richard Feinstein issued the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court ruling today granting the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction in this case, pending a full administrative trial on the merits of ProMedica Health System Inc.’s proposed acquisition of St. Luke’s Hospital: […]

FTC Hosts International Consumer Protection Forum

In an ongoing effort to combat cross-border fraud and promote global consumer protection, the Federal Trade Commission will host officials from nine Latin American countries for a “Consumer University” training session to discuss consumer protection issues and enforcement strategies.  FTC experts and representatives from the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the […]

FTC Charges Cancer Cures Marketers with Violating Commission Order

At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, the U.S. Department of Justice has asked a federal district court to impose civil penalties upon the herbal products company Daniel Chapter One (DCO) and its principal, James Feijo, for allegedly violating an FTC Order.  The civil penalty action also seeks a preliminary injunction to stop DCO and Feijo […]