FTC Stops Fake ‘Yellow Pages’ Scam; Foreign Operation Targeted Small Businesses and Nonprofits in United States and Other Countries

At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal judge has temporarily halted a European-based operation that has allegedly bilked small businesses and nonprofit organizations, including churches, out of millions of dollars by deceiving them into ordering and then paying for unwanted listings in online business directories. In addition to stopping the allegedly deceptive practices, the […]

Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Sign Antitrust Memorandum of Understanding With Chinese Antitrust Agencies

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division today signed an antitrust memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s three antitrust agencies to promote communication and cooperation among the agencies in the two countries. The MOU also was signed by Gao Hucheng, China International Trade […]

FTC Testifies on Consumer Protection and the Rent-to-Own Industry

The Federal Trade Commission testified today on consumer protection issues relating to the rent-to-own industry. The testimony described the agency’s role in enforcing laws relating to financial issues, provided background on the rent-to-own industry, and described key findings of a 2000 report published by the FTC’s Bureau of Economics on the rent-to-own industry. The testimony […]

FTC Puts Conditions on Perrigo’s Proposed Acquisition of Paddock Labs

The Federal Trade Commission will require generic drug manufacturers Perrigo Company and Paddock Laboratories, Inc. to sell six generic drugs under a proposed settlement resolving charges that Perrigo’s proposed $540 million acquisition of Paddock would be anticompetitive. The proposed settlement also contains provisions to ensure future competition in the market for generic testosterone gel products. The case […]

FTC Extends Public Comment Period to August 15, 2011 for Aristotle’s Proposed Safe Harbor Program Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule

The Federal Trade Commission today announced that it is extending until August 15, 2011, the deadline for public comments relating to a proposed safe harbor program that Aristotle International, Inc. has submitted for Commission approval under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. On June 21, 2011, the FTC announced that it is seeking public comment […]

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges That Grifols, S.A.’s Acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics Holding Corp. Was Anticompetitive

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission approved a final order settling charges that Grifols, S.A.’s acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp., a rival in the market for plasma-derived drugs, was anticompetitive and would have resulted in higher prices for consumers. The FTC’s order requires Grifols to sell the Talecris fractionation facility in […]

FTC Proposes ‘Lighting Facts’ Labels for Additional Types of Light Bulbs to Help Consumers

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on proposed amendments to the Appliance Labeling Rule that would require a “Lighting Facts” label on additional types of light bulbs to help consumers select the most efficient bulbs to meet their lighting needs, and a specific test procedure for light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Under direction from […]

FTC Settles Charges That Cardinal Health’s Purchase of Biotech Was Anticompetitive

The Federal Trade Commission will require Cardinal Health, Inc. to reconstitute and sell nuclear pharmacies in Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and El Paso, Texas under a settlement order resolving the agency’s charges that Cardinal’s purchase of nuclear pharmacies from Biotech reduced competition for low-energy radiopharmaceuticals in the three cities. Nuclear pharmacies provide radiopharmaceuticals […]

FTC Action Leads to $4.8 Million Judgment Against Deceptive Marketer; Company Tricked Payday Loan Applicants into Buying Prepaid Debit Cards

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has ordered Swish Marketing, Inc. to pay more than $4.8 million for tricking hundreds of thousands of payday loan applicants into paying for an unrelated debit card. The FTC is closely monitoring payday lending and other financial services to protect financially distressed consumers. According […]

Statement by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz Regarding Senate Judiciary Committee Mark-up of Legislation Stopping Illegal Pay-for-Delay Drug Settlements

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz issued the following statement today regarding the mark-up of legislation to stop anticompetitive drug patent settlements (S.27, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act (sponsored by Sens. Kohl [WI], Grassley [IA], Brown [OH], Collins [ME], Durbin [IL], Franken [MN], Johnson [SD], Klobuchar [MN], and Sanders [VT]) in the Senate Judiciary […]