The Federal Trade Commission has amended its Rules of Practice making it easier for parties to obtain FTC approval for minor contract changes relating to FTC divestiture orders. The amendments provide a procedure for waiving the requirement that the full Commission vote on and approve contract modifications if they do not diminish the effectiveness of […]
Monthly Archives: October 2011
FTC Requires Sale of Generic Cancer Pain Drug and Muscle Relaxant as Conditions of Tevas $6.8 Billion Acquisition of Cephalon
To protect competition in the market for prescription drugs, the Federal Trade Commission will require Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to sell the rights and assets related to a generic cancer pain drug and a generic muscle relaxant, as a condition of its proposed $6.8 billion acquisition of rival drug firm Cephalon, Inc. In addition, the […]
Court Orders Defendant Who Assisted Grant Writers Scheme to Pay $1.68 Million for Refunds to Defrauded Consumers, After Trial on FTC Charges
In response to charges by the Federal Trade Commission and four state attorneys general, a U.S. district court has ordered a defendant who assisted in a wide-ranging government grant scheme to pay $1.68 million, and has banned her from marketing money-making opportunities to consumers. Under the federal court order, Meggie Chapman is ordered to pay […]
Important Information Regarding the Right of Borders Customers to Opt Out of Transfer of Personal Information to Barnes and Noble
The Federal Trade Commission is reminding customers of Borders Group that they have until October 15, 2011, to decide whether to opt out of having their personal contact information and purchasing history shared with Barnes and Noble. The agency notes that as part of Borders’ sale of assets in a bankruptcy proceeding, Barnes and Noble […]
FTC Testifies on Protecting Children Online in a Fast-Changing Marketplace, and Proposed Changes to COPPA Rule
The Federal Trade Commission today told a House Subcommittee that it is committed to protecting children online, and that the agency recently proposed changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule) to make sure the Rule keeps pace with fast-changing technology. Delivering testimony on behalf of the FTC, the agency’s Associate Director for […]
FTC Staff: Proposed Tennessee Legislation May Reduce Patient Access to Pain Management Services and Increase Prices
Federal Trade Commission staff, in response to a request from Tennessee State Representative Gary Odom, stated that there may be reduced access to pain management services in the state, as well as higher costs for those services, under a bill proposed in the Tennesssee legislature that would require on-site physician supervision of pain management services […]
At FTC’s Request, Court Shuts Down Deceptive Mortgage and Debt Relief Operation
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a U.S. district court has shut down two related operations as a result of settlements with defendants who allegedly failed to provide promised debt relief services and jeopardized their clients’ privacy by tossing their personal information into unsecured dumpsters. In addition, one of the operations allegedly charged consumers a […]
FTC Approves Dow Chemical Company’s Application to Amend Asset Purchase Agreement with Arkema Inc.
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application by The Dow Chemical Company to amend an asset purchase agreement executed on July 31, 2009, between Dow and Arkema Inc. The application was required by the FTC’s final 2009 order regarding Dow’s acquisition of Rohm & Haas, which requires Dow to […]
FTC Proposes Amendments to Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule to Keep Up With Current Technology and Business Practices
As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s systematic review of all of the agency’s rules and guides, the FTC is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule. The Rule, issued in 1975, requires that marketers who solicit buyers to order merchandise through mail or telephone must have a […]
FTC Requires Packaging Changes for Fruit-Flavored Four Loko Malt Beverage
The marketers of Four Loko have agreed to re-label and repackage the supersized, high-alcohol, fruit-flavored, carbonated malt beverage, to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges of deceptive advertising. The FTC alleges that Phusion Projects, LLC and its principals falsely claimed that a 23.5-ounce, 11 or 12 percent alcohol by volume can of Four Loko contains alcohol […]