The Federal Trade Commission will require Graco Inc., a leader in the worldwide market for key industrial finishing equipment, to sell the worldwide liquid finishing business of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and ITW Finishing LLC under a proposed order, as part of a settlement resolving charges that its $650 million acquisition of several ITW businesses […]
Monthly Archives: May 2012
FTC Proposes Changes to Energy Labels for Home Heating and Cooling Equipment
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on changes the agency is proposing to make to the EnergyGuide labels that are required for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps, to help consumers and businesses install equipment appropriate for their location under new Department of Energy (DOE) regional efficiency standards. The FTC proposes […]
FTC Announces Final Agenda and Panelists for Workshop about Advertising and Privacy Disclosures in Online and Mobile Media
8:30 am Registration 9:00 am Welcome & Opening RemarksCommissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Federal Trade Commission 9:15 am Presentation on Usability ResearchJennifer King, Ph.D. Candidate, University of California, Berkeley School of Information 9:30 am Panel 1: Universal and Cross-Platform Advertising Disclosures ModeratorMichael Ostheimer, Staff Attorney, FTC Division of Advertising Practices PanelistsSteve DelBianco, Executive Director, NetChoice Linda […]
FTC Staff: Proposed North Carolina Dental Services Law Would Likely Reduce the Benefits of Competition for Consumers
Federal Trade Commission staff, in response to a request from North Carolina Representative Stephen LaRoque, stated that a bill proposed in the North Carolina legislature would likely deny consumers seeking dental services in North Carolina the benefits of competition, including the potential for lower prices, expanded access to dental services, and greater choice. North Carolina […]
FTC Approves Modified Final Order Settling Charges that Fresenius Medical Care’s Acquisition of Liberty Dialysis Holdings Was Anticompetitive in Market for Outpatient Dialysis Clinics
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a modified final order settling charges that Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA’s acquisition of Liberty Dialysis Holdings, Inc. would have been anticompetitive in numerous local markets for outpatient dialysis clinics around the country. The proposed order settling the FTC’s charges required Fresenius […]
Commission Approves Filing of Joint Amicus Brief with DOJ on Direct Purchaser Antitrust Issues
The Commission has approved the filing of a joint amicus brief with the U.S. Department of Justice in the matter of Ritz Camera & Image, LLC v. SanDisk Corporation, No. 12-1183 (Fed. Cir.). The case concerns whether the Federal Circuit should affirm the district court’s holding that the appellee, a direct purchaser of the defendant’s […]
Consumers Who Bought Two Oreck Products Will Receive FTC Refunds
Thousands of consumers who purchased two home cleaning products from Oreck Corporation will receive refunds from the Federal Trade Commission because company advertisements allegedly made false and unproven claims that the products could reduce the risk of flu and other illnesses, and eliminate virtually all common germs and allergens. Under a settlement reached with the […]
Administrative Law Judge Upholds FTC’s Complaint that POM Deceptively Advertised Its Products as Treating, Preventing, or Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease, Prostate Cancer, and Erectile Dysfunction
In an Initial Decision announced today, Chief Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell upheld a Federal Trade Commission complaint, and ruled that POM Wonderful LLC, its sister corporation Roll Global LLC, and principals Stewart Resnick, Lynda Resnick, and Matthew Tupper violated federal law by making deceptive claims in some advertisements that their POM Wonderful 100% […]
FTC Approves Final Orders Settling Charges that Window Marketers Made Deceptive Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings Claims
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved final orders settling charges that five companies that make and sell replacement windows made deceptive energy efficiency and cost savings claims. The FTC’s complaints alleged that Gorell Enterprises, Inc.; Long Fence & Home, LLLP; Serious Energy, Inc.; THV Holdings LLC; and Winchester Industries made […]
Skechers Will Pay $40 Million to Settle FTC Charges That It Deceived Consumers with Ads for “Toning Shoes”
The Federal Trade Commission announced that Skechers USA, Inc. has agreed to pay $40 million to settle charges that the company deceived consumers by making unfounded claims that Shape-ups would help people lose weight, and strengthen and tone their buttocks, legs and abdominal muscles. Besides Shape-ups, Skechers also made deceptive claims about its Resistance Runner, […]