The Federal Trade Commission today told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee that the FTC is examining the benefits to consumers, as well as privacy and security concerns regarding current and possible future commercial uses of facial recognition technologies and will make recommendations later this year on best practices for companies that use these new technologies. The […]
Monthly Archives: July 2012
FTC Puts Conditions on Novartis AG’s Acquisition of Fougera Holdings, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission will require drug supplier Novartis AG to give up its marketing rights to four topical skin care medications, under a proposed settlement resolving charges that Novartis’ acquisition of pharmaceutical firm Fougera Holdings, Inc. would harm competition in the market for these topical drugs. The settlement order requires Novartis to end a […]
Statement by Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Ruling in the K-Dur 20 Matter
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz issued the following statement regarding a key ruling issued today by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit regarding patent settlements between branded and generic manufacturers of the high blood pressure medication K-Dur 20: “The Third Circuit Court of Appeals seems to have gotten […]
U.S. Court of Appeals Upholds FTC Opinion and Order in Polypore Matter
Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Edith Ramirez issued the following statement regarding this week’s ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which upheld the FTC’s Opinion and Order in the matter of Polypore International, Inc. “The U.S. Court of Appeals decision affirms that Polypore’s acquisition of Microporous was anticompetitive, and it ensures […]
FTC Urges Congress to Reauthorize SAFE WEB Act
The Federal Trade Commission today told a House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee that the U.S. SAFE WEB Act has enhanced the FTC’s ability to protect American consumers from cross-border fraud, and urged lawmakers to reauthorize the Act, which is due to expire in 2013. Delivering Commission testimony before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, […]
FTC Testimony Expresses Concern that Owners of “Standard-Essential” Patents May Obtain Injunctions Enabling Them to Hold Up Other Firms
The Federal Trade Commission expressed concern to Congress about the prospect that companies that own “standard-essential” patents which are subject to commitments to license on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms may be able to “hold up” other firms by obtaining an injunction or exclusion order blocking those firms’ products from the U.S. market. In Commission testimony […]
FTC Offers Consumers Tips on How to Respond to Unwanted Robocalls
Illegal pre-recorded “robocalls” are a growing annoyance for millions of American consumers and the target of an enforcement crackdown by the Federal Trade Commission. What should you do when you get one of these calls? Today, the FTC issued tips for consumers, as well as two new consumer education videos explaining robocalls and describing what […]
FTC Halts Deceptive Prepaid Calling Card Scheme Targeting Immigrants
The Federal Trade Commission halted the deceptive advertising claims of a company that markets prepaid phone cards by allegedly misrepresenting the number of calling minutes its cards provide, and failing to adequately disclose additional fees. The company agreed to temporarily stop making claims the FTC alleges are misleading, pending a trial in which the agency […]
FTC Halts Two Operations That Deceived ConsumersLooking for Help with Their Debts
The Federal Trade Commission halted two operations that deceived consumers who were looking for help dealing with their debts, including one firm that tricked people by impersonating federal government agencies. The two firms agreed to settlements with the FTC that ban them from the business of debt relief services. As part of its continuing crackdown […]
FTC Approves Amended Final Order Settling Charges that Teva’s Proposed Acquisition of Cephalon was Anticompetitive in Markets for Several Generic Drugs
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an amended final order settling charges that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.’s proposed acquisition of rival Cephalon, Inc. would have been anticompetitive in the markets for several current and future generic drugs. The final amended FTC order resolving the charges requires Teva to sell the […]