The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 831 checks for $13.70 each to consumers who allegedly were charged an illegal advance fee for a CD-ROM with information about credit reporting and instructions that supposedly taught consumers how to repair their credit. In May 2012, third-party debt collector Luebke Baker & Associates, owner Kevin Luebke, and other […]
Monthly Archives: September 2012
Federal Trade Commission to Hold Phone-in Media Briefing on Final Changes to the Agency’s Green Marketing Guides
The Federal Trade Commission will announce final revisions to its “green” marketing guides on Monday, October 1, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. on the FTC’s website, followed by a phone-in media briefing at noon with Chairman Jon Leibowitz, who will discuss the updated Guides and answer reporters’ questions. The Green Guides help marketers avoid making deceptive […]
FTC and DOJ Sign Memorandum of Understanding With Indian Competition Authorities
U.S. and Indian officials who attended the signing of the memorandum of understanding included the following: First Row (right to left): Jon Leibowitz, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission; Ambassador Arun Singh, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Embassy of India; Dr. Ashok Chawla, Chairman, Competition Commission of India; Joe Wayland, Acting Assistant Attorney General, DOJ Antitrust Division. […]
FTC Sends Refunds to Victims of “Free” Goods and Services Telemarketing Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing refund checks to 138,737 consumers nationwide who allegedly were taken in by a group of telemarketers who falsely promised them “free” goods and services. In all, the FTC is returning more than $978,000 to consumers who lost money as part of the scheme. The refunds stem from settlements with […]
Biglari Holdings, Inc., to Pay $850,000 Penalty to Resolve FTC Allegations That it Violated U.S. Premerger Notification Requirements
Biglari Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded holding company, has agreed to pay $850,000 to resolve Federal Trade Commission allegations that it violated premerger reporting laws in connection with its 2011 acquisition of a stake in the restaurant operator Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. At the request of the FTC, the U.S. Department of Justice […]
FTC Halts Computer Spying
Seven rent-to-own companies and a software design firm have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they spied on consumers using computers that consumers rented from them, capturing screenshots of confidential and personal information, logging their computer keystrokes, and in some cases taking webcam pictures of people in their homes, all without notice to, […]
FTC And Justice Department Officials Meet with Chinese Antitrust Agencies Officials
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Justice Department Acting Assistant Attorney General Joseph Wayland participated in high-level meetings with officials from China’s three antitrust agencies – Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Vice Minister Gao Hucheng, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice Chairman Hu Zucai and State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) Vice Minister […]
FTC Releases Reports on Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
The amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion by the largest cigarette companies in the United States declined from $9.94 billion in 2008 to $8.53 billion in 2009, and again to $8.05 billion in 2010, according to a report released today by the Federal Trade Commission.The Commission has issued the Cigarette Report periodically since 1967, […]
FTC Closes Its Investigation Into Vivendi, S.A.’s Proposed Acquisition of EMI Recorded Music
The Federal Trade Commission has closed its nonpublic investigation of the proposed acquisition by Vivendi, S.A., parent company of Universal Music Group, of EMI Recorded Music without taking any action, and Bureau of Competition Director Richard Feinstein has issued a related statement. The Commission vote to close the investigation was 5-0. The closing letters to […]
FTC Finalizes Procedure Changes to Streamline Agency Investigative Processes and Keep Pace With Technology
The Federal Trade Commission today issued final changes to agency procedure that will streamline the FTC’s investigatory process, make updates to keep pace with electronic evidence discovery, and provide more detail on how the agency evaluates allegations of misconduct by attorneys practicing before the Commission. The changes concern the procedures in Parts 2 and 4 […]