The Federal Trade Commission closed its nine-month investigation into Tesoro Corporation’s acquisition of BP p.l.c.’s southern California marketing and refining assets, in particular BP’s Carson Refinery near Los Angeles. In a statement issued today, the Commission said the proposed acquisition is not likely to lessen competition substantially in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton […]
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Operators of Two Bogus Tech Support Schemes Settle FTC Charges
Two operators of alleged tech support scams have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission complaints and give up their ill-gotten gains. Mikael Marczak, doing business as Virtual PC Solutions, and Sanjay Agarwalla were among the subjects of a series of six complaints filed by the FTC last September as part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts […]
FTC Testifies on Fraud Against Older Americans
The Federal Trade Commission testified before a U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee about consumer protection issues facing older Americans, including the agency’s efforts to combat fraud and its education and outreach efforts to help seniors protect themselves. Testifying on behalf of the Commission, Acting Director Charles Harwood of the FTC’s Bureau of […]
FTC Sends Educational Letters to Businesses to Help Them Prepare for COPPA Update
As part of an ongoing effort to help businesses comply with the requirements of the updated Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, the Federal Trade Commission sent educational letters to more than 90 businesses that may be affected by the changes. The letters went to companies both in the U.S. and abroad whose online services, including […]
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Charlotte Pipe Products, Ltd. Acquisition of Star Pipes Cast Iron Soil Pipe Business Was Anticompetitive
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company’s 2010 purchase of Star Pipe Products, Inc.’s cast iron soil pipe (CISP) business was anticompetitive. The order prohibits Charlotte Pipe from enforcing a confidentiality and non-compete agreement with Star Pipe, requires Charlotte Pipe […]
Statement of FTC Bureau of Competition Director Richard A. Feinstein on the Temporary Restraining Order Issued in the Phoebe Putney/Palmyra Park Hospital Case
For Release May 15, 2013 The Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, Richard A. Feinstein, issued the following statement regarding today’s ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, which granted the FTC’s motion for a temporary restraining order in the case Federal Trade Commission et al v. […]
FTC Settlement Requires California Company to Halt Illegal Robocalls
A California company that provides voice-over-Internet “voice broadcasting” services has agreed to stop transmitting illegal robocalls to consumers to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). The company also will pay a $75,000 civil penalty as part of the settlement. A voice broadcaster is a company that uses computers […]
FTC Issues Annual Financial Acts Enforcement Letter to CFPB
The Federal Trade Commission has issued its annual letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on FTC enforcement and related activities regarding the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Consumer Leasing Act (CLA), Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), and Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). This year’s letter also discusses the Dodd-Frank Act, and the Commission’s […]
FTC Issues Modified Final Order Settling Charges that Western Digital’s Acquisition of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Was Anticompetitive in Market for Desktop Hard Disk Drives
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved and issued a modified final Decision and Order settling charges that Western Digital Corporation’s proposed acquisition of rival Hitachi Global Technologies Ltd. would have been anticompetitive in the market for hard disk drives used in desktop personal computers. The proposed order settling the FTC’s […]
Administrative Law Judge Dismisses Illegal Price-Setting Charges Against McWane, But Finds That It Illegally Excluded Competitors
In an Initial Decision announced today, Chief Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell dismissed charges in a Federal Trade Commission complaint that McWane Inc. — one of the largest U.S. suppliers of ductile iron pipe fittings (DIPF) used in municipal and regional water distribution systems — illegally conspired with its competitors to raise and stabilize […]