FTC Finalizes Amendments to the Premerger Notification Rules Related to the Withdrawal of HSR Filings

The Federal Trade Commission today issued final changes to its premerger rules to establish procedures for the withdrawal of a Hart Scott Rodino (HSR) premerger notification filing in certain circumstances. As part of the agency’s ongoing review of its rules and procedures to promote efficient government, the proposed rules accepted today formalize the long-standing position […]

Mortgage Broker Targeting U.S. Servicemembers Will Pay Record $7.5 Million to Settle Alleged Telemarketing Violations

10 Years of Do Not Call graphic (click to view full-size) Mortgage Investors Corporation, one of the nation’s leading refinancers of veterans’ home loans, will pay a $7.5 million civil penalty, the largest fine the FTC has ever collected for allegedly violating Do Not Call provisions of the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). This case […]

Statement of FTC Competition Director Richard Feinstein on Today’s Announcement by Capella Healthcare That it Will Abandon its Plan to Acquire Mercy Hot Springs

Richard Feinstein, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, issued the following statement today regarding the announcement by Capella Healthcare that it is abandoning its plans to acquire rival Mercy Hot Springs health system in Hot Springs, Arkansas. “The fact that this acquisition will not proceed is a victory for local businesses and […]

FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Irish Privacy Enforcement Agency

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ireland’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner today to promote increased cooperation and communication between the two agencies in their efforts to protect consumer privacy.  The MOU was signed by FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes.  It is […]

FTC Settlements Ban Defendants from Selling Work-at-Home Businesses

The operators of a scheme that allegedly defrauded consumers who were trying to start their own online businesses have been permanently banned from selling work-at-home business opportunities under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. The seven settlements resolve FTC charges against 20 corporate and individual defendants who falsely told consumers they would build and host […]

FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Victimized by Landmark Clearing Inc.

Thousands of consumers scammed out of their money will get some of it back, thanks to a lawsuit and settlement secured by the Federal Trade Commission.  The FTC has mailed 9,566 refund checks to consumers whose bank accounts were debited, allegedly without their consent, by Texas-based payment processor Landmark Clearing Inc. – more than $577,000 […]

FTC Consumer Protection Staff Updates Agency’s Guidance to Search Engine Industry on the Need to Distinguish Between Advertisements and Search Results

In an ongoing effort to ensure that its guidance for online advertisers stays current with changes in digital media, the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer protection staff sent letters to search engine companies to update guidance published in 2002 on distinguishing paid search results and other forms of advertising from natural search results. The letters note […]

Statement of FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Polypore International, Inc. v. FTC

Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez issued the following statement regarding today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Polypore International, Inc. v. FTC.  In the decision, the Court declined to consider a July 2012 U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that found Polypore’s acquisition of rival battery component maker Microporous was anticompetitive and ordered its […]

FTC Expands Its Case Against Alleged Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Scam

The Federal Trade Commission continued its crackdown on credit card rate reduction scams by adding eight new defendants to a case the agency brought last year, including a payment processor it alleges assisted in the fraud. The FTC filed an amended complaint against the defendants behind the firm Treasure Your Success (TYS), which allegedly made […]

Investment Firm of MacAndrews & Forbes to Pay $720,000 Penalty to Resolve FTC Allegations Related to Premerger Filing Requirements

The investment firm of MacAndrews & Forbes has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the agency’s premerger filing requirements, and will pay a $720,000 civil penalty. The Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act requires that parties notify the FTC and the Department of Justice of most large acquisitions. After doing so, parties must observe […]