FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Honeywell’s Acquisition of Intermec was Anticompetitive in U.S. Market for Two-Dimensional Bar Code Scanners

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Honeywell International, Inc.’s acquisition of rival scan engine manufacturer Intermec Inc. was anticompetitive. The FTC’s complaint charged that the proposed acquisition would reduce competition in the U.S. market for two-dimensional (2D) bar code scanners. 2D scan engines are […]

FTC’s 2013 Report Finds U.S. Ethanol Market Remains Unconcentrated

The market for fuel ethanol in the United States is unconcentrated, with 156 firms nationwide either producing ethanol or likely to begin producing ethanol in the next 12 to 18 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2013 Report on the State of U.S. Ethanol Production. The lack of market concentration in this industry has […]

Two I Works Billing Scheme Marketers Agree to Settle FTC Charges

Two key players in the I Works scheme that allegedly took more than $275 million from consumers via deceptive “trial” memberships for bogus government-grant and money-making schemes have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated federal law. Bryce Payne and Kevin Pilon, along with Jeremy Johnson and seven others, were named in […]

FTC Settlement Bars Marketers from Using Deception to Sell Business Opportunities

The operators of a scheme to market a government insurance refund processing business are permanently prohibited from deceptive sales practices under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The case is one of the first actions the FTC brought under its updated Business Opportunity Rule, which requires business opportunity sellers to provide specific information on […]

FTC Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Changes to Wool Products Labeling Rules

In response to requests from stakeholders, the Federal Trade Commission has extended the deadline for the public to submit comments on proposed changes to its Wool Products Labeling Rules as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides.  The deadline to submit comments will be extended from November 25, 2013 to […]

FTC Announces National Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, Jan. 13-17, 2014

The Federal Trade Commission has named Jan. 13-17, 2014, Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. The FTC will host national and regional events designed to raise awareness about tax identity theft and provide consumers with tips on how to protect themselves, and what to do if they become victims. Accounting for more than 43 percent of […]

Final Six Defendants in ‘Rachel Robocall’ Scheme Settle FTC Charges

The final six of 10 defendants named in an alleged “Rachel from Cardholder Services” scam have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they misled consumers with bogus claims that they would lower their credit card interest rates. The FTC settlement bans Emory L. “Jack” Holley IV, Lisa Miller, and the remaining corporate defendants […]

Marketers Who Claimed Fuel Additive Could Drastically Increase Fuel Economy and Reduce Emissions Settle with FTC

Under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the marketers of a fuel additive called EnviroTabs will pay $800,000 for consumer redress and are prohibited from making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims that EnviroTabs, when added to any type of fuel, will increase fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and save consumers money. According to the FTC’s […]

FTC Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Patent Assertion Entity Study Through December 16, 2013

The Federal Trade Commission has extended the deadline for public comments on its proposed study of patent assertion entities (PAEs), which it announced on September 27.  To provide additional time for interested parties to submit comments on the proposed study, the deadline has been extended through December 16, 2013. The Commission will not consider requests […]

Mobile Crammers Settle FTC Charges of Unauthorized Billing

The operators of an Atlanta-based company have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that they crammed charges on consumers’ cell phone bills without their consent, causing more than $10 million in consumer injury. The two settlements, with Wise Media and its CEO, Brian M. Buckley, and Winston J. Deloney, permanently ban them from placing […]