FTC Staff: Missouri and New Jersey Should Repeal Their Prohibitions on Direct-to-Consumer Auto Sales by Manufacturers

Federal Trade Commission staff submitted written comments to Missouri State Representative Michael J. Colona and New Jersey State Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty in response to requests for comment on legislative proposals that would alter the ability of automobile manufacturers to sell their cars directly to consumers. The proposed Missouri bill would expand current prohibitions of […]

FTC Outlines Recommendations for Online Advertising In Testimony Before Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee

The Federal Trade Commission testified before Congress today on the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers from emerging threats related to online advertising, as well as the Commission’s recommendations in this area. Testifying on behalf of the Commission before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Maneesha Mithal, Associate […]

FTC Settlement Bans Pyramid Scheme Operators From Multi-Level Marketing

The operators of a Kentucky-based pyramid scheme, which enrolled more than 350,000 consumers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada in the last four years, have been banned from multi-level marketing under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and the states of Illinois, Kentucky and North Carolina. The settlement also requires the operators […]

FTC Announces Second Federal Register Notice with Revised Proposed Information Requests for Its Patent Assertion Entity Study; OMB Clearance Requested

The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it is issuing a second Federal Register notice (FRN) containing the revised proposed information requests for its study on patent assertion entities (PAEs) for clearance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The second FRN also calls for additional public comments as required by the Paperwork […]

FTC Approves Final Consent Orders Settling Charges that Companies Deceptively Claimed Their Genetically Modified Nutritional Supplements Could Treat Diseases

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved final consent orders settling charges that two marketers of genetically customized nutritional supplements deceptively advertised that their personalized nutritional supplements treat diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, insomnia, and other ailments. The orders also settle charges that the companies’ data security practices were lax. The Commission […]

FTC Sends Full Refunds to Consumers Duped by Marketers of Bogus ‘$10,000 Credit Line’

The FTC is mailing checks totaling over $3.7 million to 26,176 consumers whose bank accounts were debited without their consent by EDebitPay LLC, Dale Paul Cleveland and William Wilson. The defendants deceptively offered a $10,000 credit line that was really a membership to a website where consumers could buy goods. “The FTC strives to return […]

FTC Approves SCI Applications to Divest Assets as Required Under Order Settling Charges That Its Acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. Would Be Anticompetitive

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved applications by Service Corporation International (SCI) to divest certain funeral and cemetery assets, as required under the FTC’s December 2013 proposed order settling charges that SCI’s acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. would be anticompetitive.  In total, the proposed order requires the combined SCI/Stewart to […]

FTC Approves SCI’s Application to Divest Assets in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia to StoneMor L.P.

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application by Service Corporation International (SCI) to divest certain funeral and cemetery assets, as required under the FTC’s December 2013 proposed order settling charges that SCI’s acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. would be anticompetitive.  In total, the proposed order requires the combined SCI/Stewart […]

American Apparel Settles FTC Charge It Falsely Claimed to Comply with International Safe Harbor Privacy Framework

Clothing manufacturer American Apparel has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it falsely claimed it was abiding by an international privacy framework known as the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor that enables U.S. companies to transfer consumer data from the European Union to the United States in compliance with EU law. “The FTC is committed […]

FTC Approves Final Consent Settling Charges Nissan Frontier Truck Ad Was Deceptive

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved final consent orders settling charges that Nissan North America, Inc. and advertising agency TBWA Worldwide, Inc. deceptively advertised a Nissan Frontier truck pushing a dune buggy up a steep hill, something the truck actually cannot do. First announced in January 2014, the settlements prohibit […]