FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges Against Snapchat

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Snapchat deceived consumers with promises about the disappearing nature of messages sent through the service. According to the FTC’s complaint, which was first announced in May, 2014, Snapchat also deceived consumers over the amount of personal data it collected […]

New FTC Video Advises Computer Users to Back Up Digital Files

What’s worse than losing all the photos and important files on your computer? Knowing you could have prevented it. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, advises consumers that a wise resolution for the New Year is to back up your digital life. Maybe you just got a new computer over the holidays, […]

FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Competition in Ambulatory Surgery Center Market

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission approved a final order settling charges that the $792 million proposed acquisition of Symbion Holdings Corporation by Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., would likely be anticompetitive.   Under the order, Surgery Center Holdings, known as Surgery Partners, agrees to divest Symbion’s ownership in the Blue Springs Surgery […]

To Settle FTC Charges, Two Trade Associations Agree to Eliminate Rules that Restrict Competition

An association representing electricians and another representing skating teachers have agreed, in two separately settled actions, to eliminate provisions in their bylaws that the Federal Trade Commission charged limit competition among each association’s members. The settlements with the not-for-profit Professional Lighting and Sign Management Companies of America, Inc. (PLASMA) and Professional Skaters Association are the […]

FTC Halts Texas Auto Dealer’s Deceptive Ads

An auto dealer in suburban Dallas has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it used deceptive ads to promote the sale and lease of its vehicles, including an ad that claimed consumers could get out of their current loan or lease for $1. According to the complaint, false or deceptive ads from TXVT […]

FTC Requests Public Comment on Merck & Co., Inc.’s Application to Approve Sale of Facilities for Manufacturing Heartgard and Heartgard Plus Heartworm Treatments for Dogs

The Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting public comments on an application by Merck & Co., Inc. to sell assets and properties in Puerto Rico it uses to manufacture Heartgard and Heartgard Plus to  Merial Barceloneta LLC, a subsidiary of Merial Inc. The sale requires the prior approval of the Commission under the FTC’s October […]

Marketers Settle FTC Charges That They Used Deceptive Ads In Promoting Products for Mole and Wart Removal, Anti-Aging and Weight Loss

Two companies that market skin care and weight-loss products must stop making false or unsubstantiated deceptive claims about their products, under settlements resolving charges in two separate cases brought by the Federal Trade Commission. In one case, the FTC challenged ads for DermaTend, a skin cream that was promoted for do-it-yourself removal of moles, skin […]

FTC Charges Data Broker with Facilitating the Theft of Millions of Dollars from Consumers’ Accounts

A data broker operation sold the sensitive personal information of hundreds of thousands of consumers – including Social Security and bank account numbers – to scammers who allegedly debited millions from their accounts, the Federal Trade Commission charged in a complaint filed today. According to the FTC’s complaint, data broker LeapLab bought payday loan applications […]

FTC Puts Conditions on Eli Lilly’s Proposed Acquisition of Novartis Animal Health

Global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company has agreed to divest its Sentinel product line of medications for treating heartworm disease in dogs in order to settle FTC charges that its proposed $5.4 billion acquisition of Novartis Animal Health would likely be anticompetitive. Under the proposed settlement, Eli Lilly will divest its Sentinel product line […]

FTC and Florida Close the Book on Fraudulent Business Directory Schemes

The defendants in two online business directory schemes, one based in Montreal, the other in Oklahoma City, have been banned from the business directory business under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. Both operations were charged with defrauding small businesses and nonprofits by charging them for online business directory listings they had not ordered or […]