FTC Puts Conditions on Sun Pharmaceutical’s Proposed Acquisition of Ranbaxy

Pharmaceutical companies Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. have agreed to divest Ranbaxy’s interests in generic minocycline tablets  in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Sun’s $4 billion proposed acquisition of Ranbaxy would likely be anticompetitive. Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a global drug company based in India that markets generic drugs in […]

Funeral Home Settles FTC Charges It Violated the Funeral Rule

An Ohio funeral home operator has agreed to pay a civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges for violating the agency’s Funeral Rule, which requires funeral providers to provide information consumers need to compare prices and buy only the funeral services and goods they want. At the FTC’s request, the U.S. Attorney for the […]

In First FTC Cases Against Car Title Lenders, Companies Settle Charges They Deceptively Advertised the Cost of Their Loans

The Federal Trade Commission has taken action for the first time against two car title lenders, reaching settlements that will require them to stop their use of deceptive advertising to market title loans. A car title loan is typically a high cost, short-term loan, secured with the consumer’s car title. In administrative complaints issued against […]

Statement by FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez on Appellate Ruling in the POM Wonderful Matter

Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez issued the following statement in response to a ruling today by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit regarding the FTC’s deceptive advertising case against POM Wonderful, its parent company, and its principals. “Today’s decision by the D.C. Circuit is a victory for consumers. It […]

FTC Shuts Down Diploma Mill Operators

The principal owners of two Florida-based online diploma mills are permanently banned from marketing and selling academic degrees under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. Alexander Wolfram and IDM Services, LLC, and Maria Garcia have settled charges that they deceived consumers into enrolling in their programs by claiming they could obtain “official” and accredited high […]

Website Operator Banned from the ‘Revenge Porn’ Business After FTC Charges He Unfairly Posted Nude Photos

The operator of an alleged “revenge porn” website is banned from publicly sharing any more nude videos or photographs of people without their affirmative express consent, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. In addition, he will have to destroy the intimate images and personal contact information he collected while operating the site. The […]

FTC Concludes Review of AgeCheq’s Second Proposed COPPA Verifiable Parental Consent Method

Following a public comment period and review of AgeCheq, Inc.’s second proposed Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) Rule verifiable parental consent method, the Federal Trade Commission has denied the company’s application.  In its application, AgeCheq proposed a device-signed parental consent form as a method to obtain verifiable parental consent, consisting of a multi-step method requiring […]

Prepaid Mobile Provider TracFone to Pay $40 Million to Settle FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About ‘Unlimited’ Data Plans

Note: A conference call for media with FTC Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich will occur as follows: Date: January 28, 2015Time: 1:30 p.m. ET Call-in lines, which are for media only, will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. Director Rich and FTC staff will be available to take questions from the […]

Statement on Providing Banking Services

Corrected on February 12, 2015, to correct the telephone number for the FDIC’s Inspector General.   FIL-5-2015 January 28, 2015 Statement on Providing Banking Services Printable Format: FIL-5-2015 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: The FDIC is issuing this statement to encourage institutions to take a risk-based approach in assessing individual customer relationships rather than declining to […]

FTC Report on Internet of Things Urges Companies to Adopt Best Practices to Address Consumer Privacy and Security Risks

In a detailed report on the Internet of Things, released today, the staff of the Federal Trade Commission recommend a series of concrete steps that businesses can take to enhance and protect consumers’ privacy and security, as Americans start to reap the benefits from a growing world of Internet-connected devices. The Internet of Things is […]