Star Pipe Products, Ltd., a supplier of ductile iron pipe fittings, will pay $120,000 in civil penalties to resolve Federal Trade Commission allegations that it violated a 2012 Commission order prohibiting it from sharing competitively sensitive information. It also has agreed to an order modification that adds training and notification obligations to prevent future violations. […]
Monthly Archives: April 2016
FTC Consumer Protection Director Submits Comment on Privacy Enforcement Implications of FCC’s Proposed Set-Top Box Rulemaking
Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich filed a comment today with the Federal Communications Commission regarding the FCC’s proposed rulemaking to expand the commercial availability of television set-top boxes for consumers. In her comment, Rich recommends that if the FCC proceeds with the rulemaking, it should modify the proposed rule to […]
Testimony on Continued Oversight of the SEC’s Offices and Divisions
Before The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, Washington, D.C. Chairman Garrett, Ranking Member Maloney, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for your invitation to testify on behalf of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) about the responsibilities and recent activities […]
FTC Changes Start Times for Fall Tech Series Events
The Federal Trade Commission has updated the start times for its upcoming Fall Technology Series events. All three seminars will now begin at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The series of half-day seminars this fall will examine three new and evolving technologies that are raising critical consumer protection issues. The topics will include: Ransomware – Sept. […]
Relief Defendant in FTC Cramming Case Settles Charges
A purported nonprofit that allegedly benefitted from a massive landline phone bill cramming operation has agreed to turn over most of its assets in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. Under the terms of the settlement, relief defendant Bibliologic, Ltd., will be required to surrender nearly all of its assets, which the FTC alleges […]
FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Changes to Hobby Protection Rules
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to its Hobby Protection Rules. In 2014, as part of its systematic review of all FTC rules and guides, the FTC sought public comment on the Hobby Protection Rules (formally, the “Rules and Regulations Under the Hobby Protection Act”) that regulate the marking of […]
Marketers of Indoor Tanning Systems to Pay Refunds to Consumers
The Illinois-based marketers of Mercola-brand indoor tanning systems will pay refunds to consumers and will be permanently banned from marketing or selling indoor tanning systems, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. In the FTC’s complaint, which was filed in federal court, the Commission charged that Dr. Joseph Mercola and his two companies ran […]
FTC To Host Financial Technology Forum on Marketplace Lending
The Federal Trade Commission will host a forum on June 9 exploring the growing world of marketplace lending and its implications for consumers. This forum is the first in a series of FTC events looking at consumer protection across different areas of emerging financial technology. Marketplace lending is a developing and fast-growing sector offering new […]
FTC and Justice Department Officials Meet with Officials of Chinese Antitrust Agencies
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division participated in high level bilateral meetings with officials responsible for China’s three anti-monopoly agencies – National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice Minister Hu Zucai, Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Assistant Minister Tong Daochi, and State […]
Testimony on the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Before the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Committee on Appropriations United States Senate Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Coons, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me to testify today in support of the President’s fiscal year 2017 budget request for the Securities and Exchange Commission.[1] At the outset, I want […]