The Federal Trade Commission is adjusting three monetary exemption thresholds for inflation in its Franchise Rule. The thresholds are used to determine whether the sale of a franchise qualifies for an exemption from the Rule. The Rule requires franchisors to disclose key information prospective buyers need to evaluate the risks and benefits of investing in […]
Monthly Archives: May 2016
Incentive-Based Compensation Arrangements
FIL-34-2016 May 16, 2016 Incentive-Based Compensation Arrangements Interagency Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Printable Format: FIL-34-2016 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: On April 26, 2016, the FDIC Board of Directors approved a second joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) to implement Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The […]
FTC Issues Warning Letters Regarding Agency’s Eyeglass Rule
Federal Trade Commission staff has sent 38 letters to eyeglass prescribers warning them of potential violations of the agency’s Ophthalmic Practice Rules, known as the Eyeglass Rule, which ensures consumers the right to comparison shop for prescription eyeglasses. The Rule requires prescribers to provide patients with a copy of their eyeglass prescription immediately after an […]
FTC Requires Industrial Gas Suppliers to Divest Assets as a Condition of Merger
Two of the largest suppliers of gases, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. and Airgas, Inc., have agreed to divest certain production and distribution assets to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their proposed $13.4 billion merger likely would have harmed competition and led to higher prices in several U.S. and regional markets. The companies will […]
Statement from Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition Director on the Court Ruling Granting a Preliminary Injunction in the Staples/Office Depot Merger
Statement from Bureau of Competition Director Debbie Feinstein: “Today’s court ruling is great news for business customers in the office supply market. This deal would eliminate head-to-head competition between Staples and Office Depot and likely lead to higher prices and lower quality service for large businesses that buy office supplies.” The Federal Trade Commission works to […]
FTC Testifies on Its Privacy Protection Efforts at Hearing Examining Proposed FCC Rules
In testimony before Congress today, the Federal Trade Commission outlined its work over the past 40 years to protect consumers’ privacy at a hearing convened to examine privacy rules proposed by the Federal Communications Commission. Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen testified on behalf of the Commission. The testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s […]
FTC Approves Final Order in Vulcun Deceptive App Installation Case
After a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order resolving the Commission’s complaint against Vulcun alleging that the company unfairly replaced a popular web browser game with a program that installed applications on consumers’ mobile devices without their permission. The settlement was first announced in February 2016. In its complaint, […]
New FTC Business Guidance for Employment Background Screening Companies Helps With FCRA Compliance
The Federal Trade Commission has created new guidance for businesses aimed at giving employment background screening companies information on how to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The guidance helps companies understand when their work defines them as a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA. Consumer reporting agencies must meet a number of […]
FTC Returns $1.87 Million to Consumers Harmed by Debt Relief Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,630 checks totaling nearly $1.87 million to consumers who lost money to an illegal telemarketing operation, known as Expense Management America, that charged homeowners an up-front fee for debt and mortgage relief services it never provided. Since bringing its action against the Canada-based scheme in September 2012, the FTC […]
Debt Collector Settles FTC Charges It Violated Fair Credit Reporting Act
A Texas-based debt collection agency will pay $72,000 in civil penalties and be required to adopt new procedures to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FTC’s complaint alleges that Credit Protection Association (CPA) failed to follow the requirements of the FCRA’s Furnisher Rule […]