FTC Requires International Industrial Gas Suppliers Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG to Divest Assets in Nine Industrial Gas Markets as a Condition of Merger

The Federal Trade Commission will require industrial gas suppliers Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG to divest assets in nine industrial gases product markets in numerous geographic markets in the United States, as part of a settlement that resolves charges that their proposed $80 billion merger likely would be anticompetitive. The products at issue The complaint […]

FTC Announces Kick-off of First Annual International Charity Fraud Awareness Week

The Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of State Charities Officials, and state charities regulators across the country are announcing the first annual International Charity Fraud Awareness Week (ICFAW), between October 22 and 26, 2018. ICFAW is a coordinated international campaign to help charities and consumers avoid charity fraud and promote wise giving. Consumers can […]

FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century Continue with Discussion of Innovation and IP Policy

WHAT: The Federal Trade Commission will host the fourth session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. WHEN: Tuesday, October 23 and Wednesday, October 24, beginning at 9 a.m. each day. WHERE: FTC’s Constitution Center Auditorium400 7th St. SW, Washington, DC 20024 WHO: Drew Hirshfeld, Commissioner for Patents for the […]

Cybersecurity Preparedness Resource

FIL-63-2018 October 19, 2018 Cybersecurity Preparedness Resource Printable Format: FIL-63-2018 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: As part of the FDIC’s Community Banking Initiative, the agency is adding to its cybersecurity awareness resources for financial institutions. This includes two new vignettes for the Cyber Challenge, which consists of exercises that are intended to encourage discussions of […]

FTC Releases Staff Perspective Examining Informational Injuries

Staff of the Federal Trade Commission released a new paper today outlining key takeaways from a December 12, 2017 workshop examining injuries consumers may suffer from privacy and security incidents. According to the Staff Perspective on the Informational Injury Workshop, participants discussed examples of harm that consumers have suffered as a result of such incidents, […]

FTC Launches National Campaign with Resources to Assist Small Businesses with Cybersecurity

Today, the Federal Trade Commission, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Small Business Administration (SBA), launched a national education campaign to help small business owners understand common cyber threats and how they can help protect their businesses. The campaign grew out of a […]

FTC Stops Deceptive Health Claims by a Stem Cell Therapy Clinic

A California-based physician and the two companies he controls have settled charges of deceptively advertising that “amniotic stem cell therapy” can treat serious diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, autism, macular degeneration, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and heart attacks. The settlement prohibits the defendants from making these and other health claims in the future unless the claims […]

FTC Details Efforts to Protect Older Consumers in Report to Congress

A new report released today by the Federal Trade Commission details the agency’s comprehensive efforts to protect older consumers from fraud, identity theft, and other problems in the marketplace. The report, Protecting Older Consumers 2017-2018: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission, outlines the FTC’s research, law enforcement, and education efforts aimed at protecting older […]

Appraisal Regulations

FIL-62-2018 October 16, 2018 Appraisal Regulations Frequently Asked Questions Printable Format: FIL-62-2018 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: The federal banking agencies (the Agencies) are issuing the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on appraisal and evaluation functions. This document was developed in response to recent questions about the agencies’ real estate appraisal regulations and guidelines and […]

American Immigration Center Settles with FTC on Government Imposter Allegations

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint today against defendants Forms Direct, Inc., also known as American Immigration Center, and owner Cesare Alessandrini, alleging that they falsely implied that their websites were affiliated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The defendants allegedly used such deception since 2010 to sell immigration form preparation services to […]