For Your Information December 13, 2007 The Commission has approved the filing of a staff comment with the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) in response to its request for information concerning whether it should expand its current regulations prohibiting thrifts from engaging in specific unfair or deceptive acts and practices. The staff comment sets forth […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
Commission Approves Federal Register Notice Announcing Increase in the Ceiling on Allowable Charges Under Section 612(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
For Your Information December 12, 2007 The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice regarding the ceiling on allowable charges for certain disclosures under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). As detailed in the notice, the ceiling on allowable charges for certain disclosures under Section 612(f)(1)(A) of the FCRA will increase from […]
FTC Charges Milwaukee MLS with Illegally Restraining Competition
The Federal Trade Commission today charged Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (MLS), a group of real estate professionals based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with violating the antitrust laws by adopting rules that withheld valuable benefits of the multiple listing service it controls from consumers who chose to enter into non-traditional listing contracts with real estate brokers. The […]
FTC And Seven States Sue Payment Processor that Allegedly Took Millions from Consumers Bank Accounts on Behalf of Fraudulent Telemarketers and Internet-based Merchants
The Federal Trade Commission and seven state attorneys general have charged a payment processor with violating federal and state laws by debiting, or attempting to debit from consumers’ bank accounts on behalf of numerous fraudulent telemarketers and Internet-based merchants. The FTC and the attorneys general of Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and […]
FTC Announces Publication of Second Federal Register Notice and Comment Period on Survey of Information Sharing Practices with Affiliates
Section 214(e) of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act requires the Federal Trade Commission, the federal banking agencies, and the National Credit Union Administration to “jointly conduct regular studies of the consumer information sharing practices by financial institutions and other persons that are creditors or users of consumer reports with their affiliates.” The Federal […]
FTC Focuses Law Enforcement Lens on Unlawful Contact Lens Sales
Two marketers of non-corrective, cosmetic contact lenses have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated federal law by selling lenses without prescriptions. According to FTC complaints, BeWild, Inc. and its president, Brian Cohen, and Pretty Eyes, LLC and its owner, Christianne McNulty, have violated the FTC’s Contact Lens Rule and the FTC […]
Commission Approves Final Consent Orders in Matters of Kyphon, Inc. and Owens Corning
Commission approval of final consent orders: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Kyphon Inc.’s proposed acquisition of certain vertebral compression fracture repair system assets of Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies Ltd. and Discotech Orthopedic Technologies, Inc. The Commission vote approving the issuance of […]
Thomas B. Leary Named Recipient of 2007 Kirkpatrick Award
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today named former FTC Commissioner Thomas B. Leary the 2007 recipient of the Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award. Citing his significant contributions to the agency and its mission to protect consumers and encourage competition, Chairman Majoras said, “Today, we recognize the outstanding contributions of a very special lawyer who […]
Adult-Oriented Online Social Networking Operation Settles FTC Charges; Unwitting Consumers Pelted With Sexually Graphic Pop-Ups
An operation that foisted sexually explicit online pop-up ads on unwitting consumers has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the practice violated federal law. The settlement bars the defendant from displaying sexually explicit online ads to consumers who are not seeking out sexually explicit content. According to the FTC, AdultFriendFinder.com, which touts itself […]
FTC Offers Tutorial for Businesses on Protecting Personal Information
Protecting the personal information of customers, clients, and employees is good business. The Federal Trade Commission has a new online tutorial to alert businesses and other organizations to practical and low- or no-cost ways to keep data secure. The tutorial, “Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business,” at www.ftc.gov/infosecurity, takes a plain-language, interactive approach to […]