Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces and investigates (Civil Investigative Demands) fraudulent, unfair and deceptive practices, as well as anticompetitive marketplace conduct. It possesses investigative authority pursuant to Sections 6, 9 and 20 of the FTC Act. Following an investigation, the FTC may initiate a consumer protection or antitrust enforcement action. The basic consumer protection statute enforced by the FTC is Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. Consumer protection laws are enforced by the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Antitrust laws are enforced by the Bureau of Competition.
FTC Explores Environmental Claims and Pending Civil Penalty Implementing Rulemakings
On May 23, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission hosted a national workshop designed to consider the current state of recycling practices and recycling-related advertising. This follows an FTC announcement in December 2022 that the agency was seeking public comment on potential updates and changes to its ‘Green Guides’ for the use of environment marketing claims. …
Read Article...FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Could be Existential Threat to Lead Generation Industry
The FCC recently proposed a rule that would turn the lead generation on its head. The proposed new rule goes quite a bit further than simply requiring wireless carriers to block texts from illegitimate numbers. See more, here. In addition to carrier investigation and blocking obligations, as well as an extension of DNC protections to text messages,…
Read Article...Richard B. Newman Selected to Author Consumer Protection Section of ALM FTC Law, Practice and Procedure Treatise
As a result of the firm’s demonstrated subject matter expertise and track record of success in the fields of FTC advertising compliance, investigations and defense, Richard B. Newman has been selected to assume authorship of the Consumer Protection Section of the American Lawyer Media International Federal Trade Commission: Law, Practice and Procedure Treatise, a comprehensive…
Read Article...Richard Newman Quoted by Law.com on FTC’s First “Review Hijacking” Action
FTC advertising compliance and defense lawyer Richard B. Newman was recently quoted in an article for Law.com titled “FTC Bags First Settlement in Probe of ‘Review Hijacking’ in E-Commerce.” The article discusses the FTC’s first case alleging “review hijacking,” in which a marketer steals or repurposes reviews of another product. The case involves a marketer…
Read Article...National Advertising Division Inquiry Into ‘Easy Cancelation’ Claims
The U.S. advertising industry founded the National Advertising Division (NAD) and the National Advertising Review Board as a a system of independent industry self-regulation to build consumer trust in advertising and support fair competition in the marketplace. NAD holds national advertising across all media types to high standards of truth and accuracy by reviewing truth-in-advertising…
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