The Federal Trade Commission is modernizing the process for filing agreements under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization, and Improvements Act of 2003, or MMA, by requiring electronic filing instead of hard-copy submission. Starting June 17, 2019, MMA filings should be submitted to both the FTC at [email protected] and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC Submits Comment on Proposed Information Blocking Rule to the Department of Health & Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
The Federal Trade Commission staff has submitted a comment to the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, or ONC, regarding ONC’s proposed rule on “information blocking.” Recognizing that Congress sought to foster greater interoperability between electronic health records systems and the productive flow of electronic health […]
FTC Approves Proposal Rescinding Nursery Guides
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a proposal to rescind its Guides for the Nursery Industry because they no longer appear necessary and thus serve little purpose for industry or consumers. Issued in 1979, the Guides address sales practices for outdoor plants, including deceptive advertising claims regarding quantity, size, grade, […]
FTC Announces Two Actions Enforcing the Consumer Review Fairness Act
The Federal Trade Commission has issued two administrative complaints and proposed orders enforcing the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA), which prohibits businesses from using form contract terms that bar consumers from writing or posting negative reviews online, or that impose financial penalties for doing so. In settling the Commission’s complaints, two companies, one that rented […]
Online Marketers Barred from Deceptive “Free Trial” Offers, Unauthorized Billing
The operators of a worldwide negative option scam have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceptively advertised “risk-free” trial offers for only the cost of shipping and handling, but then charged consumers full price for the trial product and enrolled them in expensive, ongoing continuity plans without their knowledge or consent. The […]
FTC Adds Latvian Financial Institution, CEO to Case against Apex Capital Group
The Federal Trade Commission filed an amended complaint in federal district court in a case alleging a multi-national scheme to defraud consumers via deceptive “free trial” offers and negative-option continuity plans. The amended complaint names a Latvian financial institution and its CEO as additional defendants, alleging they participated in the scheme by processing $40 million […]
FTC Announces Agenda for the 14th and Final Session of Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century
The Federal Trade Commission announced the agenda for the 14th session of its Hearings Initiative. This session, at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska on June 12, 2019, will conclude the FTC’s Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. The morning session will include a series of roundtable discussions with State Attorneys General on […]
Ringleader of Student Loan Debt Relief Scheme Liable for $11 Million in Settlement of FTC Charges
The ringleader of a California-based student loan debt relief scheme has agreed to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s charges that he bilked $11 million from consumers who were trying to reduce their student loan monthly payments or get loan forgiveness. Under the modified court order, recidivist scammer Tuan Duong admits he violated the 2016 order […]
Hurricane Season Begins June 1
The Federal Trade Commission has free information to help people prepare for, deal with, and recover from extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. The mobile-friendly website, ftc.gov/weatheremergencies, has four sections: The site also provides Picking Up the Pieces after a Disaster, a customizable one-page handout, which includes key tips for consumers […]
FTC Approves Final Order Imposing Conditions on Merger of Titanium Dioxide Companies Tronox Limited and Cristal
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that the acquisition by Tronox Limited of competitor Cristal would violate the antitrust laws by significantly reducing competition for chloride process titanium dioxide in the United States and Canada. According to the complaint, which was first announced in December 2017, […]