On October 16, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced the final FTC “Click-to-Cancel” Rule pertaining to recurring subscriptions and memberships.
The Federal Trade Commission is not the only regulatory agency that...more
On October 16, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced a final “click-to-cancel” rule that will require sellers to make it as easy for consumers to cancel their enrollment as it was to sign-up. Most of the final rule’s...more
10/21/2024
/ Automatic Renewals ,
Cancellation Rights ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Consent ,
Consumer Contracts ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Final Rules ,
Goods or Services ,
Informed Consent ,
Misleading Statements ,
Misrepresentation ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Redress Payments ,
Subscription Services ,
Terms and Conditions
As previously blogged about here, following notices of proposed rulemaking in 2022 and 2023, on August 22, 2024 the Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule that will impose monetary civil penalties false and misleading...more
10/3/2024
/ Advertising ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Celebrity Endorsements ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compensation ,
Compliance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Fake Reviews ,
False Advertising ,
False Statements ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Final Rules ,
FTC Act ,
FTC Endorsement Guidelines ,
Influencers ,
Marketing ,
Misleading Statements ,
Misrepresentation ,
Ratings ,
Social Media ,
Testimonial Statements
On August 14, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced a Final Rule combatting bogus consumer reviews and testimonials by prohibiting their sale or purchase. The Rule allows FTC lawyers to strengthen enforcement, seek...more
8/14/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Compensation ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Deceptive Intent ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fake Reviews ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Bans ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FTC Act ,
Incentives ,
Misrepresentation ,
Penalties ,
Social Media ,
Solicitation ,
Testimonial Statements
On July 2, 2024 the Federal Trade Commission announced that it initiated action against online used car dealer Vroom for allegedly misrepresenting that it thoroughly examined all vehicles before listing them for sale and...more
On July 2, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is taking action against a gig work company for allegedly misleading consumers about the money they could make on the company’s platform and marketing its...more
7/11/2024
/ Business Opportunity Laws ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Misconduct ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Gig Economy ,
Misleading Statements ,
Popular ,
Settlement ,
Unfair Labor Practices
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule requires operators of websites and online services that are directed to children under 13 years of age, or that have “actual knowledge” they are collecting personal information...more
12/29/2023
/ Advertising ,
Advertising to Minors ,
Audio Recording ,
Biometric Information ,
Consent ,
COPPA ,
Data Collection ,
Data Deletion ,
Data Retention ,
Data Security ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Facial Recognition Technology ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
Notice Requirements ,
Parental Consent ,
Personal Information ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Remedial Actions ,
Third-Party
On October 11, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced a new proposed rule to prohibit “junk fees,” which the FTC states are hidden and bogus fees that can harm consumers and undercut honest businesses.
FTC...more
10/16/2023
/ Advertising ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
FCC ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
Hidden Fees ,
Hotels ,
HUD ,
Price Comparisons ,
Proposed Rules ,
Subscription Services ,
Transparency ,
Utilities Sector
The Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides were first enacted in 1980 and amended in 2009. The Guides provide guidance to businesses and others to ensure that advertising using endorsements or testimonials is...more
7/3/2023
/ Advertising ,
AMG Capital Management LLC v FTC ,
Bureau of Consumer Protection ,
Child Safety ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Endorsements ,
Enforcement ,
Fake Reviews ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Guidance Update ,
Incentives ,
Influencers ,
Investigations ,
New Guidance ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
Online Reviews ,
Penalties ,
Proposed Rules ,
SCOTUS ,
Social Media ,
Targeted Digital Advertising ,
Testimonial Statements
In April 2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced a number of consumer protection actions and inquiries involving an important U.S. Supreme Court Ruling regarding the ability of defendants in FTC and SEC actions to raise...more
4/24/2023
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Advertising Substantiation ,
Automatic Renewals ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Counterfeiting ,
Credit Cards ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Dietary Supplements ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Homeopathic Remedies ,
Investigations ,
Misleading Statements ,
Opioid ,
Over The Counter Drugs (OTC) ,
Penalties ,
Robocalling ,
Rulemaking Process ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Social Media ,
Subscription Services ,
Targeted Digital Advertising ,
Telemarketing ,
VoIP
The Federal Trade Commission recently announced a proposed a “click to cancel” provision requiring sellers to make it as simple for consumers to cancel their enrollment as it was to enroll.
According to the FTC, if...more
The Business Opportunity Rule (“Biz Opp Rule”) was first adopted in 2012. It applies to commercial arrangements where a seller solicits a prospective buyer to enter into a new business, the prospective purchaser makes a...more
1/10/2023
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Business Opportunities ,
Buyers ,
Compliance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
E-Commerce ,
Endorsements ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Investment ,
Penalties ,
Remote Working ,
Risk Assessment ,
Sellers ,
Testimonial Statements ,
Truth in Advertising
In December 2022, the the Federal Trade Commission published new guidance regarding representations about the benefits and safety of health-related products: Health Products Compliance Guidance. Federal Trade Commission...more
12/23/2022
/ Advertising Substantiation ,
Clinical Trials ,
Compliance ,
Deceptively Misdescriptive ,
Diagnostic Tests ,
Dietary Supplements ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
DSHEA ,
Enforcement ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
FTC Act ,
Homeopathic Remedies ,
Liability ,
Misleading Statements ,
Mobile Apps ,
New Guidance ,
Over The Counter Drugs (OTC) ,
Safe Harbors
On December 6, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation intended to crack down on unwanted telemarketing calls.
Legislation (S.8450-B/A.8319-C) requires telemarketers to give customers the option to...more
The FTC continues to issue Notices of Penalty Offenses concerning FTC Endorsement Guide violations to digital advertisers and marketers, both alone and in conjunction with the issuance of FTC Civil Investigative Demands....more
12/9/2022
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Advertising ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fake Reviews ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fraud ,
FTC Act ,
FTC Endorsement Guidelines ,
SCOTUS ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
The comment period on the FTC’s proposed rule regarding the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising ended September 26, 2022.
The Request for Comment approved by the Federal Trade Commission in May 2022 sought...more
9/27/2022
/ Advertising ,
Credibility ,
Deceptive Intent ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Endorsements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fake Reviews ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
FTC Endorsement Guidelines ,
Liability ,
Misrepresentation ,
Online Reviews ,
Penalties ,
Proposed Rules ,
Social Media ,
Testimonial Statements