Podcast - FTC Consumer Review Rule Warning Letters Target a Digital Marketplace Cornerstone
The Trend of Threatening Physicians for Personal Gain
(Podcast) The Briefing – Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts
The Briefing – Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts
The FTC’s Proposed Rule Banning Deceptive Reviews and Testimonials
Negative Online Reviews and Reputation Management: Tips for Health Care Practices and Providers
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Advertising & Customer Engagement in the Digital Age - Customer Reviews and Response
How to Find the Identity of an Anonymous Author Online
II-36- Holiday Party Tips, the 2018/2019 Federal Regulatory Agenda, and Noteworthy Cases On Suing and Being Sued
On December 22, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced it had sent warning letters to 10 companies regarding possible violations under the Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule (“Rule”). Although recipients...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent warning letters to 10 unnamed companies for practices that may allegedly violate its new Consumer Review Rule. The letters flag potential use of fake or misleading reviews,...more
Cleaning cat litter can be a dirty business and, according to a new lawsuit, marketing litter boxes can be even dirtier. The maker of Meowant brand self-cleaning litter boxes filed a lawsuit against its rival PetPivot,...more
The Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General are aggressively investigating the use of fake or false consumer reviews and testimonials – including AI-generated reviews – on consumer review platforms like Google...more
Bah, humbug! Certain advertisers received a lump of coal in their stockings from FTC staff. Right before the holidays, the Commission issued warning letters to 10 companies alerting them of potential violations of the...more
n December, DWT's Washington, D.C., office hosted a luncheon in connection with the Financial Technology Association featuring guest speaker Chris Mufarrige, the current FTC Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. DWT...more
Companies would be wise to start the new year by reviewing their policies for compliance with the FTC Rule on Consumer Reviews & Testimonials, as warning letters sent by the Federal Trade Commission signal that this may be an...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to ten companies for alleged deceptive review practices, indicating its intent to step up enforcement of its relatively new Consumer Review Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 465)...more
On December 22, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced two actions relating to fake or false consumer reviews: 1. Issuance of a set of warning letters to companies that may be responsible for fake or false...more
Consumers often rely on reviews to help them choose between everything from home repair companies to apartments to lawyers. When those reviews reflect honest feedback from real people who have actually used a product or...more
The Commission’s Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials went into effect on October 21, 2024. The Rule addresses deceptive and unfair conduct involving consumer reviews and testimonials. You can review other...more
Do you sell goods or services online? Do you have customers in California? If so, you may be a target of claims under the “Yelp Law,” a statute residing at the intersection of good intentions and bad drafting....more
When the FTC proposed its consumer reviews and testimonials rule in 2023 (discussed here), it included a provision targeting so-called “review hijacking” — the practice of reusing reviews written for one product to promote a...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced a new action and proposed settlement with the telemedicine firm NextMed. The action, which may seem familiar to those who followed FTC advertising cases of years past,...more
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with NextMed parent company Southern Health Solutions, Inc., in response to allegations that the telemedicine platform offered deceptive claims and fake...more
Finalized last year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Final Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (the “Final Rule”) principally addresses the sale, purchase, and publication of fake online reviews and...more
The UK Government has issued important guidance on fake reviews, clarifying new obligations for businesses under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the “DMCC Act”)....more
The Federal Trade Commission is taking a hard look at marketing and advertising statements, making sure they are precise and accurate. Here are some key takeaways from recent enforcements:...more
On April 17, Montana enacted SB 488 (the “Act”) which amends the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to include false, misleading or otherwise deceptive consumer reviews or testimonials. The Act...more
FTC's Final Junk Fees Rule Narrowed in Scope - On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its final Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, commonly known as the "Junk Fees Rule." This final rule has a...more
The Final Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials was issued yesterday. It becomes effective 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register, which has not happened yet so no clock is...more
On June 30, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced a groundbreaking proposal to combat deceptive marketing practices involving fake reviews and endorsements. This proposed rule aims to protect consumers seeking...more
February 2023 has been a busy couple of months at the Federal Trade Commission. High-profile consumer protection actions and announcements span a broad spectrum of digital advertising and marketing. From “review hijacking,...more
The protection of consumers in the online environment has recently taken flight in the Netherlands and is currently a hot topic in this jurisdiction for consumer protection organizations. These organizations actively...more