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
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
In August 2024, I wrote about the Federal Trade Commission's then-new Consumer Review Rule (Adieu, Fake Revie(u)w), which is designed to preserve the authenticity of online reviews and prohibit companies from suppressing...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
In an unusual move, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reopened and set aside a previously finalized consent order against Rytr LLC, an AI-powered writing tool provider, nullifying the case against the company. ...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
On December 22, 2025, the FTC announced that it had sent letters to ten companies warning them of potential violations of the agency’s Consumer Review Rule....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
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
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
In a significant enforcement action, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Illinois Attorney General have reached a $20 million settlement with Leader Automotive Group and its Canadian parent company, AutoCanada, over...more
I admit that when I am looking online for restaurants, consumer products, and places to stay, I generally look at reviews and they influence my decision. However, there have been numerous reports that reviews are often fake...more
Our Consumer Protection/FTC Team breaks down the newly effective Federal Trade Commission final rule prohibiting misleading online reviews....more
The Federal Trade Commission (the FTC or the Commission) voted on August 14 to approve its Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (Final Rule). The Final Rule, which will be effective on October...more
On September 25, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced five administrative complaints and proposed orders involving companies that – according to the agency’s press release – have allegedly relied on artificial...more
In this post, the final part of our six-part series, we explore the nuances of the “teeth” of the FTC’s Final Rule on consumer reviews and testimonials—the money the FTC can recover for violations of the Final Rule....more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently announced a final rule that, among other things, prohibits the fabrication and manipulation of consumer reviews, testimonials, and the misuse of social media indicators in...more