CFPB Warns of Manipulation in Digital Comparison Shopping Tools
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: Credit Card and Other Rewards Programs in the Crosshairs
The FTC and Connecticut Join Forces for Action Against Nissan Dealer
The CARS Rule — Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast
Podcast - Part 2: An FTC Official Speaks About the Regulation of AI Technology
State AG Pulse | Never Say Never to Federal Privacy Legislation
An FTC Official Speaks About the Regulation of AI Technology
AD Nauseam: A Different Type of Imposter Syndrome
Ad Law Tool Kit Show – Episode 11 – State Attorney General Investigations
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: The Federal Trade Commission: Looking Back at 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024 and Beyond
The FTC Takes Initiative to Stop Junk Fees
Analyzing the CFPB's Stance on Comparison Shopping and Lead Generation Websites — The Consumer Finance Podcast
10 Key Trade Developments: Trade Remedy Cases
California’s New Privacy Enforcement "Sweep"
Ad Law Tool Kit Show – Episode 5 – Surviving an FTC Investigation
Status of the DOJ's Combatting Redlining Initiative — The Consumer Finance Podcast
AD Nauseam: Testimonials and Endorsements – How Many Disclosures is Too Many
The FTC Announces Three Important Developments
The FTC Takes Action Against the Amazon Prime Program
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: The Biden Admin “Junk Fees” Initiative Continues: What the Latest Actions Mean for the Consumer Financial Services and Rental Housing Industries, Pt 1
In October 2023, California passed SB 478, an amendment to the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), known as the “Honest Pricing Law” or “Hidden Fees” statute. SB 478 is a broad “all-in” price transparency law that impacts...more
Late last week, the California attorney general released Frequently Asked Questions regarding California’s “Honest Pricing Law” or “Hidden Fees Statute,” which will take effect July 1, 2024. The law is anticipated to have a...more
On 6 March 2024, the EU published directive 2024/825/EU, intended to bolster consumer rights in the face of environmental challenges. The directive seeks to clarify companies’ liability concerning information obligations...more
The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on Florida-based EXOTOUSA LLC d/b/a Old Southern Brass and its owner (collectively, “OSB”) for deceptive claims regarding the origin of its products and its alleged financial...more
We ended last month’s update noting that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had finalized its Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Rule. Shortly following the Final Rule’s publication, the National Automobile Dealers...more
FCC Requests Comment on CPNI/SIM Change Authentication Item: In this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) seeks comment on whether to harmonize the existing...more
Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief and dissolution of several limited liability companies owned by John and Michele Church. The Churches’ companies have allegedly violated the...more
While the federal government’s campaign against hidden “junk” fees intensifies, state attorneys general (AGs) have long been contesting concealed costs as unfair or deceptive — especially in the absence of sufficient...more
On November 28, Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Campbell reached an $8.75 million settlement with Rent-A-Center (RAC), the nation’s largest rent-to-own company specializing in consumer goods leases. The settlement aimed...more
The big regulatory news out of the FTC in October is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, or as the Commission calls them, “Junk Fees.” As we explain in more detail in our article on the Proposed...more
On October 11, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a new “Rule on Unfair and Deceptive Fees” — popularly referred to as the “junk fee” rule. The new rule, which will be...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a new proposed trade regulation rule that would make it an unfair and deceptive practice to misrepresent the total costs of goods and services by omitting mandatory fees from...more
As part of the White House’s latest round of efforts targeting so-called “junk fees,” the Federal Trade Commission has issued a proposed rule, “Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.” The proposal follows the FTC’s issuance in...more
Thank you for reading the July 2023 issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to Market® newsletter. This month, we continue our three-part series that closely examines ways to lose trademark rights with a discussion of genericide. We...more
This article is a brief summary of a recent update to the California Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act regarding express warranties and its impact on business entities....more
The Competition Bureau published its sixth volume of the Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest on April 17. The latest edition looks at the use of fake scarcity cues in online marketplaces and provides an update on drip...more
On March 23, the FTC announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the agency’s Negative Option Rule, which is used to combat unfair or deceptive practices related to...more
On January 13, the FTC announced an action against an investment advisor and its owners concerning allegations that the defendants made deceptive claims when selling their services to consumers. ...more
Two federal price gouging bills were recently introduced in Congress. Senator Elizabeth Warren led the introduction of the Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2022. The bill prohibits “unconscionably excessive price[s]” at any...more
On April 28, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a press release announcing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public comment on possible changes to...more
Washington AG Robert Ferguson has filed lawsuits against two connected companies, Labor Poster Compliance, LLC, CA Certificate Service, LLC., and their individual owners (collectively, “Defendants”), alleging they posed as a...more
With the Biden administration ramping up scrutiny on supply chains and pricing practices, businesses should take a moment to revisit their COVID-19 price gouging compliance. As we’ve previously highlighted, risk management...more
The DTPA in Texas - Texas law prohibits businesses from engaging in deceptive trade practices. The Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (“DTPA”), enacted in 1973 and codified in the Texas Business and Commerce...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement with MyLife.com, Inc., an online seller of consumer background reports, which bans MyLife from engaging in deceptive negative option...more
In an interview on All In with Chris Hayes in January, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., claimed that a factor causing the high prices facing U.S. consumers is “giant corporations who say, wow, a lot of talk about high prices...more