During the dog days of August, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brought two complaints against auto companies involving alleged deceptive and discriminatory price advertising....more
9/4/2024
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Advertising ,
Choice-of-Venue ,
Consent ,
Discrimination ,
Disparate Impact ,
ECOA ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Marketing ,
Race Discrimination ,
Section 5
This summer the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has turned up the heat on two companies that provide extended car repair coverage, CarShield and American Auto Shields, for deceptive and misleading advertising and telemarketing...more
8/6/2024
/ Advertising ,
Celebrity Endorsements ,
Consumer Contracts ,
Consumer Insurance Products ,
Endorsements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Influencers ,
Service Contracts ,
Social Media ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Last month, in a joint effort with the Department of Labor (DOL), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled an action against Arise Virtual Solutions, Inc. related to charges that the company regularly used misleading...more
8/2/2024
/ Advertising ,
Business Opportunity Laws ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Job Ads ,
Misleading Statements ,
Section 5 ,
Statutory Violations
In early July the Staff of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued new guidance on how to approach Made in USA claims. The agency says the new guidance will help businesses comply with its “all or virtually all” standard,...more
In February 2024, a New York federal jury returned a split verdict in the New York attorney general’s lengthy battle against Quincy Bioscience, finding that certain of Quincy’s efficacy and establishment claims for a dietary...more
State attorneys general (AGs) are the chief legal officers of their states or territories and can bring actions to protect the “public interest” in almost any area of law. They represent the state government and the general...more
Listen to Episode 11 of our podcast, the Ad Law Tool Kit Show. In this episode, former Venable partner Alexandra Megaris talks to host Len Gordon about state attorney general investigations. Check out the episode....more
Last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the world’s largest beef producer JBS USA Food Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings (JBS Group). The lawsuit challenges the company’s claim that...more
3/7/2024
/ Advertising ,
Audits ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Climate Change ,
Disgorgement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Claims ,
False Advertising ,
Greenwashing ,
Misleading Statements ,
NAD ,
Net Zero
It’s that time of year again—Ad Law Symposium is back!
Please join us in DC for this highly anticipated event focused on providing you with the information you need to promote your brand with confidence. Combining the...more
2/22/2024
/ Advertising ,
Advertising Substantiation ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Automatic Renewals ,
Best Practices ,
Defense Strategies ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Events ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Green Marketing ,
Lanham Act ,
Legal Ethics ,
Marketing ,
Pricing ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Social Media ,
State Privacy Laws ,
Telemarketing ,
Text Messages
Tractor maker Kubota North America Corporation will pay a $2 million civil penalty for falsely labeling its replacement parts as “Made in USA,” the largest civil penalty ever in a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Made in USA...more
1/31/2024
/ Advertising ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Country of Origin ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Labeling ,
Made in the USA ,
Manufacturers ,
Product Labels
Listen to a clip from Episode 1 of our new podcast, the Ad Law Tool Kit Show. In this episode, partners Melissa Steinman and Erin Maus talk to host Len Gordon about product safety and recalls. Check out the episode....more
Stay informed about two recent FTC actions on price transparency, the “CARS” and “Unfair or Deceptive Fees” Rules, as well as similar state laws. By understanding regulators’ expectations regarding fee disclosure, add-on...more
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) won a large battle in its extended war with Intuit, the makers of TurboTax tax-preparation software. An administrative law judge (ALJ) issued a lengthy initial decision, ruling...more
As we covered previously, courts are coming around to reading Section 19 of the FTC Act more narrowly than the Federal Trade Commission may hope. In the latest instance, on June 9, 2023, a magistrate judge in the Southern...more
The Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with Dalal A. Akoury and AWAREmed Health & Wellness Resource Center provides a good overview of how today’s FTC approaches medical claims it believes are unsubstantiated. The...more
3/23/2023
/ Advertising ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Drug & Alcohol Abuse ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Health Claims ,
Health Clinics ,
Opioid ,
Settlement ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Last week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it had issued a complaint and proposed consent order against Instant Brands LLC for allegedly marketing products as “Made in the USA,” when they were actually made in...more
Last week the Federal Trade Commission and six states sued rental listing platform Roomster, Corp. along with its owners for allegedly charging consumers for access to phony listings bolstered by fake reviews it had...more
9/9/2022
/ Advertising ,
Deceptive Intent ,
Fake Reviews ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Marketing ,
Misrepresentation ,
Mobile Apps ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Reviews ,
Rental Property ,
User Fees
On August 30, the Federal Trade Commission announced a complaint and proposed order for Ohio-based Electrowarmth Products, LLC and its owner, alleging they improperly claimed that their heated fabric truck bunk...more
“Free” must mean free?
Last week, the attorneys general for all 50 states and the District of Columbia announced a settlement with Intuit, Inc., the owner of TurboTax, which will require the company to hand over $141...more
Last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that online travel agency Fareportal Inc., which operates several travel-related websites and mobile platforms, including CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com, will pay...more