FTC Challenges H&R Block's Marketing and Data Practices
Investigation Tag Team: The FTC and the State of Arizona — Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast
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 new prohibition against greenwashing under the Competition Act took effect on June 20, 2024, while private actions for deceptive marketing practices will take effect next year. This prohibition merely codifies existing...more
Bill C-59 was presented to the House of Commons on May 6 with significant amendments from the Standing Committee on Finance. These changes further strengthen the deceptive marketing provisions of the Competition Act with...more
In the final months of 2023, the Commissioner made it clear that misleading online advertising continues to be a focus of enforcement for the Competition Bureau, registering two consent agreements with the Competition...more
The government announced significant additional amendments to Canada’s Competition Act in late November 2023, building on those already under consideration by Parliament in Bill C-56 and others enacted in 2022. More...more
Urgency cues remain near the top of the Competition Bureau’s misleading advertising enforcement priorities, as demonstrated by the Bureau’s recent consent agreement with a furniture chain retailer....more
Section 22 of the Canadian Trademarks Act prohibits the use of a registered trademark “in a manner that is likely to have the effect of depreciating the value of the goodwill attaching thereto”....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
"Loot boxes" are mystery boxes in a video game that pay out prizes or other items for in-game use. Players can earn loot boxes, but often purchase them with real-world money. The loot obtained varies in value considerably....more
This article highlights key tips, traps and trends for advertisers for the coming year. Though Canadian law is referenced, the concepts have global relevance. The term “dark patterns” was first coined over a decade ago but...more
On November 17, 2022 the Minister of Industry, Science and Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne released a long-awaited discussion paper on the future of competition policy in Canada. The paper outlines five key areas of...more
On September 8, the Competition Bureau hosted a public information session about the 2022 amendments to the Competition Act. The session included guidance on the Bureau’s approach to enforcing new provisions related to abuse...more
In Rebuck v. Ford Motor Company, 2022 ONSC 2396 (Rebuck), the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a certified class action on its merits by way of summary judgment. The claim sought $1.5 billion in damages on behalf...more
Following years of debate about whether the Competition Act should be amended, the Canadian government has announced plans to “carefully evaluate potential ways to improve its operation”, touching on several concerns...more
In a recent speech, the deputy commissioner for the Competition Bureau's deceptive marketing practices group, Josephine Palumbo, advocated for the reform of Canadian law to permit the sharing of information between her office...more
A World Trade Organization panel on Tuesday declared that the U.S.’s 2018 tariffs on China “violated international trade rules,” siding with China and its allegations that the White House’s trade war broke, among other...more
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Decoded , Spilman's e-newsletter focusing on technology law, including data security, privacy standards, financing technologies, and digital-based means of conducting business. When it comes...more
Violations of privacy—already overseen by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (as well as provincial privacy commissioners)—may soon be subject to fines under the federal Competition Act. In a statement yesterday...more
U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators are “laying the groundwork for a delay of a fresh round of tariffs set to kick in on Dec. 15” as the countries continue to work through how a Chinese promise to make huge ag purchases from...more
As the digital landscape evolves, and the commoditization of personal information increases, expectations as to what constitutes appropriate consent for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information in Canada are...more
Violations of privacy–already regulated by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (as well as provincial privacy regulators)–may also soon be regulated by Canada’s Competition Bureau. In a statement yesterday at the...more
Effective Monday, April 29, 2019, the Government of Canada discontinued its 25% provisional safeguard surtax imposed since October 25, 2018, on imports of concrete reinforcing bar, energy tubular products, hot-rolled sheet,...more
A tripartite agreement to save NAFTA has been reached. The agreement, reached late last night, provides Congress the necessary 60 days’ notice of the text to approve so that President Pena Nieto of Mexico can sign before he...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - FDA Warns About Color Additives, Manufacturing Practices - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned three dietary-supplement manufacturers about their marketing and...more
On January 25, 2018, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) filed an application with the Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) against Ticketmaster, its parent company Live Nation, and certain other Live Nation subsidiaries...more
Cooke Aquaculture Fined $332,000 For Puget Sound Salmon Pen Collapse - The Washington Department of Ecology has reportedly fined Cooke Aquaculture $332,000 for violations of state water quality laws related to a net pen...more