News Releases for September 2003
September 26, 2003
- Issued: September 26, 2003
National Do Not Call Registry Statement
Today, the Federal Trade Commission filed an appeal of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado order that enjoins the FTC from enforcing the provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rules that create and implement the National Do Not Call Registry.
- For Immediate Release: September 26, 2003
Declaración sobre el Registro Nacional No Llame (National Do Not Call Registry)
En el día de hoy, la Comisión Federal de Comercio (Federal Trade Commission, FTC) presentó una apelación a la orden de interdicción de la Corte de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Colorado inhibiendo a la FTC dar cumplimiento a las disposiciones de la Regla de Ventas de Telemercadeo (Telemarketing Sales Rules) que crean e implementan el Registro Nacional No Llame (National Do Not Call Registry).
- For Release: September 26, 2003
Statement of FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris
Yesterday, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado held that a Do Not Call registry allowing consumers to avoid receiving commercial telemarketing calls is unconstitutional because non-commercial calls (specifically those from charities) are exempt.
- For Your Information: September 26, 2003
Declaración del Presidente Comisionado de la FTC Timothy J. Muris
En el día de ayer, la Corte de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Colorado sostuvo que un registro No Llame (Do Not Call) que permita a los consumidores evitar la recepción de llamadas comerciales de telemercadeo es inconstitucional debido a que las llamadas no comerciales (específicamente aquellas provenientes de entidades de caridad) están exentas.
- For Release: September 26, 2003
Chain Letter Spammers Settle FTC Charges
Operators that used deceptive spam and a Web site to recruit consumers into an illegal chain letter scheme have agreed to settle FTC charges that their scam violated federal laws.
September 25, 2003
- For Release: September 25, 2003
Statement of FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris
Today, the Congress has once again ratified the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to establish a National Do Not Call Registry.
- For Your Information: September 25, 2003
Declaración del Presidente de la FTC Timothy J. Muris
En el día de hoy, una vez más, el Congreso ha ratificado la autoridad de la Comisión Federal de Comercio (Federal Trade Commission, FTC) para establecer el Registro Nacional No Llame (National Do Not Call Registry).
- For Release: September 25, 2003
International Telemarketing Network That Sold Bogus Advance-Fee Credit Card Packages Banned from Telemarketing
Kyle Kimoto, the chief architect of an illicit international telemarketing network, has agreed to the terms of a federal court order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that his telemarketing scheme violated federal laws.
September 24, 2003
- For Release: September 24, 2003
FTC Files Motion to Stay Pending Appeal in Oklahoma DNC Ruling
The Federal Trade Commission today filed a motion in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma for a stay pending appeal of the court's September 23, 2003, order declaring the FTC's Do Not Call (DNC) registry invalid.
- For Your Information: September 24, 2003
FTC Presenta Moción de Suspensión para Apelación en Oklahoma sobre la Decisión DNC - Registro Nacional No Llame
La Comisión Federal de Comercio (Federal Trade Commission, FTC) presentó hoy día una moción ante la Corte de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Oeste de Oklahoma solicitando una apelación de suspensión del dictamen de la corte de fecha 23 de septiembre de 2003 que declara inválido el registro No Llame (Do Not Call) de la FTC.
- For Release: September 24, 2003
Statement of FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris
Late last year, the Federal Trade Commission issued rules creating the National Do Not Call Registry under the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act.
- For Your Information: September 24, 2003
Declaración de Timothy J. Muris, Presidente Comisionado de la FTC
A fines del año pasado, la Comisión Federal de Comercio (Federal Trade Commission, FTC) expidió las reglas para crear el Registro Nacional No Llame (National Do Not Call Registry) bajo la ley llamada Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act.
- For Release: September 24, 2003
FTC Settles Price-Fixing Charges Against Washington Doctors’ Group and Two of its Members
A group of surgeons in Yakima, Washington, has settled Federal Trade Commission charges that it increased the cost of health care for consumers in Yakima by jointly fixing prices in contract negotiations with insurers in violation of federal laws.
- Corrected For Release : September 24, 2003
Network Solutions Settles FTC Charges
False Solicitations Allegedly Duped Consumers to Transfer Domain Name Registrations
September 23, 2003
- For Your Information: September 23, 2003
Announced Action for September 23, 2003
Issuance of staff advisory opinion: The staff of the FTC's Bureau of Competition has advised counsel for Bay Area Preferred Physicians (BAPP) that it does not presently intend to recommend law enforcement action if BAPP establishes a "messenger" arrangement to minimize the costs associated with contracting between physicians and health plans and other third-party payors.
- For Release: September 23, 2003
FTC Staff Report Recommends Clarifications Of the Antitrust State Action Doctrine
Report of State Action Task Force Calls for More Rigorous Application of the “Clear Articulation” and “Active Supervision” Requirements
- For Release: September 23, 2003
FTC Alleges DSM N.V.'s Purchase of Roche Holding's Vitamins and Fine Chemicals Division Would Violate Clayton Act
Under Proposed Consent Order, DSM Required to Divest its Phytase Business to BASF AG as Condition of FTC Clearance of Transaction
- For Release: September 23, 2003
AOL and Compuserve Settle FTC Charges of Unfair Practices
FTC Alleges That Charges Continued for Subscribers Who Asked to Cancel; $400 Rebates Were Not Delivered as Promised
September 22, 2003
- For Release: September 22, 2003
FTC Warns of Post-Disaster Potential for Home Repair Rip-Offs
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a Consumer Alert, “After a Disaster: Repairing Your Home,” that warns consumers of potential “home repair rip-off artists” who may overcharge, perform shoddy work, or skip town without finishing the job.
- For Release: September 22, 2003
Canadian Telemarketers to Pay for Duping U.S. Consumers into Buying Bogus Credit-related Products
Defendants Were Sued as Part of “Operation No Credit” Sweep
September 19, 2003
- For Your Information: September 19, 2003
Announced Actions for September 19, 2003
Commission approval of amended complaint: The Commission has approved the filing of an amended complaint in its pending federal court action against Married But Lonely/Brian D. Westby.
September 18, 2003
- For Release: September 18, 2003
Risks of Credit Report Scams Topic of FTC Consumer Alert
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a Consumer Alert, “Fake Credit Report Sites: Cashing in on Your Personal Information,” that warns consumers about the dangers of a high-tech scam known as “phishing.”
September 17, 2003
- For Release Corrected: September 17, 2003
Do Not Call Registrations Exceed 50 Million
Nearly 5,000 Telemarketers Purchase List
- For Release: September 17, 2003
FTC Charges North Texas Specialty Physicians with Price Fixing
Agency Alleges Group Raised Cost of Health Care for Consumers in Fort Worth Area
- Media Advisory : September 17, 2003
Thompson to Keynote Strategic Global Summit for E-commerce
Federal Trade Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson will be the Keynote speaker at the two-day International Business Law Services’ Strategic Global Summit for E-Commerce September 18th and 19th 2003.
- For Release: September 17, 2003
FTC Settles with Cross Border Con Artists
Nearly $1.9 Million Recovered for Consumer Redress
- For Release: September 17, 2003
FTC Chairman Testifies on International Consumer Protection
Muris Says Cross-Border Fraud Is on the Rise, Urges Legislative Improvements
September 16, 2003
- For Your Information: September 16, 2003
Announced Actions for September 16, 2003
The Commission has received a petition from Wright Medical Technology, Inc. (Wright) to reopen and modify a 1994 consent order conditionally approving Wright’s cash tender offer for all shares of common stock and outstanding convertible preferred stock of Orthomet, Inc.; Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved final consent orders in matters concerning two Intrastate Movers Rate Associations, the Minnesota Transport Services Association and the Iowa Movers and Warehousemen’s Association.
- For Release: September 16, 2003
FTC/DOJ Hearings on Health Care And Competition Law and Policy
Agenda for September 24-26, 2003 and September 30 - October 1, 2003 Sessions
September 15, 2003
- For Release: September 15, 2003
FTC Charges South Carolina Board of Dentistry
Agency Alleges Illegal Actions Deprived Children of Preventive Dental Care
September 11, 2003
- For Release: September 11, 2003
Statement by Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy J. Muris on Generic Paxil Launch
This week, a generic drug manufacturer, Apotex Corp., confirmed that it was commencing U.S. sales of a generic version of the GlaxoSmithKline plc (Glaxo) antidepressant, Paxil – a prescription drug with annual sales in excess of $2 billion.
- For Release: September 11, 2003
FTC Charges Canadian Company with Fraudulent Sales of Business Directories
Commission Obtains TRO and Asset Freeze
September 9, 2003
- For Your Information: September 9, 2003
Announced Actions for September 9, 2003
Release of Commission report: The Federal Trade Commission yesterday submitted to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation a report on regulatory coordination in federal telemarketing laws.
- For Release: September 9, 2003
FTC Report Cites Improvements in Alcohol Industry Self-Regulation
- For Release: September 9, 2003
FTC Testifies on Contact Lens Legislation
Agency Supports Goal of Promoting Greater Competition
- For Release: September 9, 2003
FTC Settles Price-fixing Charges Against Large Physician-hospital Organization in South Georgia
Conduct Allegedly Led to Higher Prices for Thousands of Consumers by Reducing Competition Among Physicians and Among Hospitals
September 5, 2003
- Media Advisory : September 5, 2003
FTC to Host Media Briefing Breakfast on Credit Reporting
Since the enactment of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in 1970, consumer credit has expanded exponentially and today accounts for two-thirds of U.S. gross domestic product.
September 4, 2003
- For Release: September 4, 2003
FTC Charges Stewart Finance with Illegal Lending Practices
Agency Alleges Company Packed Additional Products On to Loans, Trained Employees to Mislead Consumers
September 3, 2003
- For Release: September 3, 2003
FTC Releases Survey of Identity Theft in U.S. 27.3 Million Victims in Past 5 Years, Billions in Losses for Businesses and Consumers
The Federal Trade Commission today released a survey showing that 27.3 million Americans have been victims of identity theft in the last five years, including 9.9 million people in the last year alone.
- For Your Information: September 3, 2003
Announced Actions for September 3, 2003
Commission approval of final consent order: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter concerning Washington University Physician Network.
September 2, 2003
- For Release: September 2, 2003
DO NOT CALL Registry Jumps To 48.4 Million
Six Million Consumers Register During Labor Day Weekend
- For Release: September 2, 2003
First Comprehensive Government Survey of Identity Theft
Report Shows Millions of Victims, Billions in Losses to Businesses and Consumers
- For Release: September 2, 2003
Turnkey Vending Defendants to Pay $22,000 Civil Penalty As Part of FTC Settlement
Defendants Were Part of “Project Busted Opportunity” Sweep
- For Release: September 2, 2003
Consumers Continue to Get a Raw Deal from Raw Health
The FTC Alleges that the Defendant Continues to Violate Previous Order
- For Release: September 2, 2003
Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children And Industry Self-regulation Focus of FTC Workshop
Day-long Public Workshop Scheduled for October 29, 2003 in Washington, DC