FTC International Monthly

The International Monthly newsletter contains a summary of FTC activities of likely interest to international readers.

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Michael Shore
Counsel for International Affairs and Manager of International Staff Exchange Programs


Current Issue: November 2016

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Competition

  • FTC and DOJ Seek Public Comment on Proposed Revisions to International Antitrust Guidelines
  • FTC Wins Another Hospital Merger Appeal
  • FTC and DOJ Release Joint Guidance for HR Professionals on Antitrust and Employment
  • FTC and DOJ File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Cases Involving Visa and MasterCard
  • Investment Firm Founder Pays $720,000 for Pre-Merger Notification Violation
  • Healthcare Provider Settles Charges That Its Acquisition of Rival Would Likely Lessen Competition by Eliminating “Non-Compete” Contract Clauses

Consumer Protection and Privacy

  • FTC Charges Multinational Tech Support Companies with Using Deceptive Pop-Up Ads to Scare Consumers into Purchasing Unneeded Services; FTC Teams Up with International and Domestic Law Enforcement Partners to Combat Such Imposter Frauds
  • Federal Judge Approves FTC Order for Owners of Certain Volkswagen and Audi “Clean” Diesels to Receive Compensation
  • Sales Lead Generators Fined and Barred from Violating FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule

In Other News

  • FTC Workshop Will Examine Changing Consumer Demographics
  • FTC Issues Video and Guide for Businesses on What to Do When You Suspect a Data Breach
  • FTC to Hold Public Conference on Identity Theft in May 2017

Previous Issue: October 2016

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Consumer Protection and Privacy

  • Court Bans Slovak Firm from Business Directory Business
  • FTC Charges Fake Prize Scheme Operators with Fraud
  • Marketers of Joint Pain Supplement Agree to Settle Charges of Deceptive Advertising and Endorsements
  • Federal Appeals Court Finds Operator of Affiliate Marketing Group Liable for Helping to Promote Deceptive Weight-Loss Scheme

Competition

  • FTC Releases Report on Patent Assertion Entities, Recommends Reforms
  • Court of Appeals Reverses Lower Court and Upholds FTC Challenge to Pennsylvania Hospital Merger
  • FTC Staff Testifies Against State Insulation of Proposed Hospital Merger from Antitrust Review

In Other News

  • FTC and Agriculture Department Announce Agenda for Roundtable on Consumer Perception of Organic Claims
  • FTC Testifies Before Senate Commerce Committee About Agency’s Work
  • FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez Issues Statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

Archives

Issue Highlights
2016
September
  • FTC and DOJ Seek Comments on Intellectual Property Licensing Guides
  • I Works Billing Scheme Ringleader Agrees to Settle FTC Charges
  • FTC Blog Post Outlines How NIST Cybersecurity Framework Relates to FTC Data Security Program
  • FTC Charges India-Based Academic Journal Publisher OMICS Group Deceived Researchers
  • FTC Announces Agenda for Economic Conference on Marketing and Consumer Protection
  • FTC and USDA to Host Roundtable in Washington, D.C. in October to Examine Consumer Perceptions of “Organic” Claims for Non-Agricultural Products
August
  • Herbalife Will Restructure Its Multi-Level Marketing Operations and Pay $200 Million for Consumer Redress To Settle FTC Charges
  • FTC Sends Warning Letters to Online Sellers Making Zika Virus-Protection Claims
  • FTC Issues Warning Letters to Companies Claiming APEC Cross-Border Privacy Certification
  • Commission Finds LabMD Liable for Unfair Data Security Practices
  • FTC Requires Teva To Divest More Than 75 Generic Drugs in Acquisition of Allergan’s Generic Business
  • As a Condition of Acquiring Meda, FTC Requires Mylan To Divest Rights to Two Generic Drugs
  • FTC Announces Fall Technology Series Workshops on Ransomware, Disclosures, Drones, and Other Topics
  • Insights from the FTC’s Chief Technologist
July
  • Volkswagen To Spend up to $14.7 Billion To Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests and Deceiving Customers on 2.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles
  • Chairwoman Ramirez Welcomes European Commission Approval of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework
  • FTC Staff Commends Key Principles for Online Reviews and Endorsements from the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network
  • FTC and Florida Charge International Tech Support Operation with Tricking Consumers into Paying Millions for Bogus Services
  • Singapore-Based Mobile Advertising Network Settles FTC Charges It Tracked Hundreds of Millions of Consumers’ Locations Without Permission
  • FTC Challenges Proposed Merger of Canadian Chemical Companies
  • FTC Requires Cement Manufacturers To Divest U.S. Assets as a Condition of Merger
  • U.S. and Japanese Antitrust Heads Meet
June
  • FTC and 10 Foreign Agencies Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Combat Unsolicited Messages and Calls
  • Electronic Health Records Company Settles FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About Privacy of Doctor Reviews
  • FTC and Department of Justice Sign Antitrust Cooperation Agreement with Peru’s Competition Agency
  • FTC Testifies Before House Judiciary Subcommittee Regarding International Competition Policy and Enforcement
  • FTC Requires Industrial Gas Suppliers to Divest Assets as a Condition of Merger
  • Officials from the United States, Canada, and Mexico Participate in Trilateral Meeting in Toronto To Discuss Antitrust Enforcement
  • FTC’s Premerger Notification Office Announces New Test To Determine Whether Foreign Entities Are Classified As Corporate Under HSR Rules
  • New FTC Resources Warn Consumers About Imposter Scams
  • Blog Post Explains FTC Staff’s Analysis of Antitrust Concerns That May Be Raised by the Acquisition of a Partial Interest in a Competitor
May
  • President Obama Issues Competition Call to Action
  • U.S. Antitrust Agency Officials Meet with Officials of Chinese Antitrust Agencies
  • Staples and Office Depot Abandon Merger After Successful FTC Challenge
  • Chairwoman Ramirez Participates in ICN’s Fifteenth Annual Conference
  • Supplier of High-Performance Polymer for Medical Implants Settles FTC Charges That It Monopolized Sales to World’s Largest Medical Device Makers
  • Federal Court Finds Amazon Liable for Billing Parents for Children’s Unauthorized In-App Charges
  • Hand-Held Vaporizer Company Settles FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About Participation in Asia-Pacific International Privacy Program
  • FTC To Study Mobile Device Industry’s Security Update Practices
April
  • FTC Chairwoman Ramirez Releases Annual Highlights for 2015
  • FTC Charges Volkswagen Deceived Consumers with Its “Clean Diesel” Campaign
  • FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on Do Not Call, Spam Enforcement
  • FTC Releases New Guidance for Developers of Mobile Health Apps
  • FTC Releases Spanish-Language Video on Imposter Scams
  • FTC Chief Technologist: “Time To Rethink Mandatory Password Changes”
  • FTC Welcomes Revised OECD Guidelines for E-commerce
  • Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) Issues Annual Report Highlighting Expansion
March
  • FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez Issues Statement on Release of EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework
  • FTC Releases Annual Summary of Consumer Complaints
  • ASUS Settles FTC Charges That Insecure Home Routers and “Cloud” Services Put Consumers’ Privacy at Risk
  • FTC Takes Action Against Deceptive Claims by Online Schools
  • FTC Requires Divestiture As a Condition of Hikma Pharmaceuticals Acquiring Certain Drug Products from Ben Venue Laboratories
  • FTC Puts Conditions on Generic Drug Marketer Lupin’s Proposed Acquisition of Gavis Pharmaceuticals
  • FTC Promotes Education for National Consumer Protection Week: Releases Blog and New Video on “Free Trials”
February
  • FTC Report Shows Potential Pay-for-Delay Deals Decreased Substantially Following Supreme Court’s Actavis Decision
  • FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez Issues Statement on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Agreement
  • FTC Releases 2015 Privacy and Data Security Update
  • FTC Announces Significant Enhancements to IdentityTheft.gov
  • FTC Announces Annual Update of Thresholds for Premerger Notification Filings and Interlocking Directorates
  • FTC ‘Fotonovela’ Tells Latino Community How to Avoid Car-Buying Problems
January
  • FTC Report Provides Recommendations to Business on Growing Use of Big Data
  • FTC Issues Enforcement Policy Statement and Business Guidance on Native Advertising
  • Lumosity to Pay $2 Million to Settle FTC Deceptive Advertising Charges for Its “Brain Training” Program
  • LifeLock to Pay $100 Million to Consumers to Settle FTC Charges it Violated 2010 Order
  • Oracle Agrees to Settle FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About Java Software Updates
  • ArcLight Energy Partners Fund to Divest Assets as a Condition of Acquiring Gulf Oil Ltd. Partnership
  • FTC Blog Lists Top 10 Antitrust Developments of 2015
  • FTC Issues Biennial Report to Congress on the National Do Not Call Registry
  • FTC Issues Annual Report on Ethanol Market Concentration
2015
December
  • FTC Challenges Merger of Staples and Office Depot
  • Wyndham Hotels Settles Charges that It Put Consumers’ Payment Card Information at Risk
  • Telemarketing Sales Rule Amended to Prohibit Payment Methods Favored by Scammers
  • Ginger Jin Named Director of FTC’s Bureau of Economics; Alison Oldale Named BE Deputy Director for Antitrust
  • Lorrie Cranor Appointed FTC Chief Technologist
  • FTC and Federal Communications Commission Sign MOU
November
  • FTC Requires Mylan to Sell Rights to Seven Generic Pharmaceuticals as a Condition of Acquiring Perrigo Company
  • Marketer of Rug Accessory Settles FTC Charges of Invitation to Collude with Competitor
  • FTC and Seven International Partners Launch New Initiative to Boost Cooperation in Protecting Consumer Privacy
  • Sprint Will Pay $2.95 Million Penalty to Settle FTC Charges It Violated Fair Credit Reporting Act
  • FTC Concludes ECM BioFilms Made False, Misleading, and Unsubstantiated Claims About the Biodegradability of Plastic Products Treated with Its Additive
  • FTC Testifies Before Congressional Committees on Fraud and Tech Support Scams Affecting Older Americans, Highlighting International Cooperation Against Cross-Border Scams
  • FTC Testifies on Proposed Legislation Addressing Privacy and Security in Connected Automobiles
October
  • FTC and Consumer Protection Agencies from 33 Other Countries Unveil Updated Econsumer.gov Website
  • FTC Sues Marketers Who Used “Gag Clauses,” Monetary Threats, and Lawsuits to Stop Negative Consumer Reviews for Unproven Weight-Loss Products
  • FTC and DOJ Sign Antitrust Memorandum of Understanding with Korea Fair Trade Commission
  • FTC Chairwoman Releases Statement Regarding the European Court of Justice Safe Harbor Framework Decision
  • FTC Office of International Affairs Releases FY 2014 Technical Assistance Report
September
  • Commission Issues Statement of Principles Regarding Enforcement Against Unfair Methods of Competition
  • Appellate Court Affirms FTC’s Authority to Hold Companies Accountable for Failing to Safeguard Consumer Data
  • FTC Acts to Halt Multilevel Marketer of Health and Wellness Drinks as Alleged Pyramid Scheme
  • Thirteen Companies Agree to Settle FTC Charges They Falsely Claimed To Comply with International Safe Harbor Framework
  • FTC Announces First-Ever PrivacyCon Event for January 2016
  • FTC Awards $25,000 Top Cash Prize for Contest-Winning Mobile App That Blocks Illegal Robocalls
August
  • FTC Takes Action Against LifeLock for Alleged Violations of 2010 Order
  • Supplement Marketers Will Relinquish $1.4 Million to Settle FTC Deceptive Advertising Charges
  • Discount Retailers Dollar Tree and Family Dollar to Divest 330 Stores as Condition of Merger
  • FTC Amicus Brief Urges Appeals Court to Overturn District Court Decision That Pay-for-Delay Pharmaceutical Settlements Violate Antitrust Laws Only If Paid in Cash
  • FTC Publishes Information for Recent Refugees and Immigrants on Avoiding Scams
  • FTC Kicks Off “Start With Security” Business Education Initiative
July
  • Sysco and US Foods Abandon Proposed Merger after Court Grants FTC’s Preliminary Injunction Motion
  • Court Rules in Favor of FTC on Pharmaceutical Industry Patent Rights Reportable under HSR Act
  • FTC Releases International Consumer Complaint Report
  • FTC Joins Fellow Members of International Network to Address SMS Spam, Robocalls, and Affiliate Marketing
  • FTC ‘Fotonovela’ Warns Latino Community About Notario Scams
  • FTC to Host September Workshop to Examine Advertising for Over-the-Counter Homeopathic Products
June
  • Chairwoman Ramirez, Assistant Attorney General Baer, and Canadian and Mexican Officials Participate in Trilateral Meeting to Discuss Antitrust Enforcement; Ramirez Meets with Mexican Consumer and Privacy Officials
  • FTC and Law Enforcement Partners Charge Four Sham Cancer Charities with Defrauding Over $187 Million from Consumers
  • FTC Action Halts Global Sweepstakes Scam Targeting Older Consumers
  • Cephalon Pay for Delay Case Ensures $1.2 Billion in Ill-Gotten Gains Will Go to Affected Purchasers
  • Auto Parts Suppliers ZF Friedrichshafen and TRW Automotive Must Divest TRW’s Linkage and Suspension Business as Part of $12.4 Billion Deal
  • FTC and DOJ Support U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Efforts to Increase the Quality of Granted Patents
May
  • FTC Participates in International Competition Network Conference That Releases Guidance on Procedural Fairness in Investigations and Cooperation in International Merger Enforcement
  • International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network Hears Keynote from FTC Commissioner on Intersection of Privacy and Consumer Protection
  • Cardinal Health Agrees To Disgorge $26.8 Million To Settle Charges It Monopolized 25 Markets for the Sale of Radiopharmaceuticals to Hospitals and Clinics
  • FTC Halts Illegal Spammers’ Deceptive Marketing of Bogus Weight-Loss Products
  • National Mortgage Servicing Company Settles FTC, CFPB Charges for $63 Million
  • Two More Companies Settle FTC Charges over Membership in International Safe Harbor Framework
April
  • BMW Settles FTC Charges that Its MINI Division Illegally Conditioned Warranty Coverage on Use of Its Parts and Service
  • FTC Halts Canadian Online ‘Yellow Pages’ Scammers
  • FTC Requires Divestitures in Connection With Impax Laboratories Inc.’s Proposed Acquisition of CorePharma, LLC
  • FTC Establishes New Consumer Protection Technology Office
  • Global Privacy Enforcement Network Releases Annual Report Highlighting Increased Membership and Enhanced Enforcement Cooperation
  • FTC Invites Applications from Counterpart Agencies Around the World for Its International Fellows Program
March
  • U.S. Supreme Court Affirms FTC Position in NC State Board of Dental Examiners
  • FTC Conditions Novartis AG’s Proposed Acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline’s Oncology Drugs
  • FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Dutch Agency on Privacy Enforcement Cooperation
  • Identity Theft Tops FTC’s Consumer Complaint Categories Again in 2014: Imposter Scams on the Rise
  • FTC Collaborates with Canadian Agency on Robocall Contests to Combat Illegal Automated Calls
February
  • FTC Proposes to Study Merger Remedies
  • To Cure Anticompetitive Merger Sun Pharmaceutical Agrees to Divest Ranbaxy Lab’s Generic Tablets for Treating Bacterial Infections
  • FTC Report on Internet of Things Urges Companies to Adopt Best Practices to Address Consumer Privacy and Security Risks
  • Prepaid Mobile Provider TracFone to Pay $40 Million to Settle FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About ‘Unlimited’ Data Plans
  • Two Defendants in Canada-Based Telemarketing Scheme Settle FTC Charges
January
  • President Obama Visits FTC
  • T-Mobile to Pay At Least $90 Million, Including Full Consumer Refunds, To Settle FTC Mobile Cramming Case
  • FTC Warns Chinese Children’s App Maker About Possible Children’s Privacy Law Violations
  • FTC Conditions Eli Lilly’s Proposed Acquisition of Novartis Animal Health
2014
December
  • FTC Conditions Medtronic’s Proposed Acquisition of Covidien
  • Sony Settles FTC Charges Over Misleading Ads For PlayStation Vita Gaming Console
  • FTC Issues FY 2014 National Do Not Call Registry Data Book
November
  • FTC Celebrates 100th Anniversary
  • FTC Charges Gerber with Falsely Advertising That Its Good Start Gentle Formula Protects Infants from Developing Allergies
  • Leading Propane Exchange Tank Suppliers Settle Collusion Charges
October
  • AT&T to Pay $105 Million in Mobile Cramming Case:  $80 Million Will Go to FTC for Refunds to Consumers Who Were Crammed
  • U.S. Agencies Sign Antitrust Cooperation Agreement with Colombia
  • At FTC’s Request, Court Halts Bogus Bitcoin Mining Operation
September
  • Google to Refund Consumers at Least $19 Million to Settle FTC Complaint It Unlawfully Billed Parents for Children’s Unauthorized In-App Charges
  • Dramamine Maker Agrees To Divest Competing Motion Sickness Drug Following Acquisition To Settle FTC Charges
  • FTC Announces Winners of “Zapping Rachel” Robocall Contest
  • FTC Is Cosponsoring September 8-10 African Consumer Protection Dialogue Conference
August
  • FTC Alleges Amazon Unlawfully Billed Parents for Millions of Dollars in Children’s Unauthorized In-App Charges
  • Feature: Mobile Payments
  • Mobile Cramming
  • Mobile Shopping Apps
  • Two Barcode Resellers Invited Competitors to Collude
  • FTC Renews Partnership with Saskatchewan Law Enforcement Agencies to Fight Cross-Border Fraud
July
  • FTC Alleges T-Mobile Knowingly Crammed Millions of Dollars in Bogus Charges onto Customers’ Phone Bills
  • FTC Puts Conditions on Actavis plc’s Acquisition of Forest Laboratories, Inc.
  • FTC Testifies on Geolocation Privacy
  • Feature: Misleading Health Claims
June
  • FTC Releases International Consumer Complaints Report for 2013
  • Chairwoman Ramirez Meets with Officials of Chinese Antitrust Agencies
May
  • Terrell McSweeny Begins Term as FTC Commissioner
  • FTC Bureau of Competition Director Issues Report on Work of the Bureau over the Past Year
  • International Competition Network Adopts Recommended Practices for Predatory Pricing Analysis and Advances Convergence on Confidentiality Protections
  • FTC Charges Operators of “Jerk.com” Website with Deceiving Consumers
April
  • FTC Chairwoman Releases FTC 2013 Annual Highlights
  • FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with UK Privacy Enforcement Agency: Also Introduces EU/APEC Mapping Tool for Cross-Border Data Transfer Systems
  • U.S. and Canadian Antitrust Agencies Issue Best Practices for Coordinating Merger Reviews
  • ICN Holds Roundtable on Investigative Process
March
  • Conferences Highlight FTC Contributions to the Development of Antitrust Policy and Current International Antitrust Enforcement Challenges
  • Antitrust Officials from the United States, Canada, and Mexico Participate in Trilateral Meeting to Discuss Antitrust Enforcement
  • FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book Documents $1.6 Billion in Losses Reported via Consumer Complaints in 2013; ID Theft Comprises 14 Percent of the 2 Million Complaints
February
  • Apple Settles with FTC  for $32.5 million over Kids’ In-App Purchases
  • FTC Settles with Twelve Companies Falsely Claiming to Comply with International Privacy Safe Harbor
  • FTC Issues Opinion and Order Finding McWane, Inc. Unlawfully Maintained Monopoly in Domestic Pipe Fittings
  • U.S. and Chinese Antitrust Officials Hold High Level Meetings
January
  • FTC Issues Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2013
  • Professional Associations Agree To Eliminate Ethics Provisions Limiting Competition
  • Android Flashlight App Developer Settles FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About Use of Information
  • FTC Recruits International Fellows from Counterpart Agencies Around the World
2013
December
  • FTC Testifies before Congress on Its Work to Protect Consumers and Promote Competition As the Agency Approaches Its 100th Anniversary
  • FTC Provides Input on the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework to European Commission
  • Chairwoman Ramirez Testifies on Enforcement of U.S. Antitrust Laws
October/November
  • FTC and DOJ Release Updated Model Waiver of Confidentiality for International Civil Matters
  • Chairwoman Ramirez Addresses Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue at Special Meeting on Consumer Protection and Transatlantic Trade Negotiations
  • Chairwoman Ramirez Addresses Global Antitrust Enforcement Symposium
  • FTC Sues to Stop Massive Sweepstakes Scam Victimizing Consumers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Japan, and Other Countries
September
  • FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian Civil and Criminal Enforcement Authorities
  • FTC Co-Hosts Fifth Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Conference
  • FTC Submits Proposed Amicus Curiae Brief Concerning “No-Authorized-Generic” Commitments in Drug Companies’ Patent Settlements