FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 29, 1996 Mrs. Fields Settles FTC Charges: Low Fat Cookies Ads and Promotions were Misleading
Mrs. Fields Cookies, Inc. has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that advertising and promotional materials touting a cookie line as "low fat" were false and misleading for two of the cookies in the line.
February 28, 1996
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 28, 1996 Company That Uses Fictitious "Book Review" to Sell Books Agrees to Settle FTC Charges
Georgetown Publishing House Limited Partnership, Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based publishing firm, and its president have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they used deceptive advertising tactics to promote the sale of a book titled, The American Speaker:
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 29, 1996 FTC Settlement Over Saint-Gobain Acquisition of Carborundum to Remedy Lessening of Competition in Three Markets
The Federal Trade Commission has negotiated a settlement with the French firm, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, and its U.S. subsidiary, Saint-Gobain/Norton Industrial Ceramics Corporation, of Worcester, Massachusetts, to resolve charges that the firm's acquisition of The Carborundum Company from the British Petroleum Company likely would lead to monopolies or near-monopolies, and thus raise prices, for three products used in industrial furnaces and home appliances.
February 23, 1996
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 23, 1996 Announced Actions for February 23, 1996
Commission action regarding petitions: Following public comment periods, the FTC has ruled on petitions from the following entities.
February 22, 1996
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 22, 1996 AMOCO to Settle FTC Charges Over "Crystal Clear" Ad Campaign
Amoco Oil Company has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its "Crystal Clear Amoco Ultimate" advertising campaign included unsubstantiated claims that Amoco premium gasoline, because it is refined more than competitors' brands and is clear in color, delivers superior engine performance and environmental benefits.
For Your Information: FEBRUARY 22, 1996 FTC Today Proposed Amending its Appliance Labeling Rule.
The Federal Trade Commission today proposed amending its Appliance Labeling Rule to allow appliance manufacturers to place energy use labels required by the Canadian and Mexican governments directly adjoining the Commission's required EnergyGuide label.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 16, 1996 Announced Actions for February 16, 1996 Consent order given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has determined to issue a consent order against the following company as final, thus making the consent order’s provisions binding on the respondent.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 15, 1996 Soft Drink Dispensing Machines Franchisor to Pay $100,000 to Settle FTC Charges
Fresh-O-Matic Corporation, a St. Charles, Missouri-based company that markets soft-drink vending machines business opportunities at franchise trade shows nationwide, has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it failed to provide key information to potential purchasers of its business opportunities.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 1996 $100,000 Civil Penalty Against Mail Order Seller Reminds Mailers to Monitor Fulfillment Houses
The Federal Trade Commission has obtained an agreement from American Direct Marketing, Inc. and its president to pay a $100,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement of allegations that they shipped consumer-ordered products late and failed to properly notify consumers of their option to delay or cancel late orders, in violation of the FTC's Mail/Telephone Order Rule. In many instances, the FTC alleged, the refund checks the defendants sent pursuant to the rule bounced.
February 13, 1996
For Your Information: FEBRUARY 13, 1996 Announced Actions for February 13, 1996
Consent orders given final approval: Following public comment periods, the Commission has determined to issue consent orders against the following entities as final, thus making the consent orders' provisions binding on the companies.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 13, 1996 Growth in International Franchise Sales to be Topic at FTC Workshop
The growth in international franchise transactions, in part due to the explosion of ads for American franchise systems on the Internet, will be the topic of a Federal Trade Commission workshop in Room 332 of the FTC's headquarters building, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., in Washington, D.C. on March 11, 1996.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 13, 1996 Ann I. Jones to Head FTC's Los Angeles Regional Office
Ann I. Jones has been named Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Los Angeles Regional Office, FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky announced today. Her appointment is effective immediately.
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 12, 1996 Toymaker Settles FTC Charges: Consumers to Get Refunds for Remco's Steel Tec Toys
Thousands of consumers who bought Steel Tec toy vehicles are eligible for refunds under a settlement agreement between the Federal Trade Commission and Azrak-Hamway International, Inc., which distributes the toys through its Remco Toys Division.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 12, 1996 FTC Proposes to Harmonize Textile Regulations with Canada and Mexico to reach NAFTA Goals
The Federal Trade Commission has proposed amendments to its textile content and origin labeling rules to allow the use of abbreviations for generic fiber names, and both abbreviations and symbols in country-of-origin labeling, among other changes.
For Your Information: FEBRUARY 9, 1996 Announced Actions for February 9, 1996
Commission action regarding petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: Following a public comment period, the Commission has responded to a petition from the following entity:
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 9, 1996 FTC Wins $31 Million Judgment in "Wolf" Vending Machine Case
The Federal Trade Commission has won a $31 million federal district court judgment against Florida-resident Marvin Wolf and 33 other individual and corporate defendants allegedly involved in a huge scheme to sell vending machine business opportunities by using a host of deceptive claims and practices.
February 8, 1996
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 8, 1996 FTC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Repeal Light Bulb Rule
The Federal Trade Commission has proposed repealing its Light Bulb Rule because the rule's primary goals are achieved by amendments to the FTC's Appliance Labeling Rule.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 8, 1996 FTC Appoints Trustee to Divest Revco Pharmacy Assets in Marion and Covington, Virginia
The divestitures are required under a 1994 consent order Revco signed to settle FTC charges that its acquisition of the Hook-SupeRx drug-store chain could raise prices and reduce service for prescription drugs sold in retail stores in these two towns, as well as in Radford, Virginia. (Revco divested two Radford drug stores in compliance with the order in March 1995.)
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 6, 1996 FTC Commends Federal Reserve's Plan to Clarify Creditors' Obligation to Investigate Credit Card Charges Disputed by Consumers.
The Federal Trade Commission said today that it supports a proposal by the Federal Reserve Board to clarify that credit card issuers must conduct a reasonable investigation when consumers dispute charges on their credit card bills and the disputes remain unresolved with the merchants -- before the credit card issuers can consider the disputes settled, report disputed amounts as delinquent, or begin efforts to collect disputed amount from consumers.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 6, 1996 Announced Actions for February 6, 1996 Commission action regarding applications: Following a public comment period, the Commission has responded to an application from the following entity:
February 2, 1996
For Your Information: FEBRUARY 2, 1996 FTC Recinds Hosiery Guides
The Federal Trade Commission has rescinded its Hosiery Guides, which had provided guidance to industry with regard to the marketing and labeling of stockings, socks and other hosiery products, after concluding that there is no longer a need for special guidance for this industry.
For Your Information: FEBRUARY 2, 1996 Annouced Actions for February 2, 1996 Commission action regarding petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: Following public comment periods, the Commission has responded to petitions from the following entities.
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 2, 1996 Illinois Tool Works Agrees To Settle FTC Antitrust Concerns Stemming from Proposed Acquisition of Hobart Brothers Co.
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. based in Glenview, Illinois, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its proposed acquisition of Hobart Brothers Company could lead to higher prices for industrial power sources and industrial engine drives, both of which are used to generate power for arc welding systems used in a broad range of industries.
