February 27, 2002

• Release Date: February 27, 2002
  FTC Releases Antitrust Clearance Process Documents
  Information Details Proposed Remedies for Problems with Current Clearance Process
• Release Date: February 27, 2002
  FTC Announces First Two Enforcement Actions Against Purveyors of Bioterrorism Defense Products
  Settlements Obtained in Both Actions

February 26, 2002

• For Your Information: February 26 , 2002
  Announced Actions for February 26, 2002
  Approved five applications from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. requesting approval of a non-affiliated Internet Service Provider (ISP) and alternative cable broadband service agreements.

February 25, 2002

• Media Advisory: February 25, 2002
  Bogus Bioterrorism Defense Products Targeted In FTC Actions
  On Wednesday, February 27, 2002, the Federal Trade Commission's latest law enforcement actions targeting companies that marketed and sold fraudulent bioterrorism products will be announced. February 25, 2002
  
• La FTC Ataca: February 25, 2002
  Productos Fraudulentos de Defensa Contra el Terrorismo Biológico
  El miércoles, 27 de febrero, 2002, La Comisión Federal de Comércio (FTC) anunciará las más recientes acciones legales a compañías que han vendido productos fraudulentos contra el terrorismo biológico.
• Release Date: February 25, 2002
  FTC Seeks to Halt Cross-Border Lottery Fraud
  The Federal Trade Commission has asked a United States District Court to halt a cross-border telemarketing operation that targets elderly U.S. consumers in an illegal foreign lottery scheme.

February 22,  2002

• For Release: February 22, 2002
  Defendants in New York City Vending Machine Business Opportunity Settle FTC Charges
  Individual Defendant Banned From Selling Vending Machine Business Ventures
   
• For Your Information: February 22, 2002
  Announced Actions for February 22, 2002
  Received an application from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. requesting approval of a non-affiliated Internet Service Provider and alternative cable broadband service agreement; approved final consent orders in the matters concerning Pharmaceutical Formulation, Inc.; LNK International, Inc.; Leiner Health Products, Inc; A&S Pharmaceutical Corp., and Perrigo Company; approved a final consent order in the matter concerning Valero Energy Corporation and Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation.

February 21,  2002

• For Release: February 21, 2002
  FTC Obtains Stipulated Preliminary Injunction Against Promoters of "Miss Cleo"
  Court Action Requires Companies to Comply with 900-Number Rule and Halt Abusive Billing Practices
  
• For Your Information: February 21, 2002
  Staff Advisory Opinion:
  MedSouth, Inc.  
• For Release: February 21, 2002
  FTC Seeks Civil Contempt Order Against Wade Cook Financial Corporation, Operator of "Wall Street Workshop"
  Commission Alleges Continuing Violations of Two Injunctive Provisions

February 20, 2002

• For Your Information: February 20, 2002
  FTC Charges Sellers of Cell Phone Radiation Protection Patches with Making False Claims

February 19, 2002

• For Your Information: February 19, 2002
  Virginia Mail-order Retailer Settles FTC Charges for Misleading Ads and Deceptive 'Upselling' for Buying Club Service
  The Federal Trade Commission has charged two companies that sold devices that purportedly protect users from electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellular telephones with making false and unsubstantiated claims.

• Release Date: February 19, 2002
  FTC Agreement with American Home Products Corp. Would Protect Consumers from Anticompetitive Practices
  Complaint Alleged Payments to AHP by Schering-Plough to Delay Entry of Generic K-Dur 20

• For Your Information: February 19, 2002
  Federal Trade Commission Provides Comments on Proposed Amendments to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 Governing Class Action Lawsuits
  FTC Urges Greater Scrutiny of Class Action Attorney Fees and of Coupon Settlements and Increased Competition in Selection of Class Counsel

February 18,  2002

• Release Date : February 18, 2002
  FTC Staff Sends Virginia House of Delegates Comments on Bill Regarding Below-Cost Sales of Motor Fuels
  Proposed Legislation Called Unnecessary, With Significant Potential to be Anticompetitive

February 17, 2002

• Media Advisory: February 17, 2002
  Sellers of Fraudulent Radiation Protectors Targeted by the FTC
  On Wednesday, February 20, 2002, J. Howard Beales III, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection will be available to discuss the FTC's latest law enforcement action against companies selling ineffective radiation protection.

February 15,  2002

• Release Date: February 15, 2002
  FTC/DOJ Hearings to Highlight Business and Economic Perspectives on Competition and Intellectual Property Policy
  The Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice today announced topics, updated times and locations, and participants for many of the upcoming sessions in their joint hearings on "Competition and Intellectual Property Law and Policy in the Knowledge-Based Economy."

• For Your Information: February 15, 2002
  Announced Actions for February 15, 2002
  Received an application for approval of a proposed divestiture from Valero Energy Corporation and Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation; approved the extension of a supply contract in a matter concerning Roche Holdings Ltd.; approved an independent auditor agreement in a matter concerning Lafarge S.A. and Blue Circle Industries PLC; approved the filing of an amended complaint in its federal court action against 1st Financial Solutions, Inc., et al.; approved a final consent order in the matter concerning INA-Holding Schaeffler KG and FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer AG.

February 14, 2002

• Release Date: February 14, 2002
  FTC Staff Opposes Washington State Proposal to Allow Physician Collective Bargaining
  Proposed Legislation Significantly Would Increase Consumer Health Care Costs

• For Release: February 14, 2002
  Popcorn Company Settles FTC Privacy Violation Charges
  "Jolly Time" Web Site Collected Information from Kids Without Parents' Consent 

• Release Date: February 14, 2002
  FTC Charges "Miss Cleo" Promoters with Deceptive Advertising, Billing and Collection Practices
  "Free Readings" Result in Large Phone Bill Charges

February 13, 2002

• Media Advisory: February 13, 2002
  Fraudulent "Free" Entertainment Service Targeted by FTC
  On Thursday, February 14, 2002, J. Howard Beales III, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection will be available to discuss the FTC's latest law enforcement action against companies that mislead consumers with "free" entertainment service ads.

• For Your Information: February 13, 2002
  Announced Actions for February 13, 2002
  Submission of FTC staff comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the competitive effects of clean fuels regulations; Approval of annual report on the Truth in Lending, Consumer Leasing, Equal Credit Opportunity, and Electronic Fund Transfer Acts

• For Release: February 13, 2002
  FTC Files First Complaint Concerning Credit Card Merchant Account Sales and Billing Practices
  Unauthorized Fees Allegedly Withdrawn from Small Businesses' Bank Accounts
• Release Date: February 13, 2002
  Defendants Agree to Pay $85,000 for Alleged Violations Related to the Sale of Worthless Credit Card Protection
  Commission's Complaint Stemmed from FTC's "Operation Protection Deception"

February 12, 2002

• FTC Launches Crackdown on Deceptive Junk E-mail
  Scammers Claim The FTC Will Confirm Legality of Illegal Scheme

February 8,  2002

• Media Advisory: February 8, 2002
  FTC to Launch Attack on Deceptive Junk E-Mail
  Chairman Timothy J. Muris and Federal Trade Commission staff will announce a three point program to crack down on deceptive spam.

• For Your Information: February 8, 2002
  Announced Actions for February 8, 2002
  Approved an application from Chevron Corporation and Texaco Inc. to divest Texaco’s interests in Equilon Enterprises LLC and Motiva Enterprises LLC to Shell Oil Company and Saudi Refining, Inc.; approved a modified Part II agreement and decision and order with Tru-Vantage International, LLC; approved a revised final decision and consent order in the matter concerning the merger of Nestle S.A. and Ralston Purina Co.; and approved a final consent order in the matter concerning Diageo PLC and Vivendi Universal S.A.

February 6,  2002

• Release Date: February 6, 2002
  FTC Testifies Before Kentucky State Senate Judiciary Committee on Proposed National Do-Not-Call Registry
  Interplay Between Proposed National List and Existing State Registries Discussed

• For Immediate Release: February 6, 2002
  Agencies Publish "Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information"
  In conjunction with National Consumer Protection Week, several federal agencies today released a guide to help consumers make informed choices about whether to allow their personal financial information to be shared.

February 5, 2002

• For Release: February 5, 2002
  Las Vegas-based Companies Charged with Failing to Honor Refund Policies
  A federal judge has temporarily halted the operations of two Las Vegas, Nevada-based companies that sell programs and services purported to reduce one's income taxes, for their alleged failure to live up to their refund guarantees.

• ForRelease: February 5, 2002
  Federal Trade Commission Announces ID Theft Affidavit
  New Form Simplifies Process for Thousands of ID Theft Victims

February 4,  2002

• Release Date: February 4, 2002
  FTC Charges Telemarketer with Contempt; Asks Court to Order $51 Million in Consumer Redress
  Alleges Thousands of Consumers Illegally Billed for Magazine Subscription Packages

February 1,  2002

• Media Advisory: February 1, 2002
  New ID Theft Consumer Assistance Initiative To Be Unveiled by FTC
  Initiative Materials to be Available in Spanish and English

• For Your Information: February 1, 2002
  Announced Actions for February 1, 2002
  Commission approved a petition by The Dow Chemical Company and a petition by Exxon Mobil Corporation; approved publication of a Federal Register notice initiating a rulemaking proceeding pursuant to Rule 8 of the FTC's Textile Rules and Section 7(c) of the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.