October 31, 2002

• For Your Information: October 31, 2002
  FTC Begins Distributing Redress Checks to Purchasers of Buying Club Memberships
  The Federal Trade Commission has begun distributing refund checks to over 243,000 consumers who allegedly were misled into accepting trial club memberships from a group of buying clubs including Triad Discount Buying Service, Inc.
• For Release: October 31, 2002
  FTC Chairman Muris Presents the FTC's New Five-Point Plan For Attacking Cross-Border Fraud and Highlights Links Between Competition and Consumer Protection
  FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris today presented the FTC's new Five-Point Plan for attacking cross-border fraud and highlighted the complementarities of consumer protection and competition policies.
• For Release: October 31, 2002
  Miami Company That Operated a Phony Work-at-home Business Opportunity Settles FTC Charges
  Defendants Banned From Selling Work-at-Home Opportunities
• For Release: October 31, 2002
  FTC Issues Report on Nutrition and Health Claims in Advertising
  The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics today released a staff report titled Advertising Nutrition & Health, Evidence from Food Advertising 1977-1997 by economists Pauline M. Ippolito and Janis K. Pappalardo.

October 30, 2002

• For Release: October 30, 2002
  United States and European Union Antitrust Agencies Issue "Best Practices" for Coordinating Merger Reviews
  Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy Muris, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division Charles A. James, and European Union (EU) Competition Commissioner Mario Monti today released a set of "best practices" for coordinating future merger reviews.

October 28, 2002

• Media Advisory: October 29, 2002
  VNR on Information Security Available from the FTC
  VNR Features New Website with ‘Dewie,’ FTC’s Spokesturtle, Who Gives Online Safety Tips for Kids, Adults and Businesses for Securing Their PCs Against Hackers and Viruses
• For Release: October 28, 2002
  Bogus Cancer Cure Guru Settles FTC Charges
  An Internet entrepreneur who marketed bogus cancer cures claiming they made other conventional cancer treatments unnecessary has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that his claims were unsubstantiated.

October 25, 2002

• For Release: October 25, 2002
  FTC Competition Director Speaks on Merger Matters
  Stresses Continued Aggressive Enforcement
• For Your Information: October 25, 2002
  Announced Action for October 25, 2002
  The Commission has authorized the staff to file a stipulation discontinuing its action against a relief defendant in an Internet auction case brought through the "Operation Safebid" law enforcement sweep; The Commission has authorized the staff to file an amended complaint in the case against Bay Area Business Council, Inc., et al., which was brought through the "Operation No-Credit" law enforcement sweep and filed on August 14, 2002.

October 23, 2002

• Media Advisory: October 23, 2002
  Turn Back the Clock and Move Forward with Internet Security
  NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY DAY
• For Release: October 23, 2002
  New Jersey Laboratory Charged with Providing False Test Results for Bogus Anthrax Test Kit
  Defendants Banned From Testing to Detect the Presence of Biological or Chemical Warfare Agents
• For Your Information: October 23, 2002
  Announced Action for October 23, 2002
  Approximately 1,800 Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio consumers will receive letters this week notifying them they may qualify to receive redress under the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission's settlement with Mercantile Mortgage Company.
• For Release: October 23, 2002
  Deceptive Spammers Settle FTC Charges
  Operators who used spam, deceptive earnings claims, and fictitious testimonials to sell spam e-mail lists as business opportunities have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their operations violated federal laws.

October 22, 2002

• For Release: October 22, 2002
  Federal Trade Commission Votes to Challenge Hicks, Muse's Proposed Acquisition of Claussen Pickle Company
  Proposed Transaction Would Lead to Reduced Competition in the Market for Refrigerated Pickles
• For Release: October 22, 2002
  Canadian Company Targets U.S. Citizens with Phony Credit Card Offers for an Advance Fee
  The Federal Trade Commission has charged a Toronto-based company with eight telemarketing boiler rooms with operating a fraudulent advance-fee credit card business.

October 21, 2002

• For Release: October 21, 2002
  FTC Staff Opposes Ohio Bill To Allow Physician Collective Bargaining
  Proposed Legislation Likely to Increase Costs and Reduce Access to Care
• For Release: October 21, 2002
  Statement of Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy Muris on the FDA's Proposals to Improve Consumer Access To Lower-Cost Generic Drugs
  Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to clear away unnecessary roadblocks to the approval of generic drug products. I am encouraged by the FDA's important action to address the competitive problems existing in the approval process for generic drug products.

October 18, 2002

• For Release: October 18, 2002
  FTC Announces Second Workshop on Merger Remedies
  Scheduled for October 23, 2002 in New York City
• For Release: October 18, 2002
  FTC and DOJ to Hold Roundtable Discussions To Conclude Hearings on Competition and Intellectual Property Law and Policy
  The Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice today announced times, location, and participants for final roundtable discussions in their joint hearings on "Competition and Intellectual Property Law and Policy in the Knowledge-Based Economy."

October 17, 2002

• For Release: October 17, 2002
  FTC Offers Guidance on How to Protect Customer Information
  New Publication Provides Useful Tips for Financial Institutions and Other Businesses

October 15, 2002

• For Your Information: October 15, 2002
  Announced Actions for October 15, 2002
  Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Libbey Inc. and Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

October 11, 2002

• For Your Information: October 11, 2002
  Announced Actions for October 11, 2002
  Approved the issuance of final consent orders and responses to the commenters of record in the matters concerning Philips Electronics and Okie Corporation.; approved the issuance of a final consent order and response to the commenter of record in the matter concerning R.T. Welter and Associates, Inc.; R. Todd Welter; Consultants in Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.C.; Mid Town Obstetrics & Gynecology, P.C.; Mile High OB/GYN Associates, P.C.; The OB-GYN Associates, Professional Corporation; Rocky Mountain OB-GYN, P.C.; The Women's Health Group, P.C.; Cohen and Womack, M.D., P.C.; and Westside Women's Care, L.L.P. (collectively known as Professionals in Women's Care).
• For Release: October 11, 2002
  Weathering the High Cost of Heating Your Home
  FTC Offers Tips on How to Stay Warm This Winter Without Getting Burned

October 9, 2002

• For Release: October 9, 2002
  FTC Provides Testimony on the Marketing of Dietary Supplements and Weight-Loss Products Containing Ephedra
  The Federal Trade Commission's Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, J. Howard Beales, III, yesterday told a Senate subcommittee that although some dietary supplements offer the potential for real health benefits to consumers, as the market for these products has expanded, so too have unfounded or exaggerated claims.
• For Release: October 9, 2002
  FTC Testifies on Competition in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry
  Results of Commission Study on "Generic Entry Prior to Patent Expiration" Presented

October 8, 2002

• For Release: October 8, 2002
  The Pendleton Group Banned from Selling Office Supplies and Ordered to Pay Redress as Part of Settlement with FTC
  The Pendleton Group, Inc., and its principal, James C. Caouette, have agreed to a settlement that permanently bans them from selling non-durable office supplies, and are required to pay $35,000 for consumer redress to settle Federal Trade Commission charges.
• For Release: October 8, 2002
  FTC Stops Second Nevada-Based Medical Home-billing Scheme
  Case Filed Through "Operation Dialing for Deception" Law Enforcement Sweep
• For Release: October 8, 2002
  Illinois-Based Companies Charged with Fraudulent Telemarketing and Placing Unwanted Calls Settle Federal Charges
  Defendants Agree to a $1 Million Bond and a Ban from Selling Credit-Related Products

October 7, 2002

• Media Advisory: October 7, 2002
  Agenda for Public Workshop on Anticompetitive Efforts to Restrict Competition on the Internet
  A public workshop to explore possible anticompetitive efforts to restrict competition on the Internet. While much of this regulation and conduct undoubtedly has pro-competitive and pro-consumer rationales, the restrictions may impose costs on consumers that, according to some estimates, may exceed $15 billion annually.

October 4, 2002

• For Release: October 4, 2002
  FTC Closes Cruise Line Merger Investigations
  Vote Supporting Staff and Bureau Recommendations Allows Proposed Carnival/Princess and Royal Caribbean/Princess Transactions to Proceed
• For Your Information: October 4, 2002
  Announced Action for October 4, 2002
  Commission has approved the issuance of a modified final consent order in the matter concerning Biovail Corporation and its branded drug Tiazac.

October 3, 2002

• For Release: October 3, 2002
  FTC Staff Provides Alabama Supreme Court With Comments on Attorney Advertising Rules
  Any Restrictions Should be Tailored to Prevent Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices
• For Release: October 3, 2002
  Statement of Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy J. Muris on the Resignation of U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Charles James
  Charles James has been a good friend for 20 years and an outstanding Assistant Attorney General. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with him.

October 2, 2002

• For Release: October 2, 2002
  High School Student Survey Companies Settle FTC Charges
  Personal Data Collected For Educational Purposes Was Sold to Commercial Marketers
• For Release: October 2, 2002
  California Defendants to Pay Redress for Charging Consumers "Restocking Fee" for Delayed or Unshipped Merchandise
  Dynamic Wheels and Tires, Inc. Allegedly Violated FTC's Mail or Telephone Order Rule

October 1, 2002

• For Release: October 1, 2002
  Consumers Duped by Telemarketers Claiming To Provide Identity Theft Protection
  Defendants Allegedly Pitched Worthless Credit Card "Protection"; Laundered Credit Card Purchases for Products Sold by Others
• Media Advisory: October 18, 2002
  Philadelphia Town Hall Meeting to raise awareness about the importance of Internet security and to receive feedback about the Administration’s National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace from community participants.
  Commissioner Orson Swindle, Federal Trade Commission