December 31, 2007

• For Your Information: December 31, 2007
  FTC: Start the New Year Right by Saying “We Don't Serve Teens”A new year is arriving, and with it a familiar problem – New Year’s Eve is often an occasion for teens to obtain access to alcohol, typically through family members or parents of friends.

December 28, 2007

• For Release: December 28, 2007
  FTC Issues Staff Report on Malicious Spam and Phishing In a new report, the Federal Trade Commission staff describes findings from its July 2007 workshop, “Spam Summit: The Next Generation of Threats and Solutions” and proposes follow-up action steps that stakeholders can adopt to mitigate the harmful effects of malicious spam and phishing.
• For Your Information: December 28, 2007
  Give Well: FTC Provides Tips on Giving Wisely This Holiday SeasonThe holiday season is a time for giving – especially to those in need – and many charities are hard at work this time of year.

December 21, 2007

• For Your Information: December 21, 2007
  Commission Announces Issuance of Information Requests to Generic and Authorized Generic Drug Companies; FTC Approves Proposed Divestiture in Matter of SCI and Alderwoods Group; Commission Approves Proposed Divestiture in Matter of Kyphon, Inc.Commission issuance of information requests: The Commission has issued information requests to generic and authorized generic drug manufacturers and marketers as part of its ongoing study of the short- and long-term effects of authorized generics on pharmaceutical drug competition. Commission approval of proposed divestitures: The Commission has approved a petition from Service Corporation International (SCI) and Alderwoods Group, Inc. seeking approval of a proposed divestiture related to SCI’s recent acquisition of Alderwoods. The Commission has approved a petition from Kyphon, Inc. regarding a proposed divestiture related to its recent acquisition of certain assets from Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies, Ltd. and Discotech Orthopedic Technologies, Inc. (collectively Disc-O-Tech).
• For Release: December 21, 2007
  FTC Stops Deceptive “Health Conferences” and Sales of Supposed Herbal Tea Cure-AllFamily and Companies Selling Illegal Business Opportunities Turn Over All Frozen Assets

December 20, 2007

• For Release: December 20, 2007
  Federal Trade Commission Closes Google/DoubleClick InvestigationProposed Acquisition “Unlikely to Substantially Lessen Competition”
• For Release: December 20, 2007
  FTC Staff Proposes Online Behavioral Advertising Privacy PrinciplesTo address important consumer privacy concerns associated with online behavioral advertising, the staff of the Federal Trade Commission today released a set of proposed principles to guide the development of self-regulation in this evolving area.

December 19, 2007

• For Your Information: December 19, 2007
  New FTC Publication Advises Consumers What to Do if Mortgage Lender Closes or Files for BankruptcyA new Facts for Consumers publication issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises consumers what to do if their mortgage company or mortgage servicing company closes or files for bankruptcy.
• For Release: December 19, 2007
  FTC Obtains $1.1 Million Civil Penalty for Pre-Merger Filing ViolationsValueAct Capital Partners Failed to Make Timely Filings Related to Three Acquisitions
• For Your Information: December 19, 2007
  Financial Literacy: A Sound Investment National Consumer Protection Week Moves to MarchMark your calendars: the 10th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a week to highlight consumer protection and education efforts across the country, will take place from March 2 to March 8, 2008.
• For Release: December 19, 2007
  Undercover Funeral Home Inspections in Nine States Yield Mixed Results; FTC Reminds Providers They Must Give Price Lists to Consumers The Federal Trade Commission today announced that in 2007, law enforcement sweeps of 174 funeral homes in nine states found significant violations of the FTC’s Funeral Rule at 26 funeral homes and minor compliance deficiencies at 66 others.

December 18, 2007

• For Release: December 18, 2007
  FTC Testifies on Efforts to Combat Identity Theft and Protect Consumer PrivacyThe Federal Trade Commission today told the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security that identity theft remains one of the highest priorities for the Commission, and that the agency is playing a lead role in preventing identity theft and helping those who are victimized.

• For Your Information: December 18, 2007
  Company Will Pay $50,000 Penalty for Tossing Consumers’ Credit Report Information in Unsecured DumpsterA mortgage company that left loan documents with consumers’ sensitive personal and financial information in and around an unsecured dumpster has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated federal regulations.
• For Release: December 18, 2007
  Scammers Accused of Deceptively Selling ATMs Give Up Frozen AssetsRingleader Banned for Life from Selling Business Ventures

December 17, 2007

• For Release: December 17, 2007
  Telephone Records Seller Settles FTC ChargesSettlement Bars Pretexting and Selling Consumers’ Confidential Phone Records

December 14, 2007

• For Release: December 14, 2007
  FTC Issues Statements Regarding Recusal Petition for Review of Proposed Acquisition of Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners V, LP (DoubleClick, Inc.) By Google, Inc.
• For Your Information: December 14, 2007
  FTC Reminds Businesses: Don’t Print Full Credit and Debit Card Numbers on Customers’ Purchase ReceiptsAs merchants get busier with holiday shopping, the Federal Trade Commission reminds them to be sure the credit and debit card receipts they give customers comply with federal law.

December 13, 2007

• For Your Information: December 13, 2007
  FTC Approves Filing of Staff Comment with the Office of Thrift Supervision Regarding Its Review of Regulations on Unfair or Deceptive Acts and PracticesThe Commission has approved the filing of a staff comment with the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) in response to its request for information concerning whether it should expand its current regulations prohibiting thrifts from engaging in specific unfair or deceptive acts and practices.

• For Release: December 13, 2007
  ALJ Issues Initial Decision Dismissing Complaint Against Michigan Realtors’ GroupAdministrative Action Against Realcomp II, Ltd. Began in October 2006

December 12, 2007

• For Release: December 12, 2007
  FTC Charges Milwaukee MLS with Illegally Restraining CompetitionMultiple Listing Service, Inc. Allegedly Blocked Internet Display of Non-Traditional, Low-Cost Brokerage Properties
• For Your Information: December 12, 2007
  Commission Approves Federal Register Notice Announcing Increase in the Ceiling on Allowable Charges Under Section 612(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting ActThe Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice regarding the ceiling on allowable charges for certain disclosures under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). As detailed in the notice, the ceiling on allowable charges for certain disclosures under Section 612(f)(1)(A) of the FCRA will increase from $10.00 to $10.50 in 2008.

December 11, 2007

• For Release: December 11, 2007
  FTC And Seven States Sue Payment Processor that Allegedly Took Millions from Consumers’ Bank Accounts on Behalf of Fraudulent Telemarketers and Internet-based Merchants The Federal Trade Commission and seven state attorneys general have charged a payment processor with violating federal and state laws by debiting, or attempting to debit from consumers’ bank accounts on behalf of numerous fraudulent telemarketers and Internet-based merchants.

December 10, 2007

• For Release: December 10, 2007
  FTC Announces Publication of Second Federal Register Notice and Comment Period on Survey of Information Sharing Practices with AffiliatesSection 214(e) of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act requires the Federal Trade Commission, the federal banking agencies, and the National Credit Union Administration to “jointly conduct regular studies of the consumer information sharing practices by financial institutions and other persons that are creditors or users of consumer reports with their affiliates.”
• For Release: December 10, 2007
  FTC Focuses Law Enforcement Lens on Unlawful Contact Lens Sales Two marketers of non-corrective, cosmetic contact lenses have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated federal law by selling lenses without prescriptions.

December 7, 2007

• For Your Information: December 7, 2007
  Commission Approves Final Consent Orders in Matters of Kyphon, Inc. and Owens CorningCommission approval of final consent orders: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Kyphon Inc.’s proposed acquisition of certain vertebral compression fracture repair system assets of Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies Ltd. and Discotech Orthopedic Technologies, Inc. Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Compagine de Saint-Gobain and Owens Corning.

December 6, 2007

• For Release: December 6, 2007
  Thomas B. Leary Named Recipient of 2007 Kirkpatrick Award Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today named former FTC Commissioner Thomas B. Leary the 2007 recipient of the Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award.
• For Release: December 6, 2007
  Adult-Oriented Online Social Networking Operation Settles FTC Charges; Unwitting Consumers Pelted With Sexually Graphic Pop-UpsAn operation that foisted sexually explicit online pop-up ads on unwitting consumers has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the practice violated federal law.

December 3, 2007

• For Your Information: December 3, 2007
  FTC Offers Tutorial for Businesses on Protecting Personal InformationProtecting the personal information of customers, clients, and employees is good business. The Federal Trade Commission has a new online tutorial to alert businesses and other organizations to practical and low- or no-cost ways to keep data secure.