News Releases for May 2009

May 29, 2009

• For Your Information: May 29, 2009
  FTC Files Joint Amicus Brief in Matter of American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League; FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of Whole Foods MarketThe Federal Trade Commission has joined the U.S. Department of Justice in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League, No. 08-661 (U.S. S. Ct.).
• For Your Information: May 29, 2009
  Don’t Let Summer Fuel Costs Strain Your BudgetFTC Provides Tips for Saving Money at the Gas Pump and Cooling Your Home
• For Release: May 29, 2009
  FTC Begins Rulemaking to Address Unfair and Deceptive Mortgage PracticesIn an effort to better protect financially distressed homeowners, the Federal Trade Commission has initiated a rulemaking proceeding involving foreclosure rescue and loan modification services.

May 28, 2009

• CORRECTED
  For Release: May 28, 2009
  FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Commissioner William E. Kovacic to Participate in Eighth Annual International Competition Network Conference in Zurich, SwitzerlandFederal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz will participate in the eighth annual International Competition Network (ICN) conference in Zurich, Switzerland, from June 3-5, 2009.

May 27, 2009

• For Release: May 27, 2009
  FTC Authorizes Suit To Stop CSL’s Proposed $3.1 Billion Acquisition of Talecris BiotherapeuticsThe Federal Trade Commission has authorized a lawsuit to block CSL Limited’s proposed $3.1 billion acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corporation, charging that the deal would be illegal and would substantially reduce competition in the U.S. markets for four plasma-derivative protein therapies – Immune globulin (Ig), Albumin, Rho-D, and Alpha-1.
• For Release: May 27, 2009
  FTC Sues Mortgage Foreclosure 'Rescue' Operation That Targeted Spanish-Speaking ConsumersThe Federal Trade Commission has charged a mortgage foreclosure “rescue” operation with falsely promising Spanish-speaking consumers who are behind on their mortgage payments that it would stop foreclosure.

May 26, 2009

• For Your Information: May 26, 2009
  FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of BASF and Ciba Specialty ChemicalsFollowing a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter of BASF and Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

May 22, 2009

• For Your Information: May 22, 2009
  FTC Staff Advises Louisiana Legislature That Amended Bill Would Further Restrict Competition to Provide Dental Care to State’s Most Vulnerable ChildrenFederal Trade Commission staff have filed a comment stating that the amended version of proposed Louisiana House Bill 687, if enacted, would further restrict competition to provide dental care to underserved children in the state, without providing any countervailing benefits to consumers.

May 21, 2009

• For Release: May 21, 2009
  FTC Chairman Appoints Willard Tom as General Counsel and Announces Four Other Senior AppointmentsFederal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz announced the appointment of Willard K. “Will” Tom as General Counsel for the agency, and the appointment of Peter J. Levitas, Mark W. Frankena, Howard Shelanski, and Judith Bailey to senior positions in the agency’s Competition and Economics Bureaus and the Office of Congressional Relations.

May 20, 2009

• For Release: May 20, 2009
  FTC Announces “Operation False Charity” Law Enforcement SweepAgency Joined by 49 States in Bringing 76 Actions Against Fraudulent Solicitors Nationwide

May 19, 2009

• For Your Information: May 19, 2009
  Extra! Extra! FTC Announces Workshop: ‘Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection, and First Amendment Perspectives’The Federal Trade Commission today announced it will hold a series of workshops titled “Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection, and First Amendment Perspectives.” The first workshop will be held on September 15, 2009.

May 18, 2009

• Media Advisory: May 18, 2009
  FTC, States to Announce Initiative Targeting Phony Charity SolicitationsThe Federal Trade Commission, together with dozens of state law enforcement officials, will announce “Operation False Charity,” a crackdown on fraudulent telemarketers who falsely claim to be soliciting money on behalf of police, firefighters, and veterans charities, at a press conference at FTC Headquarters Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 11 a.m.
• For Release: May 18, 2009
  FTC Obtains Court Order Halting Deceptive Mortgage Relief Internet Ads; Marketers Falsely Claimed to Operate MakingHomeAffordable.govAt the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal district court issued an order to stop an Internet-based operation that pretends to operate “MakingHomeAffordable.gov,” the official Web site of the federal Making Home Affordable program for free mortgage loan assistance.
• For Your Information: May 18, 2009
  FTC to Host Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration RoundtableThe Federal Trade Commission and the Searle Center on Law, Regulation, and Economic Growth at Northwestern University School of Law will host a two-day public event, “Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration: A Roundtable Discussion,” in Chicago, Illinois, on August 5 and 6, 2009.

May 15, 2009

• For Release: May 15, 2009
  Judge Orders Halt to Illegal Robocalls Selling Deceptive WarrantiesToday Judge John F. Grady of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a temporary restraining order stopping telemarketing company Voice Touch, Inc., its principals James and Maureen Dunne, its business partner Network Foundations LLC, and Network Foundations principal Damian Kohlfeld from making any further calls in violation of the Do Not Call Registry and other provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the FTC Act.

May 14, 2009

• For Release: May 14, 2009
  Statement in the Matter of RambusThe Federal Trade Commission has formally dismissed the complaint in the Rambus matter.
• For Release: May 14, 2009
  FTC Files Suit to Stop Illegal Robocalls Pushing Vehicle “Warranty” ExtensionsCompanies Charged With Making Hundreds of Millions of Deceptive Calls to Consumers
• Media Advisory: May 14, 2009
  FTC Announces Suits Challenging Robo Callers and “Warranty” MarketersThe Federal Trade Commission will hold a telephone press availability on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. EST to announce federal lawsuits filed today challenging an operation that made hundreds of millions of robocalls to promote an operation that sold bogus auto warranties.
• For Release: May 14, 2009
  FTC Warns Internet Peddlers that Potentially Bogus H1N1 Influenza Products May Violate Federal LawThe Federal Trade Commission has warned Web site operators who made claims that their products can prevent, treat, or cure the Influenza A/H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, that they must have scientific proof to support their claims

May 13, 2009

• For Your Information: May 13, 2009
  Spotting Signs of a Rental ScamConsumers in search of an apartment or house to rent often rely on online rental listings in order to find the right place, especially if they’re looking in another city or state.
• For Your Information: May 13, 2009
  FTC Helps Entities That Have Low Risk of Identity Theft Comply With “Red Flags” RuleTo help entities that have a low risk of identity theft – such as businesses that know their customers personally – the Federal Trade Commission has created a template that guides such businesses and organizations in developing written identity theft prevention programs to comply with the Red Flags Rule.

May 12, 2009

• For Release: May 12, 2009
  FTC Testifies on Efforts to Protect Consumers of Financial ServicesThe Federal Trade Commission today told the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce that, in response to the current economic crisis, the FTC has substantially increased its law enforcement efforts to protect consumers of financial services.
• For Release: May 12, 2009
  Work-At-Home Marketers Settle FTC Charges: Falsely Claimed Consumers Could Earn Significant Income Processing Medical BillsThe marketers of a work-at-home scam who led consumers to believe they could earn $500 or more per week processing medical bills and would receive training and access to customers have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their deceptive claims violated federal law.
• For Your Information: May 12, 2009
  FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of Native Essence Herb CompanyCommission Approval of Final Consent Order: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter of Native Essence Herb Company.

May 11, 2009

• For Release: May 11, 2009
  FTC Alleges That Mortgage Lender Charged Hispanics Higher Prices for LoansThe Federal Trade Commission has charged a home mortgage lender and its owner with violating federal law by charging Hispanic consumers higher prices for mortgage loans than non-Hispanic white consumers – price disparities that cannot be explained by the applicants’ credit characteristics or underwriting risk.
• For Your Information: May 11, 2009
  Commission Submits FY 2010 Budget Request and GPRA Performance Plans to Congress; Commission Seeks Public Comments on Agency’s Negative Option RuleBudget request and GPRA Performance Plans submission to Congress: The Commission has approved the FTC’s FY 2010 Budget Overview Statement and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Plans for FY 2009 and FY 2010. The Commission is seeking public comment on its Rule Concerning the Use of Prenotification Negative Option Plans (Negative Option Rule), 16 C.F.R. Part 425, as part of the agency’s systematic review of its rules and guides.

May 6, 2009

• For Release: May 6, 2009
  Competition Senior Deputy Director Ken Glazer to Leave FTCFederal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz announced today that Ken Glazer, Senior Deputy Director of the Bureau of Competition, plans to leave the FTC this month.
• For Release: May 6, 2009
  FTC Testifies on Efforts to Combat Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification ScamsThe Federal Trade Commission today told the U.S. House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the Committee on Financial Services that, with the rapid increase in mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, the FTC has intensified its efforts to protect consumers from foreclosure rescue and loan modification scams.

May 5, 2009

• For Release: May 5, 2009
  FTC Testifies on Data Security, Peer-to-Peer File SharingAnnounces Settlement of Case Against Mortgage Lender That Allegedly Failed to Safeguard Consumer Information

May 4, 2009

• For Release: May 4, 2009
  Mortgage Foreclosure ‘Rescue’ Defendants Settle FTC Charges for Deceiving HomeownersTwo individuals who lured homeowners into high-cost, short-term loans secured by an additional mortgage on their homes have settled FTC charges that they violated federal law – and a previous court order against them.
• For Your Information: May 4, 2009
  FTC Staff Advises Louisiana Legislature That Bill Would Restrict Competition to Provide Dental Care to the State’s Underserved Children;At FTC’s Request, District Court Halts Illegal Operations of Federal Loan Modification Law CenterFederal Trade Commission staff have filed a comment stating that proposed Louisiana House Bill 687, if enacted, would restrict competition to provide dental care to underserved children in the state. At the request of the FTC, on April 24, 2009, a U.S. district court issued a preliminary injunction against Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP;

May 1, 2009

• For Release: May 1, 2009
  FDA, FTC Warn Public of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza ProductsOffending Web Sites and Illegal Activity Targeted for Action
• For Your Information: May 1, 2009
  Commission Submits Comment to FERC on Competitive Assessments of Partial Acquisitions: Careful, Case-by-Case Analysis EncouragedThe FTC has submitted a comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concerning FERC’s competitive assessments of partial acquisitions of electric power providers, including by private equity firms holding investments in competing electric power providers (Docket No. PL09-3-000).
• For Your Information: May 1, 2009
  FTC Seeks Public Comments on Petition to Modify 2004 Order Regarding AOL and CompuServe to Allow the Use of Third-Party Verification for Consumer ConsentThe Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on a petition from America Online, Inc. and CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc. to reopen and modify a January 2004 final FTC Order concerning the two companies.
• For Your Information: May 1, 2009
  Tell Mom You Care About Keeping Her Personal Information Safe OnlineMom has given out lots of good advice over the years. On Mother’s Day, let her know you’re looking out for her, too.