Welcome to the FTC
News Releases for December 2010
December 29, 2010
- For Release: December 29, 2010
FTC Puts Conditions on Keystone's $245 Million Purchase of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain’s Advanced Ceramics BusinessOrder Protects Competition in Market for Alumina Wear Tile Used to Line Industrial Equipment.
December 22, 2010
- For Release: December 22, 2010
FTC Charges Massive Internet Enterprise with Scamming Consumers Out of Millions Billing Month-After-Month for Products and Services They Never OrderedDefendants Allegedly Created 51 Shell Companies to Carry Out Deception - For Your Information: December 22, 2010
FTC Proposes Additional Time for Manufacturers to Adopt New Light Bulb LabelsThe Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on whether to provide manufacturers approximately six additional months to incorporate new light bulb labels on their packaging, and whether to exempt certain bulbs that will soon be obsolete from those requirements.
December 21, 2010
- For Your Information: December 21, 2010
Countdown to National Consumer Protection Week 2011 Begins; Website and Blog LaunchedThe Federal Trade Commission has launched the website and blog for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2011, to be held March 6-12.
December 17, 2010
- For Your Information: December 17, 2010
FTC Staff Submits Comments to Federal Reserve on Making Fair Lending Law Stronger; FTC Announces Increase in Maximum Charge for Extra Copies of Credit ReportsThe Federal Trade Commission staff has submitted comments to the Federal Reserve Board recommending ways the Board could strengthen the rules under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, which requires some mortgage lenders to collect and report loan data that the government uses to analyze whether they are complying with fair lending laws.
The Federal Trade Commission announced that the limit on how much consumer reporting companies are allowed to charge consumers for an extra copy of their credit report will increase from $10.50 to $11.00, effective January 1, 2011. - Tips For Consumers: December 17, 2010
FTC Offers Online Shopping Tips for the HolidaysThe Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has tips to help consumers make smart online shopping decisions for the holidays.
December 16, 2010
- For Release: December 16, 2010
Statement by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz on Department of Commerce's Green Paper on Consumer Privacy“The Department of Commerce’s Green Paper is a welcome addition to the ongoing dialogue about protecting consumers’ privacy. - For Release: December 16, 2010
FTC Revises Jewelry Guides to Reflect the Use of Base Metal Alloys in Platinum JewelryConsumer and Business Education Updated to Help with Holiday Shopping
December 15, 2010
- For Release: December 15, 2010
Dannon Agrees to Drop Exaggerated Health Claims for Activia Yogurt and DanActive Dairy DrinkFTC Charges that Evidence Supporting Benefits of Probiotics Falls Short - For Release: December 15, 2010
Statement by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz Regarding House and Senate Passage of Legislation to Combat Deceptive Online Sales TacticsCongress has passed the “Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act” to combat deceptive online sales tactics that keep charging consumers for goods and services until they cancel their membership.
December 14, 2010
- For Release: December 14, 2010
FTC Halts Operation that Posed as Government Agencies and Duped Consumers into Paying to Collect Bogus Prize MoneyAt the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal judge has halted an operation that allegedly tricked people into paying a $20 fee to collect a fake multi-million-dollar sweepstakes prize.
December 13, 2010
- For Release: December 13, 2010
FTC Orders Polypore International to Divest Rival Manufacturer it Acquired in 2008Requires that Microporous Products L.P. be Sold to an FTC-Approved Buyer - For Release: December 13, 2010
FTC Settlement Prohibits Marketers of Children's Vitamins from Making Deceptive Health Claims about Brain and Eye DevelopmentMarketers Must Pay $2.1 Million to Refund Purchasers of Disney- and Marvel Heroes-Licensed Vitamin
December 8, 2010
- For Release: December 8, 2010
Statement by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz Regarding House and Senate Passage of Legislation Clarifying Red Flags RuleCongress has passed legislation resolving the uncertainty it created when it directed the federal financial institution regulatory agencies and the Federal Trade Commission to develop the Identity Theft Red Flags Rule, which requires many businesses and organizations to have a written Identity Theft Prevention Program designed to detect the warning signs – or “red flags” – of identity theft in their day-to-day operations.
December 7, 2010
- For Release: December 7, 2010
FTC Seeks Public Comments on Ways to Strengthen Caller ID Provisions of the Commission's Telemarketing Sales RuleSeeks Ways to Combat Technologies That Hide Callers' Identities
December 6, 2010
- For Release: December 6, 2010
FTC Shuts Down Robocallers Who Falsely Promised to Lower Credit Card Interest RatesAgency Also Issues National Do Not Call Registry Data Book for Fiscal Year 2010 - For Release: December 6, 2010
FTC Action Puts Deceptive Marketer Out of the Debt Relief BusinessMust Surrender Funds in Bank Accounts and Sell Property and Investments
December 3, 2010
- For Your Information: December 3, 2010
FTC's 2010 Report Concludes U.S. Ethanol Market Still UnconcentratedThe market for ethanol fuel in the United States is still unconcentrated, with 160 firms nationwide either producing ethanol or likely to be in production within the next 18 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2010 report on the state of U.S. ethanol production. - For Your Information: December 3, 2010
FTC Offers Businesses Tips for Securing Data on Digital CopiersThe Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has tips for businesses on how to safeguard sensitive data stored on the hard drives of digital copiers.
December 2, 2010
- For Release: December 2, 2010
FTC Charges Marketers with Making Unsubstantiated Claims that They Could Eliminate Consumers’ DebtAs part of its continuing crackdown on scams that target consumers in financial distress, the Federal Trade Commission has charged three debt relief operations with making unsubstantiated claims to lure consumers nationwide into paying thousands of dollars in up-front fees, but failing to reduce credit card debts as promised. - For Release: December 2, 2010
FTC Testifies on Do Not Track LegislationProposes Browser Setting So Consumers Can Make Choices About Online Tracking
December 1, 2010
- For Release: December 1, 2010
FTC Staff Issues Privacy Report, Offers Framework for Consumers, Businesses, and PolicymakersEndorses “Do Not Track” to Facilitate Consumer Choice About Online Tracking - Media Advisory: December 1, 2010
FTC to Announce Law Enforcement Actions to Protect ConsumersThe Federal Trade Commission will host a press conference in Dallas on Thursday, December 2, at 11 a.m. CST (noon EST) to announce law enforcement actions to protect consumers coping with the economic downturn. - For Release: December 1, 2010
FTC Challenges LabCorp's Acquisition of Rival Clinical Laboratory Testing CompanyAlleges Integration of Westcliff Medical Laboratories Would Lead to Higher Prices, Lower Quality - For Release: December 1, 2010
FTC Testifies on Antitrust Enforcement in the Health Care IndustryAgency Focuses on Practices That Could Increase Costs, Reduce Quality of Service - Media Advisory: December 1, 2010
FTC Chairman to Hold Telephone Press Availability on New Privacy ReportThe Chairman, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Chief Technologist of the Federal Trade Commission will hold a telephone media availability on Wednesday, December 1, at 1 p.m. to answer reporters’ questions about a new FTC report on privacy that outlines a framework for consumers, businesses and policymakers.