UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

COMMISSIONERS:
Robert Pitofsky, Chairman
Sheila F. Anthony
Mozelle W. Thompson
Orson Swindle
Thomas B. Leary

In the Matter of

MOTOR UP CORPORATION, INC. and
MOTOR UP AMERICA, INC.,
corporations, and
KYLE BURNS,
individually and as an officer of the corporations.

Docket No. 9291

DECISION AND ORDER

The Federal Trade Commission having issued its complaint charging the respondents named in the caption hereof with violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and the respondents having been served with a copy of that complaint, together with a notice of contemplated relief; and

The respondents, their attorneys, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by the respondents of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the complaint, a statement that the signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by respondents of facts, other than jurisdictional facts, or of violations of law as alleged in the complaint issued by the Commission.

The Secretary of the Commission having thereafter withdrawn this matter from adjudication in accordance with § 3.25(c) of its Rules; and

The Commission having considered the matter and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in § 3.25(f) of its Rules, the Commission hereby makes the following jurisdictional findings and enters the following order:

1. Respondent Motor Up Corporation, Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal office or place of business at 123 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102.
 
2. Respondent Motor Up America, Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal office or place of business at 759 Federal Highway, Suite 312, Stuart, Florida 34994. Motor Up America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Motor Up Corporation, Inc.
 
3. Respondent Kyle Burns is president of Motor Up Corporation, Inc. Individually or in concert with others, he formulates, directs, or controls the policies, acts, or practices of the corporate respondents, including the acts or practices alleged in this complaint. His principal office or place of business is the same as that of Motor Up Corporation.
 
4. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this proceeding and of the respondents, and the proceeding is in the public interest.


ORDER

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this order, the following definitions shall apply:

1. "Motor Up" shall mean Motor Up No Oil Change Engine Treatment Concentrate.
 
2. "Competent and reliable scientific evidence" shall mean tests, analyses, research, studies, or other evidence based on the expertise of professionals in the relevant area, that has been conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by persons qualified to do so, using procedures generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results.
 
3. Unless otherwise specified, "respondents" shall mean Motor Up Corporation, Inc. and Motor Up America, Inc., corporations, their successors and assigns and their officers; Kyle Burns, individually and as an officer of Motor Up Corporation, Inc.; and each of the above's agents, representatives, and employees.
 
4. "Commerce" shall mean as defined in Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44.

I.

IT IS ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any engine treatment, fuel treatment, motor oil, grease, transmission fluid, or brake fluid, and any additive intended for use with or as a substitute for such products, in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication:

A. that, compared to motor oil alone, use of such product:
 
(1) Reduces engine wear;
 
(2) Reduces engine wear up to 50 percent or by any other quantity;
 
(3) Reduces adhesive engine wear by up to 90.17 percent or by any other quantity;
 
(4) Reduces engine wear during cold starts;
 
(5) Provides more protection against engine wear in cold temperatures;
 
(6) Extends the duration of engine life; or
 
(7) Helps prevent engine breakdowns; or

B. that such product:

(1) Prevents corrosion in engines;
 
(2) Will not drain out from the engine even when the oil is changed;
 
(3) Protects engines for up to 50,000 miles; or
 
(4) Protects against engine wear even without motor oil, grease, transmission fluid or brake fluid; or
 
C. regarding the performance, benefits, efficacy, attributes, or use of such product,

unless, at the time the representation is made, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence, which when appropriate must be competent and reliable scientific evidence, that substantiates the representation.

II.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of Motor Up or any other product for use in a motor vehicle, in or affecting commerce, shall not misrepresent, in any manner, expressly or by implication, the existence, contents, validity, results, conclusions, or interpretations of any test or study.

III.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, in connection with the manufacturing, advertising, labeling, packaging, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of Motor Up or any other product for use in a motor vehicle, in or affecting commerce, shall not misrepresent, in any manner, expressly or by implication, that any demonstration, picture, experiment, illustration or test proves, demonstrates or confirms any material quality, feature or merit of such product, or the superiority or comparability of the product in a material respect relative to any other product.

IV.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Motor Up Corporation, Inc. and Motor Up America, Inc., and their successors and assigns, and respondent Kyle Burns shall, for five (5) years after the last date of dissemination of any representation covered by this order, maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying:

A. All advertisements and promotional materials containing the representation;

B. All materials that were relied upon in disseminating the representation; and

C. All tests, reports, studies, surveys, demonstrations, or other evidence in their possession or control that contradict, qualify, or call into question the representation, or the basis relied upon for the representation, including complaints and other communications with consumers or with governmental or consumer protection organizations.

V.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Motor Up Corporation, Inc. and Motor Up America, Inc., and their successors and assigns, and respondent Kyle Burns shall deliver a copy of this order to all current and future principals, officers, directors, and managers, and to all current and future employees, agents, and representatives having responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of this order, and shall secure from each such person a signed and dated statement acknowledging receipt of the order. Respondents shall deliver this order to current personnel within thirty (30) days after the date of service of this order, and to future personnel within thirty (30) days after the person assumes such position or responsibilities.

VI.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Motor Up Corporation, Inc. and Motor Up America, Inc., and their successors and assigns, shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in the corporation(s) that may affect compliance obligations arising under this order, including but not limited to a dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, or other action that would result in the emergence of a successor corporation; the creation or dissolution of a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any acts or practices subject to this order; the proposed filing of a bankruptcy petition; or a change in the corporate name or address. Provided, however, that, with respect to any proposed change in the corporation about which respondents learn less than thirty (30) days prior to the date such action is to take place, respondents shall notify the Commission as soon as is practicable after obtaining such knowledge. All notices required by this Part shall be sent by certified mail to the Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580.

VII.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Kyle Burns, for a period of ten (10) years after the date of issuance of this order, shall notify the Commission of the discontinuance of his current business or employment, or of his affiliation with any new business or employment. The notice shall include respondent's new business address and telephone number and a description of the nature of the business or employment and his duties and responsibilities. All notices required by this Part shall be sent by certified mail to the Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580.

VIII.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Motor Up Corporation, Inc. and Motor Up America, Inc., and their successors and assigns, and respondent Kyle Burns shall, within sixty (60) days after the date of service of this order, and at such other times as the Federal Trade Commission may require, file with the Commission a report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied with this order.

IX.

This order will terminate on May 3, 2020, or twenty (20) years from the most recent date that the United States or the Federal Trade Commission files a complaint (with or without an accompanying consent decree) in federal court alleging any violation of the order, whichever comes later; provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of:

A. Any Part in this order that terminates in less than twenty (20) years;
 
B. This order's application to any respondent that is not named as a defendant in such complaint; and
 
C. This order if such complaint is filed after the order has terminated pursuant to this Part.

Provided, further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that the respondent did not violate any provision of the order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the order will terminate according to this Part as though the complaint had never been filed, except that the order will not terminate between the date such complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal.

By the Commission.

Donald S. Clark
Secretary

SEAL

ISSUED: May 3, 2000