Every year the FTC brings hundreds of cases against individuals and companies for violating consumer protection and competition laws that the agency enforces. These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anti-competitive behavior and more. The Legal Library has detailed information about cases we have brought in federal court or through our internal administrative process, called an adjudicative proceeding.
Retina-X Studios, LLC, In the Matter of
Retina-X Studios, LLC, reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that the company and its owner failed to secure the data collected by its “stalking” apps and ensure the apps were used for legitimate purposes.
T&M Protection Resources, LLC, In the Matter of
T&M Protection Resources, LLC, settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company misrepresented its participation in and compliance with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Par Petroleum/Mid Pac Petroleum, In the Matter of
Texas-based energy company Par Petroleum Corporation agreed to terminate its storage and throughput rights at a key gasoline terminal in Hawaii, to settle FTC charges that Par’s proposed $107 million acquisition of Koko’oha Investments, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Mid Pac Petroleum, LLC would likely be anticompetitive. According to the FTC’s complaint, the proposed merger would reduce competition and lead to higher prices for bulk supply of Hawaii-grade gasoline blendstock, ultimately increasing the price of gasoline for Hawaii consumers. As a result of the proposed acquisition, Par gained Mid Pac’s rights to Aloha’s Barbers Point terminal, which it does not need for importation because it produces its own blendstock, but which it could exercise in a manner that impairs Aloha’s use of its terminal. If Par were to hamper Aloha’s import capability, it would weaken Aloha’s ability to negotiate lower bulk supply prices from Par and Chevron, and thus reduce Aloha’s ability to compete effectively in the bulk supply market. Potential new competitors would be unable to deter or counteract the anticompetitive effects resulting from the acquisition, according to the complaint. The consent agreement requires Par to terminate the Barbers Point terminal storage and throughput rights it acquires from Mid Pac within five days after the merger is completed. Par will retain rights to load a limited number of tanker trucks at the Barbers Point terminal, and must obtain prior FTC approval to modify these rights or enter into any new agreement at the Barbers Point terminal. In January 2020, the FTC sought public comment on Par’s application to modify the agreement to store petroleum products at Barbers Point terminal.
Statement of the Commission in the Matter of Teami, LLC
Statement of Chairman Joseph Simons and Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips Concerning the Rent-to-Own Swaps Matter
Dissenting Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra, In the Matter of Rent-to-Own Market Allocation Scheme
Concurring Statement of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter in the Matter of Shop Tutors, Inc. d/b/a LendEDU
Click Labs, Inc., In the Matter of
Click Labs, Inc. settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company made false claims in connection with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Global Data Vault, LLC, In the Matter of
Global Data Vault, LLC, settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company made false claims in connection with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Incentive Services, Inc., In the Matter of
Incentive Services, Inc., settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company made false claims in connection with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework, which enables companies to transfer consumer data legally from European Union countries to the United States.
TDARX, Inc., In the Matter of
TDARX, Inc., settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company made false claims in connection with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Illumina Inc./Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., In the Matter of
The Federal Trade Commission authorized an action to block Illumina Inc.’s proposed $1.2 billion acquisition of Pacific Biosciences of California, alleging in an administrative complaint that Illumina is seeking to unlawfully maintain its monopoly in the U.S. market for next-generation DNA sequencing systems by extinguishing PacBio as a nascent competitive threat. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and to authorize staff to seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction was 5-0. On Jan. 2, 2020, the parties abandoned the transaction.
Post Holdings, Inc.; In the Matter of
The Federal Trade Commission authorized an action to block Post Holdings, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of the private label ready-to-eat ("RTE") cereal business of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. In an administrative complaint issued on December 19, 2019, the Commission alleges that the proposed acquisition would harm retailers and end consumers by eliminating head-to-head competition between the Respondents in the United States market for private label RTE cereal. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and to authorize staff to seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction was 5-0. The administrative trial is scheduled to begin on May 27, 2020. The parties announced they had abandoned the transaction on Jan. 13, 2020.
DCR Workforce, Inc., In the Matter of
DCR Workforce, Inc. reached a settlement with the FTC over allegations that the company made false or misleading representations about its participation in the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
LotaData, Inc., In the Matter of
LotaData settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company falsely claimed certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
EmpiriStat, In the Matter of
EmpiriStat settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company falsely claimed certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Trueface.ai, In the Matter of
Trueface.ai settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company falsely claimed certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Thru, Inc., In the Matter of
Thru, Inc. reached a settlement with the FTC over allegations that the company made false and misleading representations about its participation in the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield frameworks.