Business Blog

Consumers have made it clear: They want to know what their apps are up to.  And when it comes to apps for kids, italicize that, put it in ALL CAPS, and multiply by 10.  That’s why the FTC has released a new way of letting parents know just what their kids’ apps may be doing.  Savvy app developers will want to take a look, too.

Fair Guide.  Is it a list of consumer protection laws?  With summer coming, maybe ratings of the best funnel cakes and Ferris wheels?  Forgive the flight of fancy, but we see it as a great title for a compendium of blog posts about business compliance.  But that’s not what it is — not by a longshot.

The mobile apps market is thriving and lots of app developers are striving to be players in the game. If you’re developing apps for smartphones, tablets or other mobile devices, there are some basic truth-in-advertising standards and privacy principles that apply to you.

Paper, Plastic, . . . Mobile?  The question isn’t about how you bag your groceries — it’s about how you pay for them.  Are you going to use cold hard cash?

The FTC just accepted final settlements with two of the largest paint manufacturers in the country — Sherwin-Williams and PPG Architectural Finishes.  The complaints charged that the companies made deceptive “zero VOC” claims for their Dutch Boy Refresh and Pure Performance brands.  But along with the settlements, the FTC issued an Enforcement Policy Statement that's a must-read if you're thinking about making similar claims and want to comply with

‘Tis the season for the entertainment industry to hand out statuettes for notable achievement.  It’s also the time of year when the FTC singles out industries "nominated" by consumers for actions of a less admirable nature.  According to the just-released Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, the FTC received more than 2 million complaints from consumers in 2012 — the most ever.  What industries show up on the one Top 10 list that companies want to avoid?

HTC America is a leading manufacturer of smartphones and tablets using the Android, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone operating systems.  The company’s motto is “quietly brilliant.”  But based on an FTC lawsuit challenging the company's security practices, consumers might be surprised to find out their devices have also been “quietly vulnerable.”  To settle the case — the FTC’s first against a device manufacturer — HTC has agreed to a far-reaching settlement that imposes a first-of-its-kind remedy:  patching vulnerabilities on millions

When even the #1 movie at the box office is called “Identity Thief,” it’s a topic at the top of everyone’s list.  If you’re in the financial or healthcare sector — or just want to stay up on an emerging issue — find out more about an FTC initiative focused on how identity theft affects a particular segment of your community.

If you’re in the financial field, chances are you’re familiar with the FACT Act (sometimes called FACTA by friends and family).  It’s the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which amended portions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  Research just released by the FTC puts the word “accurate” under the microscope.

Some factoids of interest from the Report to Congress.