June 2016

Inflation increases for maximum civil penalty amounts

By: Kelly Signs, Bureau of Competition | Jun 29, 2016 3:17PM

Last year, federal agencies, including the FTC, were instructed to adjust the maximum civil penalties for violations of laws they enforce. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires agencies to adjust penalty amounts using the “catch-up” inflation adjustment methodology contained in the Act.

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Celebrating the Solstice - FTC-style

By: John Seesel, Office of the General Counsel, and Derek Moore, Office of Policy Planning | Jun 20, 2016 12:35PM

Looking for ways to celebrate the summer solstice? Tune in to the FTC's workshop on competition and consumer protection issues in solar energy. Tomorrow, on June 21, scientists, academics, regulators, and other industry experts will come together for a series of presentations and roundtables to discuss:

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Competition, innovation, and legal services

By: Christopher Grengs, Bureau of Competition | Jun 15, 2016 4:30PM

The legal services marketplace, like many sectors of the economy, is experiencing dynamic change. Among other things, clients have demanded more cost-effective and efficient services, and legal services providers increasingly use computer technologies to deliver their services. Dynamic changes in the legal services marketplace continue to raise questions about how to define the scope of the licensed practice of law.

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Wiring your HSR filing fee just got easier

By: Premerger Notification Office Staff, Bureau of Competition | Jun 6, 2016 1:52PM

The PNO handles Hart-Scott-Rodino Premerger Notification Filings for well over a thousand transactions each year. Each transaction requires the acquiring person to pay an HSR filing fee, which must be paid within two days of filing an HSR Form in order for the HSR waiting period to begin. If payment isn’t received on time, the PNO will "bounce" the filing as incomplete and delay the start of the waiting period.

The FTC has recently made some changes that will make it easier to get your HSR filing fee to the agency.  This blog provides an overview of what’s new.

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