Advisory Opinions

Our staff issue advisory opinions to help clarify FTC rules and decisions regarding either competition or consumer protection issues, often in response to requests from businesses and industry groups. To find a specific opinion, use the filters on this page. Parties may request advice from our staff concerning proposed conduct.

Opinion 05-3

April 29, 2005

Discusses the application of the Franchise Rule to an opportunity involving the use of point-of-sale touch screen terminals.

Informal Staff Advisory Opinion 05-3

Stevens Hospital, of Edmonds, Washington

April 18, 2005

Letter from David Pender to Gordon J. Oakes, dated April 18, 2005, Concerning the Applicability of the Non-Profit Institutions Act Amendments to the Robinson-Patman Act to Stevens' Proposed Pricing of Pharmaceuticals (18.42 KB)

Incoming Letter from Stevens Hospital, dated March 4, 2005 (50.38 KB)

Letter to Council for Responsible Nutrition Regarding ConsumerLab.com, LLC and its Product Review and Voluntary Certification Programs for Testing Dietary Supplements and Similar

March 15, 2005

Letter to Council for Responsible Nutrition Regarding ConsumerLab.com, LLC and its Product Review and Voluntary Certification Programs for Testing Dietary Supplements and Similar (79.21 KB)

Letter to the DMA Regarding Email Messages Containing Content From Multiple Advertisers When One of the Advertisers Has the Recipient's Affirmative Consent

March 8, 2005

Letter to the DMA Regarding Email Messages Containing Content From Multiple Advertisers When One of the Advertisers Has the Recipient's Affirmative Consent (336.3 KB)

Opinion 05-2

March 2, 2005

Discusses the applicability of the Franchise Rule to a license to use a method designed to increase sales of experienced businesses.

Informal Staff Advisory Opinion 05-2

Letter To Commercial Alert Applying Commission Policy To Determine On A Case-By-Case Basis Whether Particular Advertising Formats Such As Product Placements Are Deceptive

February 10, 2005

Letter To Commercial Alert Applying Commission Policy To Determine On A Case-By-Case Basis Whether Particular Advertising Formats Such As Product Placements Are Deceptive (704.51 KB)

Opinion 05-1

January 5, 2005

Addresses the Franchise Rule's single trademark license exclusion.

Informal Staff Advisory Opinion 05-1

Opinion 04-4

November 8, 2004

Addresses the application of the Franchise Rule to a membership network.

Informal Staff Advisory Opinion 04-4

Opinion 04-2

July 22, 2004

Discusses access to the National Do Not Call Registry by members of the market or opinion research industry.

Opinion 04-2 (30.44 KB)

Opinion 04-2

June 22, 2004

Discusses use of a NFDA-designed receipt for third-party caskets.

Opinion 04-2 (140.05 KB)

Letter to the Mortgage Bankers Association Regarding FTC Settlement with Fairbanks

June 17, 2004

Letter to the Mortgage Bankers Association Regarding FTC Settlement with Fairbanks (104.01 KB)

Letter from Mortgage Bankers Association re: FTC-Fairbanks Consent Order (61.38 KB)

Opinion 04-3

June 7, 2004

Discusses the application of the Franchise Rule to a web-based travel service.

Informal Staff Advisory Opinion 04-3

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

May 24, 2004

re: Proposed settlement of infringement litigation with Teva Pharmaceuticals involving sharing of the exclusivity period for the drug Paraplatin.

Letter from Donald S. Clark to Richard J. Stark, dated May 24, 2004 (28.67 KB)

Commission Advisory Opinion Addressing Proposed Agreement Between Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Teva Pharemaceuticals USA, Inc.

May 24, 2004

Text of the Advisory Opinion (Public Record Version) (28.67 KB)

Text of the Request for An Advisory Opinion (Public Record Version) (2.17 MB)

Supplement to Request for Advisory Opinion (Public Record Version) April 27, 2004 (679.13 KB)

Supplement to Request for Advisory Opinion (Public Record Version) April 29, 2004 (1.32 MB)

Related Release:

Announced Actions for May 25, 2004

Opinion 04-1

May 12, 2004

Reaffirms earlier staff advisory opinion that a funeral home may not make consumers sign for third-party caskets.

Opinion 04-1 (245.25 KB)

Opinion 04-3

April 27, 2004

Discusses what funeral goods and services must be separately itemized on the General Price List; under what circumstances items may be listed as "no charge"; whether funeral providers may use separate General Price Lists for funerals for children; whether the cost of cremation must be included in the price for direct cremation.

Opinion 04-3 (406.42 KB)