9823587
B254576

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

In the Matter of

USDRIVES CORPORATION, a corporation

DOCKET NO. C-3866

COMPLAINT

The Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that USDrives Corporation ("respondent") has violated the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and it appearing to the Commission that this proceeding is in the public interest, alleges:

1. Respondent USDrives Corporation is a California corporation with its principal office or place of business at 850 Auburn Court, Fremont, California 94538.

2. Respondent has manufactured, advertised, labeled, offered for sale, sold, and distributed products to the public, including optical drives that read information on compact disc read-only memory discs ("CD-ROM drives").

3. The acts and practices of respondent alleged in this complaint have been in or affecting commerce, as "commerce" is defined in Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

4. Respondent has disseminated or has caused to be disseminated packaging and labeling for its CD-ROM drives, including but not necessarily limited to the attached Exhibits A through C. The packaging and labeling contain the following statements and depictions:

A. Exhibit A, product packaging for CD-ROM drive 24X IDE

1. Depiction of the American eagle (on two principal display panels of package);

 

2. The statement "MADE IN THE USA" in red and blue (on two principal panels and top panel of package);

 

3. The company name "USDrives" in red, white, and blue (on all panels except bottom panel of package).

B. Exhibit B, product packaging for CD-ROM drive 20x IDE

1. Depiction of the American flag in red, white, and blue in a circle surrounded by the statement "Well made in the U.S.A." (on two principal display panels and top panel of package);

2. A depiction of the Statue of Liberty (on one principal display panel of package);

3. A depiction of the American eagle (on one principal display panel of package);

4. The company name "USDrives" in red, white, and blue (on all panels except bottom panel of package).

C. Exhibit C, name plate label for Model No.: USDRIVE 24DT

1. The statement "MADE IN USA."

5. Through the means described in Paragraph 4, respondent has represented, expressly or by implication, that its CD-ROM drives are made in the United States, i.e., that all, or virtually all, of the component parts of its CD-ROM drives are made in the United States, and that all, or virtually all, of the labor in manufacturing its CD-ROM drives is performed in the United States.

6. In truth and in fact, the CD-ROM drives packaged in Exhibits A or B or labeled with the statement in Exhibit C were, or are, assembled in the United States of primarily imported parts. Therefore, the representations set forth in paragraph 5 were, and are, false or misleading.

7. Respondent has disseminated or has caused to be disseminated packaging for its CD-ROM drives, including but not necessarily limited to the attached Exhibits D and E. The packaging contain the following statements and depictions:

A. Exhibit D, revised product packaging for CD-ROM drive 24x IDE

1. A depiction of the American Eagle (on two principal display panels of package);

 

2. A depiction of a billowing American flag in red, white, and blue (across two principal display panels of package);

 

3. The company name "USDrives" in red, white, and blue (on all panels except bottom panel of package);

In small print at the bottom of two side panels, the words "MADE IN CHINA."

B. Exhibit E, product packaging for CD-ROM drive 32x IDE

1. A depiction of a billowing American flag in red, white, and blue (across two principal display panels of package);

 

2. The company name "USDrives" in red, white, and blue (on all panels except bottom panel of package);

In small print on bottom panel, the words "MADE IN CHINA."

8. Through the means described in Paragraph 7, notwithstanding the inconspicuous statement "Made in China," respondent has represented, expressly or by implication, that its CD-ROM drives are made in the United States, i.e., that all, or virtually all, of the component parts of its CD-ROM drives are made in the United States, and that all, or virtually all, of the labor in manufacturing its CD-ROM drives is performed in the United States.

9. In truth and in fact, the CD-ROM drives packaged in Exhibits D or E were, or are, made in China of primarily non-U.S. parts. Therefore, the representations set forth in paragraph 8 were, and are, false or misleading.

10. The acts and practices of respondent as alleged in this complaint constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

THEREFORE, the Federal Trade Commission this sixth day of April, 1999, has issued this complaint against respondent.

By the Commission.

Donald S. Clark
Secretary

SEAL: