Category Archives: Consumer Protection

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Smart TV Manufacturer “Smarting” after $2.2 Million Privacy Enforcement

By Dana B. Rosenfeld and Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Privacy and Information Security
This week, the FTC announced a settlement with VIZIO, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of “smart” TVs.  The settlement, also with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, arises from claims by regulators that VIZIO installed software that collected viewing data for 11 million consumer TVs without consent.  The $2.2 million settlement … Continue Reading

FTC Announces Changes at the Helm of the Bureau of Consumer Protection; Thomas Pahl to Take Over as Acting Bureau Director Following Jessica Rich’s Departure

By John E. Villafranco, William C. MacLeod, Christie Grymes Thompson, Dana B. Rosenfeld and Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Acting Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Maureen Ohlhausen announced today that Thomas Pahl – a current partner at Arnall Golden Gregory with significant experience at both the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – will take over as Acting Director on February 17.  Jessica Rich will depart as Director of the Bureau of … Continue Reading

New FTC Acting Chair Maureen Ohlhausen Offers Insight into Consumer Protection Priorities

By Spencer Elg, Christie Grymes Thompson, William C. MacLeod, Donnelly L. McDowell and Dana B. Rosenfeld on Posted in Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Privacy and Information Security
Just over one week after being named acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Maureen Ohlhausen delivered the keynote address at the American Bar Association’s biennial Consumer Protection Conference in Atlanta on February 2. During her remarks, acting chair Ohlhausen offered insight into consumer protection priorities during her tenure as acting chair. First, acting … Continue Reading

FTC Announces Settlement with Uber over Allegedly Deceptive Earnings Claims; Commissioner Ohlhausen Dissents

By John E. Villafranco, Kristi Wolff and Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
In its latest action involving allegedly deceptive earnings claims, the FTC announced yesterday that Uber had agreed to settle charges that it misled potential drivers with inflated earnings claims.  The complaint also alleges that Uber misrepresented benefits of its Vehicle Solutions Program, which connects potential drivers with auto companies to buy or lease a vehicle … Continue Reading

Announcing the Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising and Privacy Law Summit, Advertising Litigation, Agreements, Antitrust, Class Actions, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Fashion and Retail, Federal & State Regulatory, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Internet of Things, Legislative Developments, Marketing & Media Transactions, Mobile Marketing, NAD, Native Advertising, Privacy and Information Security, Real Time Marketing, Regulatory Developments, Social Media, State Attorneys General
Please join Kelley Drye in 2017 for the Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series. Like our annual in-person event, this series will provide engaging speakers with extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of advertising, privacy, and consumer protection. These webinars will give key updates and provide practical tips to address issues faced by counsel. … Continue Reading

FTC Chairwoman Ramirez Announces Resignation Effective February 10

By William C. MacLeod, John E. Villafranco, Dana B. Rosenfeld and Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Privacy and Information Security
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced today that she will resign her position effective February 10, leaving the Commission with three vacancies and just two remaining commissioners.  Chairwoman Ramirez has been a commissioner since April 5, 2010 and became Chairwoman on March 4, 2013. In announcing her resignation, she remarked: “It has been the … Continue Reading

California Choice of Law Provision Defeats Claim Under NJ Consumer Protection Law

By Jeffrey S. Jacobson on Posted in Consumer Protection, TCCWNA
On Monday, a California federal judge enforced the California choice-of-law clause in Facebook’s online terms of use, and on that basis refused to consider the claims of a New Jersey resident that aspects of those terms of use violated New Jersey’s consumer contract disclosure law, the Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty, and Notice Act (“TCCWNA”).  The decision … Continue Reading

New Jersey’s TCCWNA: New Year, Same Uncertainty

By Jeffrey S. Jacobson on Posted in Class Actions, Consumer Protection, TCCWNA
In 2016, many retailers found themselves on the wrong end of class actions brought under New Jersey’s Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (“TCCWNA”). The suits allege that these retailers’ website terms of service either contained provisions that violated some “clearly established” New Jersey or federal law, or else stated that violative terms might not … Continue Reading

The Ninth Circuit’s Briseno Decision Is Not As Bad As It Looks for Consumer Class Action Defendants

By Jeffrey S. Jacobson on Posted in Advertising Litigation, Class Actions, Consumer Protection
The Ninth Circuit’s decision this week in Briseno v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., No. 15-55727, refused to engraft an “administrative feasibility” requirement to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23’s prerequisites for certifying a class action.  What this means, basically, is that in Ninth Circuit courts, a named plaintiff seeking class certification need not “demonstrate an administratively … Continue Reading

Avoiding the Enforcement Crosshairs of Cross-Device Tracking

By Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Advertising, Consumer Protection, Internet of Things, Mobile Marketing
The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) recently announced that enforcement of its guidance on cross-device tracking (the “Application of the DAA Principles of Transparency and Control to Data Used Across Devices”) is set to begin on February 1, 2017. Originally published in November 2015, the guidance was intended to clarify how the DAA’s Core Principles of … Continue Reading

Protected: 2016 Advertising and Privacy Law Summit Attendee Follow up

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising and Privacy Law Summit, Advertising Litigation, Class Actions, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Dietary Supplements, Enforcement, Federal & State Regulatory, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Green Marketing, Internet of Things, Kelley Drye, Legislative Developments, Made in USA, Mobile Marketing, NAD, Native Advertising, Privacy and Information Security, Promotions, Real Time Marketing, Regulatory Developments
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

“Follow the Lead” Recap: FTC Summarizes Takeaways from Workshop on Lead Generation

By Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Lead Generation, Marketing & Media Transactions, Privacy and Information Security
The FTC released last week a paper summarizing and reflecting on its October 30, 2015 public workshop, “Follow the Lead,” which we previously discussed here and focused on lead generation practices and related privacy and consumer protection issues.  The paper expands upon many of the same principles addressed at the workshop, including how lead generation … Continue Reading

Beyond “Clear and Conspicuous”: FTC Workshop Highlights Issues Related to Testing of Consumer Disclosures

By Donnelly L. McDowell and Spencer Elg on Posted in Advertising, Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
On advertisements, websites, and legal documents, disclosures are everywhere.  But how do consumers notice, understand, and use disclosures in their decision-making?  And how can businesses and advertisers effectively design and evaluate disclosures?  These were questions that the Federal Trade Commission explored during its September 15 public workshop, “Putting Disclosures to the Test.”  Throughout the one-day … Continue Reading

A Pound of Flesh Just Got Heavier

By Kristi Wolff and Spencer Elg on Posted in Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Legislative Developments
The Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday that it has approved final amendments to Commission Rule 1.98 that adjust the maximum civil penalty dollar amounts for violations of 16 provisions of law the FTC enforces, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015 (“Adjustment Act”), which requires federal agencies to implement a … Continue Reading

CPSC Maxes Out and Obtains Record $15.45 Million Civil Penalty

By Christie Grymes Thompson on Posted in Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection
Good Friday was not so good for Gree Electric Appliances, Inc., because the CPSC announced that it had reached a record-setting $15.45 million settlement with the company regarding dehumidifiers it manufactured and imported.  The CPSC alleged that the company delayed in reporting potential safety hazards, which is typical for CPSC civil penalty actions, but also … Continue Reading
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