Facebook could face record fines, say former FTC officials
Facebook’s disclosure last week that its search tools were used to collect data on most of its 2.2 billion users could potentially trigger record fines and create new legal vulnerability for not having prevented risks to user data, said three former federal officials. The three former officials, all of whom were at the Federal Trade […]
Schumer seeks scrutiny of home DNA test privacy policies
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Sunday he wants the Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize how companies that offer at-home DNA testing kits are handling the genetic data. The Senate Democratic leader said he’s not trying to stop the testing or impede research, but he wants to make sure privacy policies are […]
Snuggie seller settles charges
NEW YORK (AP) — The company behind the Snuggie, Perfect Bacon Bowl and other “As Seen on TV” products has agreed to pay $8 million to settle charges that it deceived customers. The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday that Allstar Marketing Group promised customers buy-one-get-one free promotions, but some were still charged for the items […]
FTC awards RIT grad for anti-telemarketer tech
How often have you sat down to a meal or settled in for time with family or friends only to be interrupted by a prerecorded call from a telemarketer? The Federal Trade Commission is betting it’s happened too many times — and recently awarded $25,000 to a former RIT student for coming up with a […]
FTC issues new guidelines for online ads
The Federal Trade Commission has updated its guidelines for online advertising disclosures to grapple with some of the new technologies since its last guidance in 2000. The guidelines are called “.com Disclosures: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising.” The FTC’s consumer protection blog summarized the key points of the guidelines as follows: • […]
Feds announce winners of robocall contest
WASHINGTON — There may one day soon be another way to fight those annoying prerecorded phone pitches known as robocalls. The Federal Trade Commission has announced the winners of its contest to develop a blocking technology for the illegal sales phone calls. The contest ended with a tie. The winners are Serdar Danis and Aaron […]
Judge OK’s service of foreign defendants via Facebook
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has approved the Federal Trade Commission’s request to use Facebook as an alternative means of effecting service of documents on consumer fraud defendants located in India. “History teaches that, as technology advances and modes of communication progress, courts must be open to considering requests […]
Study: 1 in 5 consumers had error in credit report
WASHINGTON — One in five consumers had an error in a credit report issued by a major agency, according to a government study released Monday. The Federal Trade Commission study also said that 5 percent of the consumers identified errors in their reports that could lead to them paying more for mortgages, auto loans or […]
FTC: Google to license patents in antitrust case
WASHINGTON — Google is agreeing to license certain patents to mobile phone rivals and stop a practice of including snippets from other websites in its search results as part of a settlement to end a 19-month investigation into the search leader’s business practices, the Federal Trade Commission said Thursday. U.S. antitrust regulators added that they […]
Government issues new online child privacy rules
WASHINGTON — The government has announced new online child privacy rules it says give parents greater control over the personal information that can be collected from preteens on the Internet. The Federal Trade Commission said the new regulations it issued Wednesday ensure that a 14-year-old law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, keeps pace with […]
FTC issues rule on deceptive mortgage advertising
Advertisements with interest rates that seem too good to be true or messages indicating that you’ve been pre-approved for a fantastic mortgage may not be so common in the future.
ABA raises new concerns over FTC rule
The American Bar Association this week raised fresh concerns with the Federal Trade Commission about definitions covering lawyers as debt relief agencies, this time as they related to provisions within the FTC’s proposed “Mortgage Assistance Relief Services” rule.
Case Digests
- Fourth Department – Negligent performance: Rosenthal v. Syracuse University, et al.
- Second Circuit – Visual Artists Rights Act: Kerson v. Vermont Law School Inc.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Former foreclosure referee: Opinion 22-157
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – College honorarium: Opinion 22-156
- Second Circuit – Reasonable accommodation: Tafolla v. Heilig
- Fourth Department – Labor Law: Primisch v. Peroxychem LLC
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Judicial candidacy: Opinion 22-155
- Fourth Department – Defamation: Lavine v. Glavin
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Law clerk: Opinion 22-154
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Review of another judge’s actions: Opinion 22-153
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Charitable contributions: Opinion 22-150
- Second Circuit – Class action settlement: Moses v. The New York Times Company
Law News
- Appeals court upholds conviction
- Federal lawsuit reinstated against jail officer over strip search, delayed release
- Hyzon to pay $25M penalty to settle alleged fraud charges by SEC
- NY appeals court reinstates lawsuit over contract to remove snow
- Fourth Department affirms $400K judgment in contract dispute
- Fourth Department affirms decision in NY property dispute
- Greenlight Networks selects Buffalo-based attorney as general counsel
- Barclay Damon hires attorney Matt Smith