Bad Reviews? Let them stay.

Congress unanimously passed the Consumer Review Fairness Act to protect people’s ability to share in any forum their honest opinions about a business’ products, services, or conduct. Some companies had been using contract provisions – including their online terms and conditions – to threaten to sue consumers or penalize them financially for posting negative reviews or complaints. The new law … Read More

Enforcement Policy Statement on Deceptively Formatted Advertisements

The Federal Trade Commission issued an enforcement policy statement explaining how established consumer protection principles apply to different advertising formats, including “native” ads that look like surrounding non-advertising content. In the Enforcement Policy Statement on Deceptively Formatted Advertisements, the Commission lays out the general principles the Commission considers in determining whether any particular ad format is deceptive and violates the … Read More

FTC Holder in Due Course Rule Request for Comment

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking input in review of its Holder in Due Course Rule (16 CFR 433) as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. The Holder in Due Course Rule, formally titled “Trade Regulation Rule Concerning Preservation of Consumers’ Claims and Defenses”, preserves consumers’ right to assert the same legal claims … Read More