FTCWatch
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May 07, 2024
Clearance for Exxon-Pioneer deal includes board restrictions
A modified deal for ExxonMobil’s acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources has been cleared by the Federal Trade Commission with stipulations and a five-year ban on Pioneer officials serving on the combined company’s board, based on agency concerns about the former chief executive’s communications about output.
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May 07, 2024
On the Shelf: Why it’s hard to tame MLMs
One of the biggest topics of consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission is the multilevel marketing (MLM) industry. While the agency has made progress going after bad actors, there are still numerous examples of companies that exploit vulnerable people.
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May 07, 2024
Calendar
May 21 — Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan are among the speakers at the American Economic Liberties Project’s Anti-Monopoly Summit 2024. For more information, go to: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/americaneconomiclibertiesproject.
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May 07, 2024
Tapestry-Capri case in US could hinge on defining luxury handbag market
Tapestry and Capri Holdings pushed back against the Federal Trade Commission’s characterization of their merger and its likely impact on the fashion sector. The agency sued to block the $8.5 billion deal in late April.
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May 07, 2024
Wilson praises early moves of FTC’s new GOP commissioners
So far so good.
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May 07, 2024
FTC’s updated health-breach notification rule targets apps
Health apps and other technologies will be clearly covered by the Federal Trade Commission’s updated health-breach notification rule, which has received final approval from commissioners.
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May 07, 2024
FERC hears about competitive risk affecting utilities
Individual investors’ partial acquisitions of public utilities can lessen competition in three ways, the antitrust agencies told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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May 07, 2024
Khan touts bold privacy mission as Big Tech takes aim
As Lina Khan approaches her third anniversary at the helm of the Federal Trade Commission, this progressive warrior on antitrust issues has been increasingly pointing to her victories in another arena: data privacy.
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May 07, 2024
New union effort at FTC gaining ground
Empowering workers has become a pillar of the Federal Trade Commission’s economic strategy. Now, hundreds of professional staffers at the agency are pursuing their own union contract.
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May 07, 2024
Neil Averitt commentary: Improving the antitrust community’s flagship event
This is a good time to pause and think about the organization and format of the American Bar Association’s antitrust spring meeting.
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May 07, 2024
Privacy bill would add staff, responsibilities to FTC
The Federal Trade Commission would gain further power and staff if Congress passes the privacy legislation being pushed by the heads of the House and Senate Commerce Committees.
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May 07, 2024
Razer settles false ad claims over face masks
Razer agreed to pay more than $1.1 million to settle claims from the Federal Trade Commission that it misrepresented the performance and efficacy of supposed N95-grade face masks.
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May 07, 2024
Williams-Sonoma pays fine over false ‘Made in USA’ claims
Home products retailer Williams-Sonoma agreed to pay a record civil penalty of $3.18 million for making false ‘Made in USA’ claims.
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May 07, 2024
TopBuild abandons $960 million buyout of SPI
Building materials company TopBuild will abandon its proposed $960 million acquisition of rival Specialty Products & Insulation following competition concerns raised by the Department of Justice.
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May 07, 2024
Bill to cut FTC’s antitrust authority faces long odds
While the Federal Trade Commission has made adversaries on Capitol Hill, that won’t necessarily translate into lawmakers passing a bill to strip the agency of its antitrust enforcement powers.
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May 07, 2024
People
Ayoubi set as FTC’s third ALJ
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April 23, 2024
Calendar
May 14 — The Federal Trade Commission is holding an online compliance webinar on its rule banning noncompetes. It will take place at 11 a.m. ET. For more information, go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/05/ftc-host-compliance-webinar-rule-banning-noncompetes.
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April 23, 2024
House panel passes bill to transfer FTC’s competition powers to DOJ
The Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee voted 16-7 to advance a bill that would eliminate the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition and transfer the agency’s antitrust powers to the Department of Justice.
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April 23, 2024
Neil Averitt commentary: ABA hallway chatter turns to Trump, AI, populist antitrust
The American Bar Association’s antitrust spring meeting offered a full buffet of papers and panels. Over its three days, there were 80 formal discussions, most of them with five listed speakers. But all this wasn’t enough to fully cover the topics.
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April 23, 2024
DOJ expands procurement collusion strike force
The Department of Justice’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force is adding four national partners.
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April 23, 2024
Cerebral to pay $7 million to settle privacy violations
Telehealth firm Cerebral agreed to pay $7.1 million for disclosing consumers’ personal data for ad purposes and failing to honor its easy cancellation promises.
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April 23, 2024
Tech group says FTC policies harm entrepreneurs, venture capital
The Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust program came under fire as hundreds in the tech sector and policy wonks gathered in Washington, DC, for the Consumer Technology Association’s annual Patriot’s Dinner.
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April 23, 2024
Winners of voice-cloning competition to split $35,000 prize
The Federal Trade Commission announced the winners of its voice-cloning competition. Three of the top submissions will split $35,000 in prize money.
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April 23, 2024
FTC finalizes order with data broker X-Mode
The Federal Trade Commission has finalized an order barring data broker X-Mode and its successor Outlogic from sharing or selling sensitive location data.
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April 23, 2024
Privacy Corner: Unique name pushed IAPP’s DC director to pursue privacy policy
Any online reference to Cobun Zweifel-Keegan automatically leads people to the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ website. That’s where he’s listed as the managing director of the Washington, DC, office.