Information, news and updates on legal and regulatory activities pertaining to advertising and marketing around the globe
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a joint state-and-federal initiative, “Operation Call It Quits,” which targets illegal telemarketing practices that violate the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR).
The TSR, which applies to interstate telephonic marketing communications intended to “induce the purchase of goods or services or a charitable contribution,” makes it illegal to engage in…
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently charged two Utah individuals and their telemarketing operation with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule by deceptively claiming that their business coaching services could help consumers start home-based businesses that could earn thousands of dollars a month. According to the FTC, the defendants targeted consumers…
InfoCision, Inc., an Akron, Ohio-based company, agreed last month to pay a $250,000 civil penalty and implement recordkeeping and monitoring practices to settle Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) charges brought by the Department of Justice on the FTC’s behalf. The FTC alleged that since at least 2013 InfoCision conducted hundreds of telemarketing campaigns on behalf of…
The Federal Trade Commission recently settled with Florida-based company Inbound Call Experts on December 22 for deceiving thousands of consumers with its telemarketing scheme.
Under the final order, the company must pay a penalty of $10 million to settle the FTC’s charges that it used software designed to make consumers think their computers had viruses…
The FCC is asking for comments on a letter it received from the National Association of Attorneys General that seeks out the Commission’s opinion on the legality of telephone carriers implementing call-blocking technology to reduce the amount of unwanted telemarketing calls. If your company engages in marketing over the telephone or uses it to regularly conduct business with customers, you may want to consider getting involved. Comments are due December 24, 2014, and reply comments are due January 8, 2015. For more on this, please read the latest post on our Global Regulatory Enforcement Law Blog.
Continue Reading FCC Rings the Bell for Public Comments Regarding Robocalls and Call-Blocking
This post was written by Christine E. Nielsen.
The FCC is seeking comments on industry group petitions for clarification and forbearance on the recently amended Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Rules. A petition filed with the FCC by a Coalition of Mobile Engagement Providers specifically seeks clarification that the revised forms of consent are only…
On the heels of our report that the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") is putting the obligations on entities that use auto-dialers — “Robocalls” — to public safety phone lines on its agenda for the year (see our 10/17/12 blog: “New Do-Not-Call Public Safety Registry Creates Additional Obligations for Auto-Dial Operators” by Judith L.
On August 10, a California woman filed suit against Nascar Holdings, Inc., alleging that the company violated the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) by sending out unsolicited text messages. According to the complaint, the text messages were sent in February of this year to promote a Sprint Cup race at Daytona. Interestingly, the plaintiff alleges that…
