Publishing.com LLC and its two principals will pay $1.5 million and must substantiate future earnings claims to settle charges from the Federal Trade Commission that they misled consumers about potential income from their products, according to an April 13 announcement.
The case is significant because it addresses concerns about deceptive marketing practices that can affect workers and consumers seeking additional income opportunities. The FTC said the action supports its priority of protecting American workers from deceptive conduct.
“Consumers, including workers, need accurate information up front about potential earnings to make an informed decision about how to invest their time, money, and efforts,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This case advances the Commission’s priority of protecting American workers from deceptive and unlawful conduct.”
According to the FTC complaint, Publishing.com advertised online self-publishing programs like AI Publishing Academy (AIA) and Publishing Accelerator with promises of substantial passive income. AIA could cost up to $1,995 while Publishing Accelerator was introduced in 2022 as an add-on service for additional coaching. The company promoted these programs through free online videos claiming a foolproof system for earning money by publishing e-books and audiobooks online.
The FTC alleged that CEO Christian Mikkelsen and Chief Product Officer Rasmus Mikkelsen claimed personal success using this system in promotional materials. For example, Christian Mikkelsen stated consumers could “copy the EXACT system hundreds of my students use to make $1k to $3k a month in passive income.” However, most buyers did not achieve such results according to the complaint. Additionally, customers who tried to use a "no questions asked" refund guarantee faced hidden conditions that made refunds difficult or impossible.
The complaint also states that some positive testimonials used in marketing were written by employees or relatives without proper disclosure or were incentivized with prizes or cash payments. At times refunds were conditioned on providing positive testimonials.
Under the proposed order resolving these allegations, Publishing.com is prohibited from making misleading earnings claims without reasonable support; misrepresenting material facts; failing to clearly disclose cancellation policies; or making false statements regarding endorsements or reviews. The company must also reveal any unexpected connections with endorsers or incentives provided for reviews.
This enforcement aligns with the FTC’s Joint Labor Task Force created by Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson in February 2025 aimed at addressing unfair labor-market practices affecting American workers across several agency divisions.
The consent agreement will be published soon in the Federal Register for public comment before becoming final law if approved by Commissioners—violations may result in civil penalties up to $53,088 per violation.
