Latest News
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission will host an online compliance webinar on May 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to provide an overview of the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes, which will include information on how to comply with the rule after its effective date.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to host an online compliance webinar, aimed at providing an overview of the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes. The session will include information on how to comply with the rule after its effective date. Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the webinar by emailing asknoncompete@ftc.gov.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it is disbursing over $180,000 in refunds to consumers who were deceived by false Made in USA claims made by Cycra, a manufacturer of motocross and ATV parts. According to the FTC's complaint filed in June 2023, from 2019 until at least May 2022, Cycra falsely claimed on its website, social media platforms, and product packaging that its products were manufactured in the United States. These claims included a web banner stating, “Proudly designed, developed and manufactured in Lexington, North Carolina,” and product labels...
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
A former sales employee of a sports equipment manufacturer and distributor pleaded guilty today for his involvement in three separate conspiracies. These included two bid-rigging schemes violating the Sherman Act and one conspiracy to commit wire fraud, all targeting schools located in Mississippi and other locations. The conspiracies victimized at least 100 schools.
By Federal Newswire | May 12, 2024
The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has announced that a former owner of contractor companies providing fuel truck services to the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters pleaded guilty to violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. This announcement comes in the wake of a wiretap investigation that led to the indictment of two executives in December 2023.
By Federal Newswire | May 10, 2024
The U.S. Justice Department has recently set up the Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC) to spearhead its Antitrust Division’s enforcement strategy and policy direction in healthcare markets. The primary aim of the task force is to foster policy advocacy, investigations, as well as civil and criminal enforcement in the healthcare sector.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
A recent report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) suggests that several industries in the United States could potentially benefit from increased consolidation and economies of scale. The sectors that stand to gain include banking, construction, and telecommunications.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
The U.S. Justice Department has announced the establishment of the Antitrust Division’s Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC). The HCMC is set to guide the division's enforcement strategy and policy approach in health care, including facilitating policy advocacy, investigations, and civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets when necessary.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
"The former owner of contractor companies that provided fuel truck services to the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters pleaded guilty today to conspiring to monopolize, rigging bids and allocating territories in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The plea follows a judicially authorized wiretap investigation that led to the indictment of two executives in December 2023.According to a plea agreement and superseding information filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Ike Tomlinson, 60, conspired with co-defendant Kris Bird, 61,...
By Federal Newswire | May 7, 2024
The United States Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services have announced an extension to the public comment period for the Request for Information (RFI) on Consolidation in Health Care Markets. The deadline has been moved from May 6 to June 5, granting the public an additional 30 days to submit a response.
By Federal Newswire | May 3, 2024
A judge from the King County Superior Court in Washington state has denied a request from grocery store conglomerates Kroger and Albertsons to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The trial for this case is set to commence in September.
By Federal Newswire | May 3, 2024
The European Commission has classified Apple's iPadOS, the operating system for tablets, as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This designation requires that iPadOS adhere to DMA obligations within six months.
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be hosting an online compliance webinar on May 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the final rule banning noncompetes. According to the FTC, the rule prohibits the use of noncompetes for the majority of workers nationwide, with exceptions for existing noncompetes involving senior executives.The FTC's final rule states, "Employers are banned from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes, even if they involve senior executives." However, existing noncompetes for senior executives can still be enforced. Employers must...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission has taken action to address antitrust concerns related to Exxon Mobil Corporation’s acquisition of oil producer Pioneer Natural Resources by preventing former Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield from joining Exxon's board of directors or serving in an advisory role at the company. The move aims to safeguard competition in the oil market and protect consumers from potential price manipulation.In a statement, Kyle Mach, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, emphasized the necessity of barring Sheffield from Exxon's board, stating, “Mr....
By Federal Newswire | May 1, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced an extension of the deadline for public comments on a tri-agency Request for Information (RFI) regarding the impact of corporate greed in health care. The new deadline for submissions is now June 5, 2024.According to the announcement, the cross-government inquiry aims to delve into how certain health care market transactions could lead to increased consolidation and profits for corporations while potentially...
By Federal Newswire | May 1, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission has taken decisive action against digital marketing and data aggregator InMarket, finalizing a settlement that prohibits the company from selling or sharing precise location data. This move follows allegations of unlawful collection and use of consumers' location data for advertising and marketing purposes.According to the FTC, InMarket was found to have collected location information about consumers without fully informing them of how it would be used. This data, which includes sensitive details about where individuals live, work, and...
By Federal Newswire | May 1, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against Aqua Finance, Inc. (AFI), resulting in a settlement that will provide significant financial relief to consumers affected by deceptive sales tactics. The settlement includes $20 million in refunds and $23.6 million in debt forgiveness for consumers harmed by AFI's misleading financing practices.According to Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, AFI and its dealers employed deceptive tactics, including the use of misleading teaser rates, to entice consumers into signing up for loans,...
By Federal Newswire | May 1, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against payment processing company BlueSnap, Inc., along with its former CEO Ralph Dangelmaier and senior vice president Terry Monteith, charging them with knowingly processing payments for deceptive and fraudulent companies. “Companies like BlueSnap that knowingly process payments for scammers are breaking the law and making it easier to cheat consumers,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.The FTC charged that BlueSnap and its officers processed millions of dollars in credit card...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 30, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have jointly called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider the competitive risks associated with common ownership. This call comes as part of their assessment of acquisitions that involve less than a controlling interest in competing firms. Currently, FERC is inviting public comments as it reviews its existing policy on investment company ownership of electric utilities.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 30, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expanded its efforts to combat the improper listing of patents in the Food and Drug Administration’s Orange Book, targeting over 300 questionable listings for diabetes, weight loss, asthma, and COPD drugs. One of the drugs under scrutiny is Novo Nordisk Inc.’s popular weight-loss medication, Ozempic.FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the negative impact of bogus patent listings on drug prices, stating, “By filing bogus patent listings, pharma companies block competition and inflate the cost of prescription drugs, forcing Americans to...
