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Business News

Staples and Office Depot: U.S. Government ‘Simply Wrong’ for Trying to Block Merger

More than a year ago, Staples offered to buy Office Depot in a transaction then valued at about $5.5 billion, pressured by declining sales in the office supplies sector and the rise of rivals.

By Phil Wahba

Marketing

3 Marketing Claims That Hurt Your Reputation

By Kimanzi Constable

Business News

FTC Orders ‘Brain Training’ Company Lumosity to Pay $2 Million Over Deceptive Advertising Practices

By Laura Entis

Building a Business

Is Google Spying on Students? The Electronic Frontier Foundation Believes So.

By Nathan McAlone

Building a Business

Brands: Get Up to Date on Federal Trade Commission Guidelines

Be aware of new FTC regulations regarding advertising and social media.

By Eric Dahan

Tech

Court Rules FTC Can Come After Your Company After a Cyber Attack

in a closely watched ruling, an appeals court says victims of hackers have liability for unfair-practices claims.

By Ray Hennessey

Business Funding

In Landmark Move, FTC Takes Action Against Kickstarter Campaign Fraud

A project creator was charged with using 'unfair or deceptive acts' to raise more than $120,000 on the crowdfunding platform, which he allegedly spent on personal expenses.

By Laura Entis

Building a Business

Groups Urge FTC to Investigate YouTube Kids Video App

The groups are concerned that the app disregards long-established safeguards limiting advertising to young audiences.

By Reuters

Business Legal

Snuggie Maker Wrapped Up in Not-So-Cozy Advertising Fraud Charges

Turns out Allstar's 'buy one, get one free' ad hook was allegedly cloaked in trickery. Now the as-seen-on-TV giant is forking over $8 million to settle charges that it hoodwinked customers.

By Kim Lachance Shandrow

Business News

FTC Fines Two Health Apps That ‘Lack Adequate Evidence to Support Their Claims’

Both apps said they could diagnose melanoma via simple smartphone snapshots.

By Laura Entis

Business Legal

FTC Takes No Action Against Yelp Following Year-Long Investigation Into Review System

Despite outcry from small-business owners, this marks the second inquiry by the FTC that has resulted in no further action, according to Yelp.

By Geoff Weiss

Business News

U.S. FTC Asking Apple About Health Data Protection

The commission is seeking assurances from Apple that it will prevent people's private health data from being used without their consent.

By Reuters

Building a Business

Kids Under 13 Could Soon Get Their Own Gmail, YouTube Accounts (As If They Didn’t Have Them Already…)

Kids already use Gmail and they're obsessed with YouTube. Now Google wants to make it legit, as in legal.

By Kim Lachance Shandrow

Business News

FTC Sues Amazon Over Kids’ Unauthorized In-App Purchases

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint today arguing that the ecommerce giant allowed children to rack up charges on their parents' accounts without consent.

By Catherine Clifford

Building a Business

Franchisees in Puerto Rico Claim McDonald’s Broke FTC Rule

In letting McDonald's biggest franchisee open up shops in Puerto Rico, local franchisees say the fast-food giant violated FTC rules.

By Kate Taylor

Building a Business

Snapchat’s Legal Woes to ‘Disappear’ After Reaching Settlement With the FTC

While Snapchat's snaps don't necessarily disappear as advertised, the company is also facing heat about the deceptive way in which it unknowingly culled user data.

By Geoff Weiss

Business News

FTC Orders Apple to Pay a Minimum of $32.5 Million Over In-App Purchases

The tech company agreed to refund parents whose children made in-app purchases without their knowledge.

By Laura Entis

Building a Business

The FTC Recommends Sweeping Investigation of Patent Trolls

Edith Ramirez, chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, intends to launch a comprehensive inquiry into patent-assertion entities.

By Brian Patrick Eha

Building a Business

Lawmakers Seek FTC Scrutiny of Google’s Search Results

Even wonder why Google's own products and services appear at the top of search results? See how that could change if lawmakers get their way.

By Mikal E. Belicove

Building a Business

Q&A: New Fraud and Identity Theft Rules

Are your customers safe from online scamsters? How to comply with the FTC's new 'Red Flags' program.

By Randy Myers

Marketing

FTC Takes Aim at ‘Fake News’ Websites

Advertisements framed as newsy websites are starting to draw the ire of the Federal Trade Commission, and with good reason.

By Mikal E. Belicove

Buying a Franchise

Finding Your Perfect Franchise

Ten sure-fire strategies for tracking down the right one -- and five things to avoid.

By Gwen Moran