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  • Advertising and Promotion (Federal Trade Commission)

    • The FTC Proposes Updates to its Endorsement GuidesJune 17th, 2022

      Last month, the FTC announced and posted a prepublication of its proposed changes to its guides concerning the use of endorsements in advertising (Endorsement Guides). The Endorsement Guides date back several decades. Since the publication of the original Endorsement Guides in 1975, FTC has made several …

    • The COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act Is Nothing to Sneeze AtNovember 10th, 2021

      Just 30 pages from the end of the 2,124 page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, you will find the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act.  For the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, this Act signed into law on December 27, 2020 makes it unlawful under …

    • California Goes Above and Beyond the FTC’s Green Guides, Creates a New Standard for RecyclableNovember 1st, 2021

      On October 5, 2021, California signed SB 343 “Truth in Labeling for Recyclable Materials” into law, amending the state’s law relating to environmental advertising. The result is a California law that is significantly more narrow than the  Federal Trade Commission Guides for the Use of Environmental …

    • FTC codifies its Enforcement policy for “Made in the USA” Claims; False “Made in the USA” Claims May Now Result in a Monetary PenaltyJuly 20th, 2021

      On July 1, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the availability of the pre-publication of the final rule on “Made in USA” (MUSA) claims in the Federal Register. The final rule was published on July 14, 2021.  We previously reported on events that resulted …

    • Navigating Corporate Social Responsibility ClaimsOctober 26th, 2020

      Companies are embracing corporate social responsibility (CSR) more and more; it is a way for companies and brands to incorporate the company’s values into their business model, and engage with customers and employees on a different level. It is not without risk, however, and our …

    • HP&M’s Dara Levy and Serra Schlanger to Present on Advertising and PromotionOctober 16th, 2020

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is pleased to announce that Dara Katcher Levy and Serra Schlanger will present at the Food and Drug Law Institute’s virtual Advertising and Promotion for Medical Products Conference on October 28–30, 2020.  This conference will analyze the latest commercial issues …

    • FTC Announces a Proposed Rule for Made in the USA; Does It Go Beyond Its Authority?June 30th, 2020

      As we previously reported, the Made in the USA claim, as a voluntary claim on consumer goods, including products under FDA jurisdiction such as foods, over-the-counter drugs, and cosmetics, continues to be a popular advertising claim.  Generally, FTC enforcement actions regarding unqualified Made in the …

    • Much-Needed Clarity on Disgorgement from the Supreme CourtJune 24th, 2020

      A Supreme Court decision this week shows good potential to upend FDA and FTC’s claim that they can without limits seek disgorgement of “profits” from defendants who engage in unlawful activities.  In Liu v. Securities and Exchange Commission, the question was whether the SEC could …

    • Swift Enforcement Against COVID FraudstersMay 1st, 2020

      Since HHS declared a public health emergency caused by COVID-19 in February 2020, there has been an overwhelming response to develop and market products to treat or mitigate the effects of the virus.  Unfortunately, bad apples still are out there preying upon consumer fears and …

    • The FTC’s Teami Case: “All [the FTC] really wanna see is the money.”March 12th, 2020

      Last Thursday, March 5, 2020, the FTC filed a formal complaint alleging deceptive marketing practices against tea and skincare company, Teami, LLC, and its co-founders, as well as a stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment.  In conjunction with the filings, the FTC also …

    • Affirmative Defenses: What’s Going to Stick to the Wall?March 11th, 2020

      The recent opinion in FTC v. Quincy Bioscience Holding Co., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36424*(S.D.N.Y. Mar. 2, 2020) (background here) is a primer on affirmative defenses in an FTC Act case alleging deceptive advertising of a dietary supplement.  The FTC and State of New York …

    • FTC Seeks Public Comment on its Endorsement GuidesFebruary 20th, 2020

      At a time when some influencers are making good money – and sometimes millions of dollars – for endorsing and promoting everything from fake eyelashes on Instagram to the latest video game on YouTube, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on February 12, 2020 that …

    • Petition for Formal Rule re Made in USA ClaimsSeptember 25th, 2019

      On August 22, 2019, the consumer advocacy organization Truthinadvertising.org (“TINA.org”) submitted a Petition to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), requesting that FTC promulgate regulations for Made in the USA claims.  As further explained in the Petition, a formal rule purportedly would facilitate FTC enforcement by …

    • It Was Too Good to Last; 2nd Circuit Overturns District Court’s Dismissal of FTC’s Complaint against Marketers of PrevagenMarch 4th, 2019

      On February 21, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order reversing the dismissal by the District Court of the Southern District Court of New York of an action by FTC and New York State (“FTC”) action challenging the marketing …

    • Joint Action by FDA and FTC Against Companies Marketing Unapproved Opioid Cessation ProductsJanuary 31st, 2018

      On January 24, 2018, FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) posted joint warning letters to 11 marketers and distributors of opioid cessation products, alleging that those products were unapproved new drugs that violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDC Act) and made …