Legal Book » commission

FTC Sued over Google’s Privacy Changes

Master — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:37:43 +0000

In the first federal lawsuit over Google’s recently announced privacy changes, the Electronic Privacy Information Center is suing the Federal Trade Commission, claiming that Google’s plans to streamline privacy settings for 60 different services and products beginning March 1 would violate a consent order the search giant reached with the FTC last fall.

ABA report finds cause for concern regarding women’s role

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:42:12 +0000

The ABA has advocated for more inclusion of women, but the organization’s leadership remains largely male. A report by the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession found a few causes for concern, including the 10 percent drop in the percentage of women serving as section or division chairs.

EEOC Releases New Strategic Plan, Vows to Fight Systemic Discrimination

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:57:27 +0000

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released a draft strategic plan for the next four years, vowing to continue its focus on cases where there is “a pattern, practice or policy of alleged discrimination and/or class cases where the alleged discrimination has a broad impact.”

SEC Suspends Aiken General Counsel for 5 Years

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:07:07 +0000

The SEC has suspended Aiken Continental’s GC from appearing or practicing before the commission for five years. The SEC alleges Chalmer Detling II made material misrepresentations and omissions in connection with the 2006 offer and sale of $2.96 million of industrial development revenue bonds on the company’s behalf.

Apple wins one battle in Android wars, as ITC bars importation of infringing HTC phones

Master — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:53:10 +0000

The International Trade Commission handed Apple a major victory on Monday, finding that Android phones made by HTC infringe one of Apple’s patents. The ITC commissioners ruled that all infringing HTC phones will be barred from being imported to the U.S

Scott Storms’ Boss Indicted in Duke Energy Ethics Case

Master — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:37:11 +0000

The ethics scandal involving Scott Storms, the former general counsel of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, just won’t die. On Monday, a grand jury indicted Storms’ former boss for helping Storms set up a new job with Duke Energy while he still worked on Duke cases before the commission.

Apple vs. Android

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:06:54 +0000

The International Trade Commission is poised to issue a final decision in the first fully litigated patent infringement case in the U.S. between Apple and an Android phone maker, HTC. The decision could reshape the market for smartphones and the rollout of high-speed 4G networks.

ABA seeks better treatment of the disabled by LSAT administrator

Master — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:43:34 +0000

The ABA’s Commission on Disability Rights has asked the Law School Admission Council to change the way it handles requests for testing accommodations for the LSAT, to “ensure that the exam reflects what the exam is designed to measure, and not the test taker’s disability.”

Facebook settles with FTC over privacy violations

Master — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:06:36 +0000

Facebook has settled Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived its users and failed to keep their information private, agreeing on Tuesday to establish a comprehensive privacy program that includes independent audits for the next 20 years. The consent decree includes no admission of wrongdoing, but if Facebook doesn’t honor the deal, the company is on the hook for $16,000 per violation per day.

In fiscal 2011, EEOC won record-breaking $365M for discrimination victims

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:51:31 +0000

It’s been a record-breaking year at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which received more discrimination charges than ever before and won an all-time high $365 million for victims of workplace discrimination, while simultaneously managing to reduce its huge backlog of cases.

FTC Finds Drug Companies Entering Into Dozens of ‘Pay for Delay’ Deals

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:13:50 +0000

A new study by the Federal Trade Commission has found that drug companies entered into 28 “pay for delay” deals with generic rivals in fiscal year 2011, continuing a trend that agency Chairman Jon Leibowitz says is costing consumers and the U.S. government billions of dollars a year.

Trade secret theft outside U.S. is basis for barring imports, Federal Circuit rules

Master — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:43:40 +0000

In a split ruling, the Federal Circuit has upheld an International Trade Commission order that barred a company in China from importing railway wheels into the United States because the company misappropriated trade secrets in China from a U.S. company.

FTC Orders Reebok to Pay $25 Million Over Toning Shoe Ads

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:42:45 +0000

The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Reebok International to pay $25 million in consumer refunds for claiming its “toning shoes” would give wearers stronger butts and better legs. “Consumers expected to get a workout, not worked over,” said an FTC official at a press conference today.

Judge Dismisses Discrimination Suit Against Fox News

Master — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:31:27 +0000

A Washington federal judge granted Fox News Network summary judgment on Thursday in an age and gender discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge.

COPPA App Settlement Points to More FTC Oversight for Developers

Master — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:20:21 +0000

The FTC has announced a $50,000 settlement with mobile application developer W3 Innovations, which the commission had charged with violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act when it collected and disclosed information from thousands of children without the required parental consent.

From the Experts: Corporate Compliance Twenty Years Later

Master — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:39:46 +0000

Paul McNulty, former U.S. deputy attorney general and author of the McNulty Memo, revisits the corporate compliance guidelines released by the U.S.

Orange County Judge Admonished for Insensitive Comments

Master — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:43:03 +0000

California’s Commission on Judicial Performance has chastised a judge for using ethnic stereotypes, including telling a man accused of throwing rocks and spitting at his ex-girlfriend that such behavior is a common trait among people of Middle Eastern descent.

3rd Circuit Sticks to Prediction That Pa. Will Adopt ‘Third Restatement’

Master — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:19:28 +0000

The defendant in a products liability case can rely on evidence that a product satisfied the standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the 3rd Circuit has ruled, reaffirming its prediction that Pennsylvania courts will ultimately adopt the Restatement (Third) of Torts.

3rd Circuit Upholds Most of FCC’s Media Ownership Rules

Master — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:02:44 +0000

Dealing a significant setback to major media companies, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld rules imposed by the Federal Communications Commission that restrict ownership of multiple media outlets in the same market.

Sentencing Commission approves retroactive crack guidelines

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:00:46 +0000

Tens of thousands of federal prisoners could be released early from custody following the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s unanimous decision Thursday to retroactively apply crack cocaine sentencing guidelines that would reduce sentences for certain offenders.

FTC Wins Fat Settlement Over Skinny Lotion Ads

Master — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:11:26 +0000

Rubbing lotion on your skin will not make you thin, the Federal Trade Commission reminded us all Wednesday in a $900,000 settlement involving ads for Nivea skin cream that claimed to help “redefine the appearance of your silhouette.”

Are law schools opening themselves to deceptive-advertising claims?

Master — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:25:57 +0000

Fudging employment statistics is more than an ethical matter for law schools — it’s also a legal one, according to some observers, who have concluded that the Federal Trade Commission could take action against law schools that publish false or deceptive employment data.

FTC Challenges Pay-to-Delay Drug Deal in Rare Amicus Filing

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:56:39 +0000

The Federal Trade Commission has filed an amicus brief in a class action that questions whether brand name drug companies can pay generic rivals to stay out of the market until a patent expires.

FTC Challenges Pay-to-Delay Drug Deal in Rare Amicus Filing

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:56:38 +0000

The Federal Trade Commission has filed an amicus brief in a class action that questions whether brand name drug companies can pay generic rivals to stay out of the market until a patent expires.

Federal Circuit Rules Against Tessera in Patent Dispute

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 07:46:43 +0000

An appeals court has affirmed an International Trade Commission ruling that Elpida Memory, Acer, Smart Modular Technologies and several other technology companies did not infringe on Tessera’s chip packaging patents.