Newsletters

06.23.20

NAD Recommends Discontinuance of Blood Boost Dietary Supplement Claims

In response to a challenge from the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Nature’s Boost discontinue health claims concerning the ability of its Blood Boost Formula dietary supplement to cure diabetes and substantially reduce a ...


06.23.20

FTC Sends New Warning Letters to Multilevel Marketers Regarding COVID-19 Health and Earnings Claims

On June 5, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent six warning letters to multilevel marketing companies to stop making claims about their products’ ability to treat or prevent COVID-19 and about the earnings that people who have recently lost income can make.


06.16.20

KleptoSettlement: Behavioral Advertising Data Collection in Kids’ Apps Leads to Avoidable FTC Fine

Earlier this month, HyperBeard, Inc., a developer of popular children’s mobile applications, agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations of its failure to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule (COPPA).


06.16.20

Legally Bombed: Reese Witherspoon’s Clothing Company Earns Failing Grade on ‘Free Dress’ Giveaway

As it turns out, Elle Woods apparently skipped taking that elective course in advertising law while she was attending Harvard Law School because, in real life, Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James clothing company failed to disclose to teachers hoping for a free dress that it was offering a ...


06.09.20

Smile Direct Club and Invisalign Challenge Each Other’s Advertising for Clear Aligners

In tit-for-tat challenges, claims for Smile Direct Club (SDC) clear aligners were challenged with the NAD by Align Technology, maker of Invisalign clear aligners, and claims for Invisalign clear aligners were challenged by SDC.  


06.09.20

Verizon Appeals NAD Decision Regarding 5G Claims

AT&T filed a National Advertising Division (NAD) challenge against claims by Verizon promoting its rollout in two television commercials of 5G service in sports venues.


06.09.20

FTC Stops Payday Lender That Took Millions of Dollars From Consumers’ Accounts Without Permission

On May 22, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had charged a payday lending enterprise with deceptively overcharging consumers millions of dollars and withdrawing money from their bank accounts without permission.


06.09.20

FTC Sends Additional Warning Letters to Marketers Over Coronavirus Claims

On May 21, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had sent warning letters to an additional 50 marketers nationwide to stop making claims that their products and therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.


05.19.20

CARU, U.S. Senators Call for FTC Review of Children’s Privacy in Digital Advertising and Edtech

On May 11, 2020, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) issued a public statement in support of a bipartisan call by six U.S. Senators for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a review of the data collection and processing practices of edtech companies, as well as companies ...


05.19.20

FTC Settles With Backpack Company for Deceptive Crowdfunding Campaigns

On May 11, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed settlement with the operator of a deceptive crowdfunding scheme—Douglas Monahan, who operated iBackPack of Texas—for raising money to develop a high-tech backpack and other products and then failing to deliver any ...