Newsletters

07.15.15

New Tax Alert: Streaming Services, Cloud Computing

In June the Chicago Department of Finance issued two rulings expanding the application of the city's Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax to include nonpossessory computer leases (the "Cloud Computing Tax") and broadening the application of the Amusement Tax to electronically ...


07.09.15

FTC Files Lawsuit Over “Risk-Free Trial” Offers

The Federal Trade Commission filed suit in California federal court against 7 individuals and 15 companies that allegedly scammed consumers with deceptive “risk-free trial” offers to sell skincare products.


07.02.15

LinkedIn RSVPs to E-Mail Invite Litigation with $13M Deal

LinkedIn has agreed to pay $13 million and make changes to its website to settle a class action suit alleging the networking site harvested the e-mail addresses of user contacts and then sent e-mails inviting them to join the site.


06.25.15

Not the FTC’s Crowd: Agency Takes First Action Involving Crowdfunding

In the agency’s first case involving crowdfunding, the Federal Trade Commission filed suit against Erik Chevalier for raising money through a Kickstarter campaign ostensibly to produce a board game—only to spend the money on himself.


06.25.15

Merchants and Processors Beware: FTC Consumer Warning About Use of Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencie

The June 22 FTC blog posting warning consumers about the use of bitcoins and other virtual currencies should be a call to action for those accepting or facilitating the acceptance of bitcoin and other virtual currencies in consumer transactions both online and through mobile apps.


06.17.15

OTC Homeopathic Product Advertising On The Agenda For The FTC

Advertising for over-the-counter homeopathic products will be the subject of a Federal Trade Commission workshop scheduled for September 21.


06.11.15

RadioShack to Destroy, Not Sell, PII in Bankruptcy Agreement

Facing objections from the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorneys General of 23 states, RadioShack in its bankruptcy filing, has agreed to destroy the bulk of the personal customer information maintained in its files.


06.04.15

Fifty Years Later, Still Feeling the Impact of 1965

In 1965, TV spots ran for 60 seconds . . . mostly in black & white. A first-class stamp cost five cents. (Remember mail?)


05.29.15

Fitbit Can’t Sleep On False Advertising Suit Over Sleep Measurement Claims

Fitbit may accurately track exercise and other fitness and physical activity with its wearable fitness devices, according to a new putative consumer class action, but the models purporting to measure a user’s sleep are alleged to violate California’s false advertising law.


05.22.15

The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Octane Fitness Decision on Lanham Act Litigation

For the second time in recent years, a Supreme Court decision in a patent case is having a major impact on Lanham Act litigation.