Newsletters

11.10.10

Energy Efficiency Critic Sues Over LEED Certification System

A self-proclaimed “energy efficiency maven” filed a class action against the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which governs LEED certification, in which he alleges that the Council engaged in false advertising and fraud, and committed antitrust and RICO violations.


11.04.10

BNA’s Environmental Webinar

For the first time in 12 years, the Federal Trade Commission has issued revisions to its environmental Green Guides, which provide comprehensive guidance to advertisers on how to make claims about the environmental attributes of their products and operations.


10.26.10

Tech Companies Support Rush Privacy Bill; Other Bills in the Pipeline

Three major tech companies—eBay, Intel, and Microsoft—sent a letter to Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Il.) in support of his proposed privacy bill, the Best Practices Act.


10.14.10

“C” is for Cookie Lawsuits

Half a dozen lawsuits have been filed over the last few weeks against companies that use online cookies to track consumers’ browsing habits. 


10.08.10

FTC Unlocks Charges Against Online Data Broker

The Federal Trade Commission settled charges with the online data broker U.S. Search, Inc. over its “PrivacyLock” service, in which the company charged a $10 fee to “lock their records” of consumers so that they could not be viewed or purchased by others on the site.


10.06.10

FTC Releases Highly Anticipated Updates to Environmental Marketing Guides and PMA Webinar

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today released a long-anticipated draft of its revised Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (“Green Guides”), which provide critical guidance for companies making environmental claims about their products and services.  


09.28.10

Pepsi Not “Friends” with Band War

The band War filed suit against PepsiCo in California state court in September for using its 1970’s hit, “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” in a recent ad without permission, and it is seeking $10 million in damages.


09.21.10

SPECIAL FOCUS: EPA Decision Highlights Risks to Retailers Under FIFRA

A United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") administrative judge levied $409,490 in penalties against California-based retailer 99¢ Only Stores for selling pesticidal products that were either not registered with the EPA as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, ...


09.15.10

FTC Settles Charges over Deceptive Reviews

In the first application of the new guidelines on testimonials and endorsements, the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with a public relations firm accused of illegally advertising its clients’ gaming applications by having employees pose as consumers and post reviews on iTunes.


09.10.10

FTC to Release Green Guides in Coming Weeks

Recent reports suggest that the Federal Trade Commission will release the new Green Guides within the next few weeks—the first guidelines on environmental marketing in the last 12 years.