Internet Marketing Law Blog

Privacy and Data Security – FTC Loses Appeal Over Data Security Order

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been increasingly more aggressive in terms of privacy and data security investigations and enforcement for more than a decade. In 2013, the FTC sued LabMD alleging that lax data security practices had resulted in the exposure of sensitive information about thousands of consumers. LabMD denied wrongdoing and argued that…

Vermont’s New Data Broker Law

On May 22, 2018, the State of Vermont enacted the country’s first data broker law. As set forth by the new law, a data broker is defined as “a business, or unit or units of a business, separately or together, that knowingly collects and sells or licenses to third parties the brokered personal information of…

FTC Grants Petition to Modify Online Tracking Order

In August 2009, a final order was entered in a matter initiated by the Federal Trade Commission against Sears Holdings Management Corporation. According to the FTC, from 2007 through 2008 Sears utilized a downloadable software application that collected sensitive information from users without disclosing its data collection practices. In part, the order obligated Sears to…

Brain Supplement Manufacturer Seeks Judicial Confirmation Regarding Claim Substantiation

Prevagen is a dietary supplement that purports to support healthy brain function. Its manufacturer, Quincy Bioscience, is requesting that a federal appeals court affirm a lower court’s recent decision to dismiss dismissing a deceptive advertising lawsuit filed against the company by the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Office of the Attorney General. The…

California Attorney General Charges Operators of Alleged Cyber Exploitation Website

On May 16 ,2018, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced charges of extortion, money laundering and identity theft against four defendants allegedly connected to Mugshots.com. The website utilizes data from law enforcement and publishes it without consent. According to reports, when subjects request removal of their booking photos, they are routed to another website and charged…

Court Rules That Use of Competing Trademark in Metatags Supports Finding of Infringement

On May 10, 2018, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion that affirmed in part and reversed in part an Oregon district court’s preliminary injunction prohibiting Skechers USA, Inc. from selling shoes that allegedly infringe and dilute Adidas America, Inc.’s Stan Smith trade dress and Three-Stripe mark. Affirming in part, the court held that the district…