Advertising and Marketing
Court Holds Change-of-Terms Provision Cannot Bind Parties to New Browsewrap Agreement
By Richard B. Newman |
The Ninth Circuit recently held that a consumer was not bound by updated terms merely because she accessed a website that contained new terms in a “browsewrap” agreement on the website. A browsewrap agreement is one that is attempted to be enforced against a website user by virtue of his/her use of a website. Contrast…
Good Consent-Based TCPA Win for Lead Generators
By Richard B. Newman |
Volkswagen launched a marketing campaign. It paid dealerships nationwide to retain a third party to place service reminder calls to their customers. Automated technologies were purportedly used to make calls to plaintiff without consent. The Central District of California decertified a class of these TCPA plaintiffs because consent issues were so individualized that the plaintiffs…
FTC Settlement of Fake Review Campaign Illustrates Agency Recognition of Litigation Risk Under FTC Act
By Richard B. Newman |
As blogged about here and here, brands and intermediary agencies that they do business with are expected to train and monitor endorsers, utilize written social media policies, take appropriate remedial action and document all efforts to implement preventative advertising compliance measures, including those designed to ensure the clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections between advertisers and…
FTC Urges Congress to Restore Section 13(b) of the FTC Act and Resurrect Penalty Offense Authority
By Richard B. Newman |
As blogged about here, the FTC’s authority to seek monetary disgorgement relief from defendants in federal court is under assault. Consequently, all five FTC Commissioners have recently forwarded a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Minority members of the Senate Commerce and House Energy & Commerce Committees urging the Committees to pass legislation that would…
Is Your Conduct a Violation of the Consumer Review Fairness Act?
By Richard B. Newman |
The Consumer Review Fairness Act passed both houses of Congress unanimously in December 2016. It has been effective since March 2017. The CFRA generally makes provisions of form contracts between sellers and individual consumers void from inception if the provisions: (i) prohibit or restrict individuals from reviewing sellers’ goods, services, or conduct; (ii) impose penalties…
Third Circuit Says No Monetary Disgorgement in Federal Court for FTC under Section 13(b)
By Richard B. Newman |
As previously blogged about here, here, here and here, the FTC’s authority to seek monetary disgorgement in federal court may be on the ropes. FTC Defense Practice: Breaking News The Third Circuit has just issued an opinion in FTC v. AbbVie, Inc. holding that the FTC is not entitled to seek disgorgement under Section 13(b) of the FTC…