By:  Linda L. Goodman Several times this week I was asked, “in the event an application owner transparently disclosed that it will collect information as to the whereabouts of the user via the device’s GPS in its privacy policy, is […]

By: Linda L. Goodman On December 17, 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) filed a lawsuit slamming Sprint Corporation for illegally billing wireless consumers tens of millions of dollars in unauthorized third-party charges and ignoring consumer complaints about the […]

By: Linda L. Goodman On November 19, 2014, the Senate Committee sent a letter to Uber Chief Executive Officer following social network rumors (started by an Uber executive) that Uber was tracking journalists who opposed their services.  In an attempt […]

By:  Linda L. Goodman 38 state Attorney Generals (“AGs”) demanded updates to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”). In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the AGs called for a number of new requirements as part of the FTC’s […]

By: Linda L. Goodman TRUSTe’s Certified Privacy Seals are littered on websites throughout the internet. TRUSTe claims in advertisements that it is “the #1 privacy brand,” and says its Certified Privacy Seal is “recognized globally by consumers, businesses, and regulators […]

By:  Linda L. Goodman In 1997, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) granted an order against ICON Health & Fitness, Inc. (“ICON”) which prohibited the marketers from making unsubstantiated claims for weight-loss exercise equipment and required that an endorser’s claim reflect […]

By:  Linda L. Goodman Intermundo, doing lead generation as Delta Prime Refinance used its Internet-based operation to drive potential borrowers for mortgage refinancing to lenders, will pay a $500,000 civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived […]

By:  Linda L. Goodman The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has issued a final ruling on the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, updating a longstanding rule governing mail and telephone-based retailers to explicitly include e-commerce vendors as well. The rule […]

By:  Linda L. Goodman On September 16th, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) filed a complaint against Diversified Educational Resources, LLC (“DER”), Motivational Management & Development Service, Ltd. (“MMDS”), and IDM Services LLC (“IDM”). Also named as defendants are Maria T. […]

By:  Linda L. Goodman On September 17, 2014, the FTC unsealed a lawsuit filed against Tim Coppinger, Ted Rowland, and the dozens of shell companies they allegedly used to defraud online payday loan applicants out of millions of dollars. The […]