News Releases for December 1999

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For Release: December 30, 1999
FTC Clears Proposed Acquisition of Global Industrial Technologies by RHI AG
Both Companies Produce Refractories Used to Line Industrial Furnaces

For Your Information: December 28, 1999
Announced Actions for December 28, 1999
Appointment of Hold-Separate Trustee in Exxon Mobil; amended complaint in National Supply & Distribution Center, Inc. et al; dismissal of complaint in Tenet Healthcare Corporation; finalized consent agreement in Associated Octel Company Ltd.

For Release: December 22, 1999
FTC Reports on U.S. Carbonated Soft Drink Bottling Industry and Antitrust Policy Since 1980
Period Characterized by Rapid Structural Change that Transformed the Industry
For Release: December 22, 1999
FTC Agreement Resolves Competitive Concerns Regarding MacDermid Acquisition of Polyfibron Technologies
Companies Manufacture and Sell Liquid Photopolymers and Sheet Photopolymers Used to Make Flexographic Printing Plates
For Your Information: December 22, 1999
Announced Action for December 22, 1999
Application by Exxon Mobil Corporation

For Release: December 21, 1999
Law Enforcers Target Internet Pyramid Schemes
Scores of Law Enforcement Actions Target Pyramids; Hundreds of Warnings Sent To Web Sites
For Release: December 21, 1999
FTC Issues Five-Year Report, "Protecting Consumers Online"
A new report issued by staff of the Federal Trade Commission highlights how the agency has worked to stop online fraud and deception, address the issue of online privacy and tailor its law enforcement to meet the challenges of the globalization of e-commerce.
For Your Information: December 21, 1999
Announced Actions for December 21, 1999
Petition by First American Real Estate Solutions, LLC; and final acceptance of Precision Castparts Corp. consent agreement

For Release: December 20, 1999
Santa Barbara Company Principals Agree to Settle FTC Charges of Making Fraudulent Claims About Government Auctions
Two defendants in one of six Santa Barbara, California, companies charged by the Federal Trade Commission with making fraudulent claims about government auctions and foreclosed properties have agreed to settle the agency's charges.

For Your Information: December 17, 1999
Announced Actions for December 17, 1999
The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions:

For Release: December 16, 1999
FTC Establishes Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security
The Federal Trade Commission today announced the establishment of the Federal Trade Commission Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security and requested nominations for committee members.
For Release: December 16, 1999
Businesses - Both Large and Small - Continue to Fall Prey to Bogus Business Supply Companies
FTC Announces 10 cases from "Operation Misprint"

For Your Information: December 14, 1999
Announced Action for December 14, 1999
Final approval of Dominion Resources, Inc. consent.

Correction For Release: December 13, 1999
FTC Seeks to Halt Illegal Pyramid Scheme
Agency Estimates Consumers Lost Millions; Will Ask Court To Order Consumer Redress

For Your Information: December 10, 1999
Announced Actions for December 10, 1999
FCRA Federal Register Notice; Final approval of The Wire Works, Inc., consent

For Release: December 9, 1999
International Guidelines for Consumer Protection in E-Commerce Issued by OECD
Guidelines for consumer protection in online commerce were adopted today by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental forum of 29 countries, including the United States, established to promote economic growth, trade and development.
For Release: December 9, 1999
Ford Motor Credit to Pay $650,000 to Settle FTC Charges It Violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Federal Trade Commission has negotiated an agreement with the Ford Motor Credit Company (Ford Credit), the auto financing subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, under which Ford Credit will pay $650,000, covering consumer redress and the costs to administer such redress, for alleged violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

For Release: December 7, 1999
Hoechst and Rhone-Poulenc Settle FTC Charges that Merger Would Violate Antitrust Laws
Agency Mandates Divestiture of Thrombin Inhibitor Drug and Specialty Chemicals
For Your Information: December 7, 1999
Announced Actions for December 7, 1999
Filing of staff comments with the New Mexico Public Regulations Commission; Final approval of VNU N.V. consent; Approval of divestiture application

For Your Information: December 3, 1999
Publication of Federal Register Notice Regarding the Draft Competitor Collaboration Guidelines
The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions:

For Release: December 2, 1999
FTC Puts Brakes on Deceptive Vehicle Lease and Credit Ads
Six Philadelphia-Area Dealers Agree to Clearly and Conspicuously Disclose Critical Financial Information
For Release: December 2, 1999
National Financial Systems Agrees to Pay $20,000 Civil Penalty to Settle Charges of Violating Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
National Financial Systems, Inc. (NFS), based in Westbury, New York, has agreed to pay a $20,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve allegations that it violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) when attempting to collect debts on behalf of clients.

For Release: December 1, 1999
FTC Charges Second Internet Marketer with Misrepresenting Accuracy of HIV Tests
For the second time this year, the Federal Trade Commission has charged an Internet marketer with falsely representing that his HIV tests accurately detected HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Federal Trade Commission Protecting America's Consumers