December 28, 2001

• Release Date: December 28, 2001
  FTC Prohibits Marketers of Herbal Products and the "Zapper" from Making Unsubstantiated Claims
  A Seattle couple who sold a variety of herbal products and an electrical unit called the "Zapper" as a cure for such ailments as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's, and diabetes are prohibited from making any claims that their products are effective in treating or alleviating any disease or condition, unless they have scientific evidence to support the claims, as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

December 27, 2001

• For Your Information : December 27, 2001
  Announced Actions for December 27, 2001
  Application from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. requesting approval of a non-affiliated Internet Service Provider (ISP) and alternative cable broadband service agreement; approval of four applications by America Online/Time Warner, Inc. regarding non-affiliated Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the indicated cable divisions and the agreements executed by each; authorized staff to file an amended complaint in FTC v. Icon America.

December 21, 2001

• Release Date: December 21, 2001
  FTC Staff Submits Comments to FERC Regarding Affiliate Codes of Conduct
  Staff of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics and Office of the General Counsel have submitted comments in support of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) proposed new standards of conduct for natural gas pipelines and transmitting public utilities (jointly referred to as transmission providers).

• Release Date: December 21, 2001
  FTC to Hold Second Public Conference on the U.S. Oil and Gasoline Industry in May 2002
  Will Provide Opportunity for Public Comment and Focus on Factors Affecting the Prices of Refined Petroleum Products

• Release Date: December 21, 2001
  Announced Actions for December 21, 2001
  Application from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. requesting approval of a non-affiliated Internet Service Provider; approval of final consent order in the matter concerning Esrim Ve Sheva Holding Corp.

December 20, 2001

• Release Date: December 20, 2001
  FTC Imposes Conditions on the Acquisition of FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer AG by INA-Holding Schaeffler KG
  INA and FAG Required to Divest FAG's Cartridge Ball Screw Support Bearing Business
• Release Date: December 20, 2001
  FTC Seeks Public Comments on the Use of Disgorgement as a Remedy for Competition Violations
  The Federal Trade Commission today approved publication of a Federal Register notice seeking public comments on the use of disgorgement as a remedy for competition violations
• Release Date: December 20, 2001
  California Defendants to Provide Redress for Charging Consumers a "Cancellation" Fee for Delayed Shipments
  Commission Also Alleged Other Violations of its Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule
• Release Date: December 20, 2001
  Non-profit Institutions Act Covers Pharmaceuticals Dispensed to Retired Employees, FTC Staff Advises
  Staff of the Federal Trade Commission have advised the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) that the Non-Profit Institutions Act covers pharmaceuticals that its member hospitals dispense to their retired employees as permitted by state law.

December 19, 2001

• Release Date: December 19, 2001
  With Conditions, FTC Approves Joint Acquisition of Seagram Spirits and Wine by Diageo PLC and Pernod Ricard S.A.
  To Remedy Likely Anticompetitive Effects, Diageo to Divest Malibu Rum Business Worldwide
• For Your Information: December 19, 2001
  Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Provide Comments on North Carolina State Bar Opinions Restricting the Involvement of Non-attorneys in Real Estate Closings and Refinancing Transactions
  The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division today released a joint letter urging the North Carolina State Bar to reconsider two recently adopted Opinions that would prevent non-lawyers from competing with lawyers to perform real estate closings.

December 18, 2001

• Release Date: December 18, 2001
  Resolving Anticompetitive Concerns, FTC Consent Order Would Allow Merger of Valero Energy and Ultramar
  Valero Required to Divest Golden Eagle Refinery and 70 Ultramar-owned Gasoline Stations
• Release Date: December 18, 2001
  FTC to Challenge Libbey's Acquisition of Anchor Hocking
  The Federal Trade Commission has voted to seek a preliminary injunction to block Libbey, Inc.'s (Libbey) proposed $332 million acquisition of Anchor Hocking, (Anchor) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.
• For Your Information : December 18, 2001
  Announced Actions for December 18, 2001
  Staff advisory opinion concerning Non-Profit Institutions Act; Application for approval of proposed divestiture in Chevron Corporation  and Texaco Inc.; approval of final consent order concerning Airgas, Inc.
• Release Date: December 18, 2001
  FTC Halts Cross-Border Con Artists
  Scheme Used Legitimate Web Site Payment Services to Illegally Bill Consumers

December 17, 2001

• For You Information: December 17, 2001
  FTC Offers Consumer Tips on Taking Charge of Your Credit During the Holiday Shopping Season
  Whether shopping online, by phone or at the mall, chances are consumers will be using a credit card for some of their holiday purchases.

December 14, 2001

• Release Date: December 14, 2001
  FTC Commissioner Orson Swindle Appointed Chair of Us Delegation to OECD Experts Group
  Experts Group to Review the 1992 OECD Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems
• For Release: December 14, 2001
  Hearst Corp. To Disgorge $19 Million and Divest Business to Facts and Comparisons to Settle FTC Complaint
  The Federal Trade Commission today announced a proposed settlement with Hearst Corporation (Hearst) that would resolve charges that Hearst unlawfully acquired J.B. Laughery, Inc., which included the Medi-Span integratable drug information database business.

December 12, 2001

• For Release: December 12, 2001
  FTC Staff Issues Financial Privacy Guidance
  Staff of the Federal Trade Commission today issued guidance to help financial institutions under its jurisdiction comply with the agency's consumer privacy regulations.

• For Release: December 12, 2001
  FTC Settlements Halt Advanced Fee Credit Card Scam Aimed at Consumers with Poor Credit
  husband and wife operating out of Connecticut separately have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceived customers by promising, for a fee, guaranteed approval of major credit cards regardless of credit history.

December 11, 2001

• Release Date: December 11, 2001
  FTC Reaches Consent Agreement That Imposes Conditions On the Purchase of Ralston Purina, Co. By Nestle S.A.
  Order Requires Nestle to Divest Ralston's Meow Mix and Alley Cat Dry Food Brands 
• For Your Information: December 11, 2001
  Announced Actions for December 11, 2001
  FTC has revised and reissued its business education publication: "In the Loupe: Advertising Diamonds, Gemstones and Pearls";  received a petition from The Dow Chemical Company  requesting FTC approval of certain amendments to the "Huntsman Agreement" and the "Ineos Agreement"; approved publication of a Federal Register notice announcing a public roundtable regarding the Proposed Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Foreign Judgments; received an application from CVS Corporation  requesting FTC approval of a proposed acquisition; FTC's Bureau of Economics is engaged in a research project on the use of econometrics estimates of consumer demand using retail scanner data in investigations of branded products mergers; approved a proposed divestiture by Lafarge S.A., et al. related to its merger with Blue Circle.

• For Release: December 11, 2001
  FTC Chairman Establishes the Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award
  Basil J. Mezines Honored as First Winner

December 10, 2001

• Release Date: December 10, 2001
  New York City Candy Vending Machine Franchisors Agree to Settle Charges:
  Defendants Agree to Pay $233,000 in Consumer Redress
• For Release: December 10, 2001
  Pet Express Settles FTC Charges
  Pet Food Marketer Delivered Orders Late, Or Not At All

December 7, 2001

• For Release: December 7, 2001
  Preserving Competition, FTC Consent Order Allows Koninklijke Ahold NV Purchase
  of Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc.
  Ahold Would Be Required to Sell its BI-LO Supermarkets in Two Georgia Towns
• For Your Information: December 7, 2001
  Announced Actions for December 7, 2001
  Application for approval from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. (AOLTW); application received from Exxon Mobil Corporation (Exxon Mobil); approved amendments to Parts 3 and 4 of the FTC's Regulations on Organization, Procedure and Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice) and publish the Federal Register Notice; approval a request by complaint counsel in approval a request by complaint counsel in H.J. Heinz Company, et al.

December 6, 2001

• For Release: December 6, 2001
  Marketer of Herbal Supplement Products Agrees to Settle FTC Charges That Safety and Health Benefit Claims Were False
  A Utah-based company has agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that the company made unfounded claims about the health benefits of the herbal ingredient comfrey for treating or curing a wide variety of serious diseases and conditions.

December 5, 2001

• For Release: December 5, 2001
  FTC Releases Second Follow-Up Report on the Marketing of Violent Entertainment to Children
  Motion Picture and Electronic Game Industries Have Demonstrated Commendable Progress; Recording Industry Has Not Changed Target Marketing Practices, But Has Made Improvements in Other Areas
• Release Date: December 5, 2001
  FTC Charges Miami Company Operating a Work-At-Home Business Opportunity with Engaging in Fraudulent Activities
  Miami-based company that advertised for home workers to help assemble "Native American" or "hand-crafted bracelets" has been shut down temporarily by a federal district court as a result of charges by the Federal Trade Commission that the company misled consumers about their prospects for profits in making the jewelry.

December 4, 2001

• Release Date: December 4, 2001
  Announced Actions for December 4, 2001
  Application for approval from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. (AOLTW); approval of the publication of a Federal Register notice regarding the ceiling on allowable charges for certain disclosures under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).