UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA In the Matter of ICON HEALTH AND FITNESS, INC.,
IHF HOLDINGS, INC., FILE NO. 962 3045 CONSENT ORDER The Federal Trade Commission has conducted an investigation of certain acts and practices of Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc. ("proposed respondents"). Proposed respondents, having been represented by counsel, are willing to enter into an agreement containing a consent order resolving the allegations contained in the attached draft complaint. Therefore, IT IS HEREBY AGREED by and between Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc., by their duly authorized officers, and counsel for the Federal Trade Commission that: 1.a. Proposed respondent Icon Health and Fitness, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal office or place of business at 1500 S. 1000 W., Logan, Utah 84321. 1.b. Proposed respondent IHF Holdings, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal office or place of business at 1500 S. 1000 W., Logan, Utah 84321. 1.c. Proposed respondent IHF Capital, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal office or place of business at 1500 S. 1000 W., Logan, Utah 84321. 2. Proposed respondents admit all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the draft complaint. 3. Proposed respondents waive:
4. This agreement shall not become part of the public record of the proceeding unless and until it is accepted by the Commission. If this agreement is accepted by the Commission, it, together with the draft complaint, will be placed on the public record for a period of sixty (60) days and information about it publicly released. The Commission thereafter may either withdraw its acceptance of this agreement and so notify proposed respondents, in which event it will take such action as it may consider appropriate, or issue and serve its complaint (in such form as the circumstances may require) and decision in disposition of the proceeding. 5. This agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by proposed respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in the draft complaint, or that the facts as alleged in the draft complaint, other than the jurisdictional facts, are true. 6. This agreement contemplates that, if it is accepted by the Commission, and if such acceptance is not subsequently withdrawn by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.34 of the Commission's Rules, the Commission may, without further notice to proposed respondents, (1) issue its complaint corresponding in form and substance with the attached draft complaint and its decision containing the following order in disposition of the proceeding, and (2) make information about it public. When so entered, the order shall have the same force and effect and may be altered, modified, or set aside in the same manner and within the same time provided by statute for other orders. The order shall become final upon service. Delivery of the complaint and the decision and order to proposed respondents by any means specified in Section 4.4 of the Commission's Rules shall constitute service. Proposed respondents waive any right they may have to any other manner of service. The complaint may be used in construing the terms of the order. No agreement, understanding, representation, or interpretation not contained in the order or in the agreement may be used to vary or contradict the terms of the order. 7. Proposed respondents have read the draft complaint and consent order. They understand that they may be liable for civil penalties in the amount provided by law and other appropriate relief for each violation of the order after it becomes final. ORDER DEFINITIONS For purposes of this order, the following definitions shall apply: 1. "Competent and reliable scientific evidence" shall mean tests, analyses, research, studies, or other evidence based on the expertise of professionals in the relevant area, that has been conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by persons qualified to do so, using procedures generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results. 2. Unless otherwise specified, "respondents" shall mean Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc., corporations, their successors and assigns, and their officers, agents, representatives and employees. 3. "In or affecting commerce" shall mean as defined in Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44. I. IT IS ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of the "Cross Walk Treadmill" or any other exercise equipment in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication: A. About the relative, comparative, or absolute
B. About the benefits, performance, or efficacy of such product with respect to calorie burning, fat burning, or weight loss, unless, at the time the representation is made, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence, which when appropriate must be competent and reliable scientific evidence, that substantiates the representation. II. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any product in or affecting commerce, shall not represent, in any manner, expressly or by implication, that the experience represented by any user testimonial or endorsement of the product represents the typical or ordinary experience of members of the public who use the product, unless: A. At the time it is made, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the representation; or B. Respondents disclose, clearly and prominently, and in close proximity to the endorsement or testimonial, either:
For purposes of this Part, "endorsement" shall mean as defined in 16 C.F.R. § 255.0(b). III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc., and their successors and assigns shall, for five (5) years after the last date of dissemination of any representation covered by this order, maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying: A. All materials that were relied upon in disseminating the representation; and B. All tests, reports, studies, surveys, demonstrations, or other evidence in their possession or control that contradict, qualify, or call into question the representation, or the basis relied upon for the representation, including complaints and other communications with consumers or with governmental or consumer protection organizations. IV. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc., and their successors and assigns, shall deliver a copy of this order to all current and future officers and directors, and to all current and future employees, agents, and representatives having responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of this order, provided, however, that the duty to deliver a copy of this order to future personnel as required by this Part shall terminate three (3) years after the date upon which this order becomes final. Respondents shall deliver this order to current personnel within thirty (30) days after the date of service of this order, and to future personnel within thirty (30) days after the person assumes such position or responsibilities. V. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc., and their successors and assigns shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in the corporation(s) that may affect compliance obligations arising under this order, including but not limited to a dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, or other action that would result in the emergence of a successor corporation; the creation or dissolution of a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any acts or practices subject to this order; the proposed filing of a bankruptcy petition; or a change in the corporate name or address. Provided, however, that, with respect to any proposed change in the corporation about which respondents learn less than thirty (30) days prior to the date such action is to take place, respondents shall notify the Commission as soon as is practicable after obtaining such knowledge. All notices required by this Part shall be sent by certified mail to the Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580. VI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents Icon Health and Fitness, Inc., IHF Holdings, Inc., and IHF Capital, Inc., and their successors and assigns, shall, within sixty (60) days after the date of service of this order, and at such other times as the Federal Trade Commission may require, file with the Commission a report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied with this order. VII. This order will terminate twenty (20) years from the date of its issuance, or twenty (20) years from the most recent date that the United States or the Federal Trade Commission files a complaint (with or without an accompanying consent decree) in federal court alleging any violation of the order, whichever comes later; provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of:
Provided, further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that the respondent did not violate any provision of the order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the order will terminate according to this Part as though the complaint had never been filed, except that the order will not terminate between the date such complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal. Signed this day of , 19 IHF HOLDINGS, INC. IHF CAPITAL, INC. BRAD H. BEARNSON LAURA FREMONT APPROVED: |