Daniel Glenn

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Key Takeaways:

  • The FTC’s Jewelry Guides require marketers to make clear and conspicuous disclosures to truthfully represent the origin of lab-grown diamonds and gemstones (i.e., distinguishing mined diamonds and gemstones from man-made substitutes) and otherwise comply with the Jewelry Guides (see below for additional compliance considerations).
  • Advertising claims for lab-grown diamonds and gemstones are subject to scrutiny by regulators, competitors (including adverse trade associations), and consumers, so companies should consult with legal counsel when developing any such claims.

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Continue Reading National Advertising Division Weighs in on Advertising Claims Related to Lab-Grown Diamonds

Operators of the LendEDU website entered into a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in response to allegations that LendEDU misled consumers by claiming that its website provided objective, unbiased rankings of financial products, when in fact they offered better ratings to companies that paid for the endorsement.

LendEDU promoted its website as a resource for people to compare and shop for financial products, such as student loans, personal loans, and credit cards, using rankings that LendEDU claimed were based on “objective,” “honest,” “accurate,” and “unbiased” information about the quality of the product being offered, and not based on financial compensation. But, according to the FTC’s complaint, LendEDU solicited payments from financial service companies in exchange for better product ratings, and adjusted the rankings on its website based on the amount of compensation received. The FTC complaint also alleges that LendEDU misrepresented that positive consumer reviews on its website and other third-party websites reflected the actual experiences of impartial customers, when the reviews were actually written by LendEDU employees or individuals with personal or professional relationships with LendEDU.
Continue Reading LendEDU Agrees to Settle FTC Charges Alleging Deceptive Advertising Practices

On August 7, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a public workshop to examine consumer protection issues related to the sale of “loot boxes” in video games.

For those unfamiliar with the phrase, “loot boxes” are often in-game rewards that players can buy that typically contain a random assortment of virtual “loot” items for players to use in the game (e.g., to help them succeed or to customize their in-game avatars). Although loot boxes contain virtual rewards, they are purchased with real money and are becoming an increasingly popular revenue source for game developers. However, class action lawsuits, U.S. senators,  and the FTC have questioned the techniques used to market loot boxes in video games and whether there is a risk that minors can become addicted or otherwise be exploited by these in-game offers.
Continue Reading FTC to Hold Workshop on Consumer Protection Issues Related to Video Game Loot Boxes