Olshan’s Advertising Practice Provides Pro Bono Support to COVID-19 and Racial Equality Fundraiser

Olshan’s Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Practice is providing pro bono legal support on a sweepstakes run by In Good Taste, a fundraising initiative whose goal is to help ease the suffering caused by COVID-19 and racial inequality. Read More ›

Law360 Publishes Article by Scott Shaffer on Recent TCPA Rulings that Benefit Companies Facing Robocall Claims

Law360 has published an article authored by advertising partner Scott Shaffer entitled “Charter TCPA Ruling May Benefit Cos. Facing Robocall Claims.” In the article, Mr. Shaffer analyzes a recent ruling, Creasy v. Charter Communications Inc., which held that a significant portion of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is unenforceable for violations occurring between November 2015 and July 6, 2020. Read More ›

Another Court of Appeals Rules Against the FTC on Disgorgement Issue

Court reverses award of $448 million in ill-gotten gains

The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected a district court’s award of $448 million against a pharmaceutical company in a lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In an antitrust case styled FTC v. AbbVie, Inc. (decided on September 30, 2020), the Third Circuit ruled that district courts lack the power to order disgorgement under the FTC Act. While the Third Circuit ruled in favor of the FTC on other issues in this case, the reversal of the disgorgement award the FTC is the focus of this blog entry. Read More ›

Federal Trial Court Rules Against Enforcement of TCPA Claims from 2015-2020

Ruling could have broad implications on thousands of pending cases

A federal district court has ruled that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is unenforceable for violations occurring between November 2015 and July 6, 2020. The trial court in Creasy v. Charter Communications, in the Eastern District of Louisiana on September 28, 2020, dismissed all asserted TCPA violations alleged to have occurred before July 6, 2020 because a portion of the TCPA was unconstitutional until the Supreme Court “fixed” it on that date. Read More ›

Webinar - Retail Marketing Compliance in Post-COVID Era

Our fast-moving webinar discussed key issues involving marketing and business practices in the current environment. Read More ›

Sweepstakes and Promotions During a Pandemic

In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, many companies have turned to online sweepstakes and promotions as a means of both promoting their brand and showing support to coronavirus relief efforts. Certainly, sweepstakes and promotions can be an effective way to achieve these dual purposes.   As we previously reported, brands that have hastily run promotions without thinking through the consequences of various events have run into a firestorm of negative publicity as well as potential class actions.  Making sure that the promotion incorporates the items below can help ensure that a promotion is legal, properly structured, and contains appropriate protections for the brand. Read More ›

FTC Files Complaints against Companies That Failed to Fulfill Promises of Fast Delivery of Protective Equipment

The importance of timely delivery remains a top priority, particularly when making enhanced delivery promises. In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FTC has filed complaints against three online merchandisers it believes have failed to deliver on quick shipping promises in contravention of the FTC’s Mail, Internet and Telephone Order Rule, commonly known as the Mail Order Sales Rule. Read More ›

Dark Patterns: FTC Reaches $10 Million Settlement with Children’s Online Learning Program over Marketing and Subscription Practices

Online children’s education company Age of Learning, Inc., also doing business as ABCmouse, has agreed to pay $10 million to settle the FTC’s charges that it made it difficult and confusing for subscribers to cancel their memberships.  The settlement highlights the importance of a compliant subscription enrollment pathway, including readily-accessible cancellation processes.  It also highlights a growing focus by regulators and others on “dark patterns” online marketing techniques. Read More ›

Federal Enforcement against Marketers Making Allegedly Deceptive Coronavirus-Related Health Claims

As we have previously reported, like other regulators, the FTC has been quick to take action against companies that it believes are seeking to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic. The FTC has sent warning letters to approximately 300 companies that it has alleged were making unsubstantiated or potentially misleading claims about products related to the coronavirus. Recently, the FTC has taken decisive action against a company to which it has previously sent a warning letter, alleging that such company has continued to make deceptive and misleading advertising claims in spite of the FTC’s warning. Read More ›

Andrew Lustigman Contributes to Business Ethics During COVID-19 Companies Digest Article

Andrew Lustigman, head of Olshan’s Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Practice Group, was featured in a Companies Digest article comprising assessments by leading business law attorneys. Read More ›