FTC

Companies that track consumer behavior on the Web for targeted advertising without proper consent are near their last chance to self-regulate, the head of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Monday.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle a probe by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission into its negotiations in to delay the launch of a generic version of its blockbuster drug Plavix, the Wall Street Journal said.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will use new authority to bar lending practices by mortgage brokers who have deceived borrowers, Bloomberg said, citing the FTC's chairman.

An online privacy group called on Tuesday for government regulators to investigate the adequacy of Google Inc's security safeguards after the company inadvertently released consumers' private information this month.

The head of the Federal Trade Commission said Friday she won't remove herself from an antitrust review of Google Inc.'s purchase of online advertiser, DoubleClick, rebuffing requests from privacy groups opposed to the transaction.

Google’s proposed buyout of DoubleClick is at the margins of a conflict of interest claim by two non-profit privacy groups who say that a top U.S. antitrust regulator has links to the law firm representing DoubleClick before the Federal Trade Commission.

U.S. antitrust regulators appealed a court ruling on Friday which denied their request to block the largest natural grocer, Whole Foods Market Inc., from acquiring its closest rival, Wild Oats Markets Inc.

Organic and natural foods grocer Whole Foods Market Inc. said late on Tuesday it is investigating the release of proprietary business information by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which it claimed violated a court confidentiality order.

Shares of memory technology maker Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) soared on Tuesday after anti-trust authorities delayed an order to that would have required the company cut royalty rates on its key patents.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Sony BMG agreed to settle charges from the commission that it secretly installed software on users' computers that would monitor listening habits for marketing purposes, while also limiting the ability to play the music on certain devices and make copies.

Imagine a supposedly non-profit debt consolidator tells you it will arrange all your bills into a convenient monthly payment for free, only to find later it has overstated your savings, is charging monthly fees, and is providing no service to improve or prevent your credit rating from deteriorating?