RJR Lawsuit Against Retailers Continues
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is still waiting for an initial ruling in a $20 million lawsuit it filed in September against 20 retailers, wholesalers and individuals for alleged fraud using RJR's buy-down trade promotion program and its consumer coupons. ...
FTC Fines ChoicePoint $10 Million
Consumer data broker ChoicePoint has been fined $10 million by the Federal Trade Commission for violating federal law and consumer privacy rights. ...
CARU to Review Guidelines; Former FTC Official to Head Effort
The Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) is engaging the children's advertising industry to assist in a review of its self-regulatory guidelines for children's advertising. ...
L.A. City Attorney Sues Grand Theft Auto Makers
The Los Angeles city attorney's office has filed a lawsuit against the publishers of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for allegedly hiding pornographic material in the game, according to news reports. ...
Coughlin Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Wal-Mart
Former Wal-Mart Stores executive Thomas Coughlin faces up to eight years in prison and fines of up to $1.35 million after pleading guilty to defrauding Wal-Mart. ...
NAD Recommends Pfizer Modify Zantac Ads
Pfizer, Inc. has been asked to discontinue or modify advertising claims related to its heartburn medication Zantac 150. The claims were brought to the attention of the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus Inc. by Johnson & Johnson, which has a competitive heartburn product on the market....
Senator Schumer Asks FTC to Standardize Rebates
New York Senator Charles Schumer has asked the Federal Trade Commission to standardize rebate procedures, saying that rebate scams are created by companies whose job it is to ensure consumers have a hard time getting their money back....
Sony BMG Settles Spyware Deal With Free Music
Sony BMG Music Entertainment is offering free music downloads to settle a class-action lawsuit computer users filed over the company's copyright-protection software, according to news reports....
P&G Sues McLane Over Copycat Brands
Procter & Gamble has filed suit against packaged goods distributor McLane Co. for copying the packaging of P&G brands including Bounty, Charmin, and Vicks' NyQuil and DayQuil....
Ralphs Indicted for Fraud During 2003-04 Strike
A federal grand jury has brought an indictment against Kroger Co.'s Ralphs Grocery Co. division for allegedly hiring replacement workers illegally during the 2003-04 labor strike in California....
R.J. Reynolds Halts Promotion After Backlash
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has decided to halt a promotion that couples cigarettes with heavy drinking. The promotion targets young adults and has come under attack from three state attorneys general, as well as public advocacy groups....
DirecTV Do-Not-Call Settlement Largest Ever
(Direct Newsline)—DirecTV has agreed to pay $5.3 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the satellite television provider and companies it hired to promote its services violated federal do-not-call registry rules, the FTC announced Tuesday....
