FTC

U.S. Court Advances FTC Lawsuit Against Kochava Over Sensitive Geolocation Data Sales

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BOISE, Idaho – A federal judge recently ruled against Kochava Inc., a digital marketing data brokerage, allowing a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to proceed. The FTC has accused Idaho-based Kochava of selling mobile device geolocation data that allegedly could be used to track individuals to sensitive locations without their consent. The decision came down from U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the District of Idaho on February 3, 2025. In his ruling, Judge Winmill found sufficient grounds to explore if Kochava’s transactions potentially breached privacy expectations, siding with the FTC’s … Read more

Judge Approves Tempur Sealy’s $4 Billion Acquisition of Mattress Firm, Overruling FTC Concerns

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HOUSTON — A significant development in the retail and mattress industry unfolded on Friday as a federal judge ruled in favor of Tempur Sealy International’s ambitious $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm. This decision came despite the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) efforts to block the merger, claiming it would be detrimental to consumers. The transaction, initially announced in May 2023, was slated for completion in the latter half of last year. However, the FTC’s intervention has delayed the process, arguing that the merger would restrict competition and limit consumer choices by controlling significant retail outlets … Read more

Industry Giant Southern Glazer’s Faces FTC Lawsuit Over Alleged Price Discrimination

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a legal battle against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, a major U.S. distributor, citing alleged violations of the Robinson-Patman Act. The agency accuses the company of engaging in discriminatory pricing practices that purportedly favor large chain retailers over smaller, independent outlets by offering the former more attractive discounts and rebates. As a powerhouse in the distribution of alcoholic beverages, Southern Glazer’s handles products for prominent brands such as Pernod Ricard, Bacardi, Diageo, and Suntory Global Spirits. In 2023 alone, the company reported a staggering $26 billion in revenue, … Read more

DoNotPay Settles with FTC for $193K Over Misleading Claims in AI ‘Robot Lawyer’ Services

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Washington — The artificial intelligence startup DoNotPay, self-proclaimed as the world’s first “robot lawyer,” has recently settled for $193,000 with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over accusations of misleading marketing claims. The FTC criticized the company for promoting its AI chatbot’s capabilities as on par with human lawyers without any supportive evidence or proper testing. DoNotPay, initially lauded for its innovative approach to offering legal advice on various matters including parking ticket disputes and divorce settlements, did not admit liability but agreed to the settlement following charges of violating the FTC Act. The company is … Read more