Category Archives: Competition Bureau

December 17, 2013

U.S. FTC Settlement With Associations Shows Importance of Reviewing Codes With a Critical Competition Eye, Including Advertising Restrictions

Codes of ethics are a common and ubiquitous aspect of many trade and professional associations.  A well prepared and thought out association code can achieve a number of legitimate aims, including ensuring that members adhere to the common goals and principles of the association, reducing … Read the rest of this entry »

December 10, 2013

New Competition Blogs: U.S. FTC Launches New “Competition Matters” Blog

December 10, 2013 Yesterday the U.S. Federal Trade Commission launched a new competition law and enforcement related blog called Competition Matters.  From the FTC: “Welcome to Competition Matters, the FTC’s newest blog for all things competition.  We hope to become your go-to spot for the … Read the rest of this entry »

December 5, 2013

Competition Bureau Announces First New Advocacy Initiative: Self-regulated Professions (Pharmacist Inducements in Alberta): Patient Care v. Competitive Markets

On September 10th, the Canadian Competition Bureau announced a public consultation for suggestions where it should intervene in regulated markets (i.e., where the Bureau does not have direct enforcement powers given the existence of legislation or regulations sanctioning conduct that would otherwise violate the Competition … Read the rest of this entry »

December 5, 2013

No Happy Holidays for Deceptive Telemarketer – Pleads Guilty to Deceptive Telemarketing, Nine Months Imprisonment

Yesterday the Competition Bureau announced that a Quebec telemarketer has pleaded guilty to deceptive telemarketing under the Competition Act and fraud under the Criminal Code and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. According to the Bureau, this particular telemarketing operation had been promoting “government grants” … Read the rest of this entry »

December 3, 2013

New Publications: Canadian ASC Issues New Consumer Advertising Report

Canada’s national not-for-profit advertising self-regulatory body Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) has released a new report on Canadian consumers’ views on advertising, entitled 2013 Consumer Perspectives on Advertising. Top of the list of advertising annoyances for Canadian consumers?: misleading advertising (significantly more than other issues, such … Read the rest of this entry »

November 27, 2013

New Publications: Canadian Competition Bureau Freshens Up Its Little Black Book of Scams

Looking for a (perhaps slightly dark) entertaining read about popular scams?  On November 1st the Canadian Competition Bureau updated its Little Black Book of Scams. This apparently very popular Bureau publication, first adopted by the Bureau from the Australian ACCC’s similar publication, includes discussions of … Read the rest of this entry »

November 22, 2013

New Canadian Contest Rules & Forms – Facebook “Like” Contests

Contests continue to be a popular and engaging way to promote brands, events, product launches and other things.  Whether random draw contest, consumer generated promotion or other type, promotional contests are great for buzz, traffic and attention. Based on continued demand I’m pleased to offer … Read the rest of this entry »

November 19, 2013

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Gets Court Order to Stop Allegedly Canada-based Fraudulent “Yellow Pages” Directory Scheme

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it has obtained a federal court order to temporarily halt the operations and freeze the assets of an alleged fraudulent Montreal-based “Yellow Pages” business directory scheme.  In making the announcement, the FTC said: “Hiding behind borders to … Read the rest of this entry »