Tag Archives: Canadian misleading advertising law

May 16, 2024

New Competition Bureau Drip Pricing Guidance

On May 15, 2024, the Canadian Competition Bureau issued new guidance on drip pricing under the federal Competition Act (see: The Ambush of Hidden Fees). In making the announcement, the Competition Bureau said: “Saving money can be challenging these days. Especially when you are buying … Read the rest of this entry »

November 21, 2020

Hockey Helmet Performance Claims Case Illustrates Competition Act Compliance Requirements

Practical Law Canada Competition (of which I am Lawyer Editor) has published a new Legal Update, which discusses recent enforcement by the Competition Bureau against an ice hockey helmet manufacturer in relation to allegedly unsupported performance claims. The Legal Update includes an overview of the … Read the rest of this entry »

April 8, 2020

Product Performance Claims: Increased Risk in Making Unfounded Claims During COVID-19 Outbreak

Practical Law Canada has published a New Legal Update, which discusses product performance claims under the Competition Act and the Competition Bureau’s increased enforcement focus on performance claims that are not supported by adequate and proper testing.  The Legal Update also includes an overview of the … Read the rest of this entry »

February 14, 2020

The Price, the Whole Price and Nothing But the Price: StubHub Pays $1.3 Million Penalty Following Bureau Drip Pricing Probe

The Competition Bureau’s (Bureau) top priority for enforcement and advocacy is currently the digital economy (see, for example, here, here, here, here and here). And for online marketing practices, false or misleading prices, including drip-pricing (i.e., where additional fees for an online purchase are only … Read the rest of this entry »

June 27, 2019

Ticketmaster Agrees to Pay $4 Million Penalty to Settle Drip Pricing Case (Upfront Pricing Case)

On June 27, 2019, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that Ticketmaster L.L.C., TNow Entertainment Group, Inc. and Ticketmaster Canada LP have agreed to pay a $4 million penalty and $500,000 of the Bureau’s costs relating to allegedly misleading online ticket sale pricing claims. See Ticketmaster to … Read the rest of this entry »

May 27, 2018

Testimonials and Endorsements: Key Canadian Legal Rules and Compliance Tips

Testimonials and endorsements (i.e., where a brand uses an expert, celebrity or other person to endorse their product) are both increasingly popular and increasingly being scrutinized by regulators, including the Canadian Competition Bureau (Bureau) and U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While the Competition Act, which … Read the rest of this entry »

February 23, 2017

Competition Bureau Enforces “Sale” Sections of Competition Act, Brings Case Against Hudson’s Bay

The Competition Bureau (Bureau) continues to enforce the sale related sections of the Competition Act. Earlier today, it announced that it will commence an application with the federal Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) in relation to the alleged deceptive marketing of sleep sets (mattresses and foundations sold … 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 »