In a recently published Law360 article, Crowell attorneys Stacey Geis, Juge Gregg, and Emily Werkmann examine the rapidly evolving legal landscape surrounding state packaging and recycling laws, analyzing the mounting wave of constitutional challenges to extended producer responsibility programs now enacted across seven states and the significant compliance, litigation, and strategic implications for companies navigating this uncertainty. Click here to read the full article.
Following the holiday weekend, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed settlement with Humboldt Merchant Services requiring the payment processor to pay $12 million and accept restrictions on servicing certain merchants over allegations that it facilitated merchant fraud and rescinded its 2021 policy statement on breaches by health apps and other connected devices as unnecessary in light of the Commission’s 2024 rule amendments. More on these updates after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (September 7-11, 2026)
This week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a statement regarding the acquisition of Fairfield Medical Center by Adena Health, extended the public comment period on its proposed enforcement policy statement regarding personalized pricing, and announced a settlement with a payment processor to implement merchant screening practices and pay millions over charges of facilitating merchant fraud. More on these stories after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Updates (Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, 2026)
Over the past two weeks, the FTC secured a permanent injunction blocking Henkel’s $725 million acquisition of Liquid Nails, entered a stipulated order unwinding Zillow and Redfin’s $100 million market-exit agreement, and reached a $4 million settlement with Manchester City Nissan over unauthorized dealer fees. The agency also finalized $930,000 in penalties against Cox Media Group and two affiliated firms for deceptive AI advertising claims, issued a draft policy statement on personalized pricing open for public comment, updated National Do Not Call Registry fees for Fiscal Year 2027, and filed an amicus brief in a Fourth Circuit antitrust matter involving Amgen. These stories and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Updates (August 17-21, 24-28)
A Market Without Borders – But With Many Regulators
The U.S. pet industry is booming — an estimated $158 billion market in 2024 — and that growth is equally pronounced overseas. Yet unlike well-established frameworks governing human consumer products, pet products occupy a fragmented international regulatory landscape. For companies that manufacture or sell pet products internationally, understanding that landscape is more important than ever.
Continue Reading Pet Products in the Global Arena: What International Regulators Are WatchingOn August 19, 2026, the FTC issued a press release outlining the agency’s proposed Enforcement Policy Statement on personalized pricing putting businesses on notice that using consumers’ personal data to set individualized prices without clear and conspicuous disclosures — including the fact of personalization, its basis, and the data used — may constitute a deceptive or unfair practice in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. Click here to read the full version of this alert.
The FTC made a significant policy shift in August, announcing that it will no longer pursue claims under disparate-impact or “unfair discrimination” theories. The Commission concluded it lacks statutory authority to bring such claims and that doing so would be contrary to constitutional values. This story and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Updates (August 3 – August 14, 2026)
The FTC has been active across both consumer protection and competition spaces in the past two weeks. In the consumer protection space, the Commission announced several proposed settlements with companies and individuals, resolving complaints of alleged deceptive marketing and false advertising. In the competition space, the Commission submitted comments on an Ohio Supreme Court proposal regarding law school accreditation requirements. These stories and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (July 13 – July 24, 2026)
The recent listing of microplastics as a “Candidate Chemical” under California’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulations signals that future regulation of products containing microplastics will likely occur under the SCP program. But the listing may also trigger more imminent obligations under AB 1200 for cookware manufacturers and others. Click here to read the full version of this alert.
A recently filed class action lawsuit against Gymshark, a prominent athletic apparel company, highlights the escalating legal risks associated with influencer marketing. The complaint, brought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on June 16, 2026, alleges that Gymshark systematically paid social media influencers to promote its products without ensuring that the influencers were providing clear and conspicuous disclosures about such payment, in violation of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidance and New York state law.
Continue Reading Ghost Advertising: Compliance Takeaways From the Gymshark Influencer Class Action