The FTC announced an enforcement action against online shoe seller Hey Dude, Inc. (a subsidiary of Crocs, Inc.) alleging Hey Dude suppressed more than 80% of consumer reviews that provided less than four out of five stars. The complaint also alleges multiple violations of the FTC’s Mail Order Rule between 2020 and 2022. A proposed consent order would require Hey Dude to pay nearly $2 million and take certain steps to prevent future violations.
Continue Reading Hey Dude: Review Suppression is Illegal and You’re Obligated to Ship Goods on Time
Consumer Reviews
Policing Your Brand On Online Marketplaces: A Brief IP Overview For Retailers
By Armin Ghiam, Matthew Nigriny & Jeremy S. Boczko on
Posted in IP
A longer version of this blog post originally published in March 2023 online by Retail TouchPoints. Reproduced with permission. Further duplication is not permitted.
Retailers often face brand policing challenges on online resale platforms such as Wayfair, Overstock.com, and eBay. Third-party resellers account for a significant portion of sales on these websites, where they are able to reach a large number of US consumers, and problems arise daily, often relating to brand owners’ dissatisfaction with the resellers and their sales practices. How can trademark and copyright laws help?
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FTC Publishes Proposed Rule Banning Fake Consumer Reviews
By Phyllis H. Marcus & Nicholas Drews on
Posted in Consumer Protection, Regulatory
The FTC recently announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at curbing deceptive consumer reviews and endorsements.
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