Conferences and Workshops

2012

Robocalls All The Rage: An FTC Summit(October 18, 2012)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public event on Thursday, October 18, 2012 to develop solutions to the rapid rise in illegal robocalls. The Summit will include a report on the current state of the robocall technology and the industry, along with a discussion of the laws surrounding the use of robocalls. This will be followed by an exploration of potential technological solutions to the problem of illegal robocalls, including panels on caller-ID spoofing and call authentication technology, data mining and anomaly detection, and call-blocking technology. The workshop will be open to the public and available through a live webcast. 


Pet Medications Workshop (October 2, 2012)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public workshop on October 2, 2012, to examine competition and consumer protection issues in the pet medications industry.  The quality and cost of pet medications is an important pocketbook issue for many consumers.  In 2011, 62 percent of U.S. households owned a pet, and Americans spent an estimated $50 billion on their pets, including nearly $7 billion for prescription and over-the-counter pet medications. 


In Short: Advertising & Privacy Disclosures in a Digital World (May 30th, 2012)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public workshop on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 to consider the need for new guidance concerning advertising and privacy disclosures in today's online and mobile environments. The workshop will address online disclosure challenges, including making clear and conspicuous disclosures in social media and mobile marketing and making mobile privacy disclosures. Panelists for the workshop will include consumer advocates, representatives of marketers and industry groups, and academics. The workshop will be open to the public and available through a live webcast.


The Economics of Drip Pricing (May 21, 2012)
The Bureau of Economics of the Federal Trade Commission is hosting a conference on the Economics of Drip Pricing on Monday May 21. Drip pricing is a pricing technique in which firms advertise only part of a product’s price and reveal other charges later as the customer goes through the buying process. The additional charges can be mandatory charges, such as taxes and hotel resort fees, or fees for optional upgrades and add-ons. The conference will examine the theoretical motivation for drip pricing and its impact on consumers, empirical studies, and policy issues pertaining to drip pricing.


Paper, Plastic... or Mobile? An FTC Workshop on Mobile Payments (April 26th, 2012)
The Federal Trade Commission hosted a workshop on April 26, 2012, to examine the use of mobile payments in the marketplace and how this emerging technology impacts consumers. This event will bring together consumer advocates, industry representatives, government regulators, technologists, and academics to examine a wide range of issues, including the technology and business models used in mobile payments, the consumer protection issues raised, and the experiences of other nations where mobile payments are more common. The workshop will be free and open to the public.


2011

Face Facts: A Forum on Facial Recognition Technology (December 8th, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission hosted a workshop in Washington, DC on December 8, 2011, exploring facial recognition technology and the privacy and security implications raised by its increasing use. Facial recognition technology has been adopted in a variety of new contexts, ranging from online social networks to digital signs and mobile apps. The FTC workshop will gather consumer protection organizations, academics, business and industry representatives, privacy professionals, and others to examine the use of facial recognition technology and related privacy and security concerns. The workshop is free and open to the public.


The Road Ahead: Selling, Financing & Leasing Motor Vehicles (November 17th, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission is holding a series of roundtable events to gather information on possible consumer protection issues that may arise in the sale, lease, or financing of motor vehicles. The first event took place in Detroit, Michigan on April 12, 2011. The second event took place in San Antonio, Texas on August 2-3, 2011. The third event will take place in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2011.

Having access to a motor vehicle is essential for many consumers to fulfill their daily obligations. It imposes a substantial expense, however, and accordingly most consumers seek to lease or finance the purchase of a new or used car. As the nation's consumer protection agency, the Commission is committed to protecting consumers in connection with these financial transactions.


Stolen Futures: A Forum on Child Identity Theft (July 12th, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Office for Victims Rights (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, will hold a forum to discuss child identity theft. Government, business, non-profit, legal service providers, and victim advocates will explore the nature of child identity theft, including foster care identity theft and identity theft within families, with the goal of advising parents and victims on how to prevent the crime and how to resolve child identity theft problems. The forum is free and open to the public.


Patents and Standard-Setting: Tools to Prevent "Hold-up" (June 21, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop in Washington, D.C., as part of a project to examine the legal and policy issues surrounding the competition problem of “hold-up” when patented technologies are included in collaborative standards.


Food Marketed to Children: Forum on Interagency Working Group Proposal (May 24th, 2011)
The Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children will hold a half-day public forum to solicit public comment on proposed voluntary principles for food marketed to children. The Working Group, comprised of representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was established at the direction of Congress to develop recommendations for the nutritional quality of food marketed to children and adolescents, ages 2-17. The Group issued its proposal for public comment last month.


Phone Bill Cramming: A Discussion (May 11th, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a day-long public forum in Washington, D.C. to examine telephone bill cramming and explore possible solutions to reduce unauthorized third-party billing on telephone bills. The forum will focus on how the government, businesses, and organizations can work together to reduce cramming through business practices, law enforcement, and possible legislation.


Another Dose of Competition: Accountable Care Organizations and Antitrust (May 9th, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop to seek input on the Proposed Statement of Antitrust Enforcement Policy, which discusses how the federal antitrust agencies will enforce U.S. antitrust laws when competing health care providers create new Accountable Care Organizations (“ACOs”) under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. 


Lottery, Prize, and Sweepstakes Scams and the Role of Money Transfer Services (May 2-3, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with the United States Postal Inspection Service, will host a two-day public workshop in Chicago, Illinois to examine what more can be done to protect consumers from falling victim to lottery, prize, and sweepstakes scams and other scams that use money transfers as the method of payment. The workshop will focus on scams in which consumers are falsely told, "You're a Winner" of a particular lottery or sweepstakes, and that they need only wire money to pay taxes or other fees to collect their prize. The discussion will focus upon how these scams work, the nature of the victims, the role of money transfer services, and additional efforts to combat these frauds.


Debt Collection 2.0 – Protecting Consumers as Technologies Change (April 28th, 2011)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a day-long public workshop to consider the impact of technological advances on the consumer debt collection system. The workshop will explore how changing technology affects the ways in which debt collectors communicate with consumers and obtain and process information about consumers and debts. Technologies to be discussed include mobile telephones, email, social media, information gathering tools, and the software platforms that collectors use, including auto-dialers, databases, and payment portals. The discussion will focus upon how these technologies affect collectors' compliance with the law, consumer protection concerns that may arise from their use, and the proper response to those concerns.


The Road Ahead – Selling, Financing & Leasing Motor Vehicles
The Federal Trade Commission is holding a series of roundtable events to gather information on possible consumer protection issues that may arise in the sale, lease, or financing of motor vehicles. The first event took place in Detroit, Michigan on April 12, 2011. The second event took place in San Antonio, Texas on August 2 - 3, 2011. The third event will take place in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2011.

Having access to a motor vehicle is essential for many consumers to fulfill their daily obligations. It imposes a substantial expense, however, and accordingly most consumers seek to lease or finance the purchase of a new or used car. As the nation's consumer protection agency, the Commission is committed to protecting consumers in connection with these financial transactions.


2010

Workshop Regarding Accountable Care Organizations and Implications Regarding Antitrust, Physican Self-Referral, Anti-Kickback and Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Laws (October 5, 2010)
The Federal Trade Commission, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General will co-host a workshop on several issues associated with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), organizations authorized by the new Affordable Care Act that seek to deliver high-quality and efficient health care services to consumers.  The workshop will address and solicit public comments on the legal issues raised by various ACO models being considered by health care providers.


How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age? (June 15, 2010)
The Federal Trade Commission will hold its third and final workshop on the future of journalism at the National Press Club on June 15, 2010.  In this wrap-up session, journalists, academics, economists and other policy experts will compare, contrast, and evaluate proposals for sustaining journalism that have been presented during the previous workshops and in a wide variety of reports and conferences.   This discussion will help inform potential recommendations to be contained in a report to be released by the FTC later this year.   The event is free and open to the public, and will be held on the 13th Floor of the National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW in Washington, DC from 9:00 to noon and 2:30 to 5 pm.


COPPA Rule Review Roundtable (June 2, 2010)
In light of rapidly evolving technology and changes in the way children use and access the Internet, the Federal Trade Commission is holding a workshop on June 2, 2010 to discuss the costs and benefits of the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. COPPA imposes requirements on operators of Web sites or online services that are aimed at children under 13 years of age, or that knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Among other things, the Rule requires that online operators notify parents and get their permission before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children. It also requires that the operators keep the information they collect from children secure, and prohibits them from requiring children to turn over any more personal information than is reasonably necessary to participate in activities on their Web sites.


Horizontal Merger Guidelines Workshop Comments (April 20, 2010)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice will hold the final two in a series of five joint public workshops to explore the possibility of updating the Horizontal Merger Guidelines that are used by both agencies to evaluate the potential competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions. The fourth workshop will be held at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the final workshop will be held at the FTC Conference Center in Washington, D.C.   Each event is free and open to the public, and there will be no pre-registration.  Additional information about the workshops, including agendas, is available on the workshops website.


Exploring Privacy: A Roundtable Series (March 17, 2010)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a series of day-long public roundtable discussions to explore the privacy challenges posed by the vast array of 21st century technology and business practices that collect and use consumer data. Such practices include social networking, cloud computing, online behavioral advertising, mobile marketing, and the collection and use of information by retailers, data brokers, third-party applications, and other diverse businesses.


How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age? (March 9 and 10, 2010)
The Federal Trade Commission will hold two additional days of workshops on March 9 and 10, 2010, to explore how the Internet has affected journalism.  In these two days, participants will address proposals to better support journalism, and to lower the costs of journalism.  Panelists will discuss possible changes to copyright and tax laws, efforts to make government data more accessible, and competitor collaborations to improve efficiencies.  The events are free and open to the public and will be held in the FTC Headquarters building.  Additional information about the workshops, including agendas, is available on the workshops website.


Exploring Privacy: A Roundtable Series (January 28, 2010)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a series of day-long public roundtable discussions to explore the privacy challenges posed by the vast array of 21st century technology and business practices that collect and use consumer data. Such practices include social networking, cloud computing, online behavioral advertising, mobile marketing, and the collection and use of information by retailers, data brokers, third-party applications, and other diverse businesses.


Horizontal Merger Guidelines Workshop (January 14, 2010 in Stanford, California and January 26, 2010 in Washington, D.C.)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice will hold the final two in a series of five joint public workshops to explore the possibility of updating the Horizontal Merger Guidelines that are used by both agencies to evaluate the potential competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions. The fourth workshop will be held at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the final workshop will be held at the FTC Conference Center in Washington, D.C.   Each event is free and open to the public, and there will be no pre-registration.  Additional information about the workshops, including agendas, is available on the workshops website.


2009

Sizing Up Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity (December 15, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a public forum on December 15, 2009, titled “Sizing Up Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity.” The forum will assemble industry representatives, federal regulators, consumer groups, scientific researchers, and legal scholars to discuss issues related to food marketing to children. The forum will discuss current research on the impact of food advertising on children, and the statutory and constitutional issues surrounding governmental regulation of food marketing.


Exploring Privacy: A Roundtable Series (December 7, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a series of day-long public roundtable discussions to explore the privacy challenges posed by the vast array of 21st century technology and business practices that collect and use consumer data. Such practices include social networking, cloud computing, online behavioral advertising, mobile marketing, and the collection and use of information by retailers, data brokers, third-party applications, and other diverse businesses.


Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration: A Roundtable Discussion (December 4, 2009)
The FTC is preparing to hold the third in a series of three Roundtable Discussions on Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration. Previous Roundtables were held in Chicago and San Francisco. These events examine consumer protection issues in debt collection proceedings against consumers. The events are free and open to the public, and there is no preregistration. In primary part, the Washington, DC event will focus on issues relevant to litigation proceedings. The Commission also strongly encourages comments from the public relevant to these topics.


Horizontal Merger Guidelines Workshops (December 3, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice will hold a series of joint public workshops to explore the possibility of updating the Horizontal Merger Guidelines that are used by both agencies to evaluate the potential competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions.  The agencies are also soliciting original research and written comments to questions posed by the agencies.  Interested parties can request to participate in the first of five workshops to be held on December 3, 2009 in Washington, D.C. This event is free and open to the public, and there will be no pre-registration.  Information on additional workshops will be posted on the website.


From Town Criers to Bloggers: How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age? (December 1 and 2, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will hold two days of workshops on December 1 and 2, 2009, to explore how the Internet has affected journalism. The event is free and open to the public. The workshop will assemble representatives from print, online, broadcast and cable news organizations, academics, consumer advocates, bloggers, and other new media representatives.


Public Forum on Debt Relief Amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (November 4, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission is inviting interested persons to participate in a public forum on November 4, 2009, to discuss proposed debt relief amendments to the Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. The recently proposed rules seek to combat deceptive and abusive telemarketing of debt relief services that purportedly can reduce consumer credit card debt and other unsecured debt.


Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration: A Roundtable Discussion (September 29-30, 2009)
Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration: A Roundtable Discussion examines consumer protection issues in debt collection proceedings against consumers. The event is free and open to the public, and there will be no preregistration. The first day will focus on arbitration proceedings, while the second will focus on litigation proceedings. The Commission also encourages comments from the public relevant to these topics.


Business Opportunity Rule (June 1, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will hold a day-long public workshop on June 1, 2009 in Washington, DC, to explore proposed changes to the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule. The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will examine possible changes to the rule that were outlined in a Revised Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (RNPR) on March 26, 2008.


Resale Price Maintenance Under the Sherman Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act (May 20-21, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop on Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) to examine, for the purposes of enforcing Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act. The May 20th panel will review existing empirical studies of RPM, or studies of other vertical restraints that might inform our thinking on RPM. In addition, the Panel will explore future possible research avenues in light of potential testable hypotheses underlying various theories regarding the competitive effects of RPM.  The first panel on May 21st will explore the legal and business history of the use and treatment of RPM in the United States. The Panel will focus on changes in business practices, as well as the legal and business management doctrines relating to RPM.  The second panel on May 21st will assess the guidance provided by the Leegin Court regarding the analysis of RPM under the rule of reason, and will explore how the rule of reason may be applied post-Leegin.


The Evolving IP MarketPlace (May 4-5, 2009)
The FTC, in conjunction with the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology and the Berkeley Center for Competition Policy, will host the last in its series of hearings on the Evolving IP Marketplace in Berkeley, CA.  These sessions will explore how markets for patents and technology operate in different industries, whether those markets operate efficiently, and how patent policy might be adjusted to respond to problems in those markets in order to better promote innovation and competition.


Best Practices for Business: Protecting Personal Information and Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule (April 29, 2009)
This workshop provides a comprehensive approach to help businesses prevent identity theft. Businesses must implement data security practices that deter identity thieves from obtaining personal information to open or access accounts. Businesses also must pay attention to telltale signs – or red flags – suggesting that thieves may be trying to use personal information that they have already acquired.


The Evolving IP MarketPlace - Markets for Intellectual Property (April 17, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host the fourth in its series of hearings on the Evolving IP Marketplace. This set of hearings will explore the emergence of new business models in the market for intellectual property, strategies for buying, selling and licensing patents and the role of secondary markets. It will also showcase recent academic scholarship in these areas.


Digital Rights Management (March 25, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic at the University of Washington School of Law will host a conference on the use of digital rights management technologies, a widespread practice that is expected to become increasingly prevalent in the U.S. marketplace in the coming years.


The Evolving IP MarketPlace - The Operation of IP Markets (March 18-19, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host the third in its series of hearings on the Evolving IP Marketplace. The set of hearings will explore the operation of IP markets and the notice function of patents. The March 18th hearing will explore how participants in different industries use patents and the effect of recent judicial decisions. The March 19th hearings will consider the economic and legal perspectives on IP and technology markets and the notice function of patents.


Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy (March 16-17, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with APEC and the OECD, will host a two-day international conference: “Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy.” The conference addresses how companies can manage personal data-security issues in a global information environment where data can be stored and accessed from multiple jurisdictions.


Ad It Up! Kids in a Commercial World (March 12, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission staff will host a forum on March 12, 2009 to gather input for its upcoming education program on advertising literacy. At the forum, experts on advertising and marketing to kids will discuss a range of issues, including what children experience in the commercial world, what they understand about their experiences, and what consumer education efforts will help kids navigate in this world. The goal of the campaign is to educate kids to be better informed consumers of information.


Fraud Forum (February 25-26, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a free two-day Fraud Forum on February 25 and 26, 2009, in Washington, DC. The Forum will examine how the FTC can more effectively protect consumers from fraudulent schemes. The first day of the Forum will be open to the public and will provide an opportunity for law enforcement, consumer advocates, business representatives and academics to examine many aspects of fraud today. The second day of the Forum will be open only to domestic and international law enforcement officials, and will focus on improving interagency coordination in the battle against consumer fraud.


Resale Price Maintenance Under the Sherman Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act (February 17-19, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host the first two in a series of public workshops on Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) to examine, for the purposes of enforcing Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act, how to best distinguish between uses of RPM that benefit consumers and those that do not. The February 17th workshop will focus on Theories of Economic Benefits of RPM. The February 19th workshop will focus on Theories of Economic Harms of RPM. Each workshop session will feature panel presentations, a moderated discussion, and an opportunity for audience questions. Both events are free and open to the public, and also will be webcast. Additional RPM workshops will be scheduled later in 2009.


The Evolving IP MarketPlace - The Remedies (February 11-12, 2009)
The Federal Trade Commission will host the second in its series of hearings on the Evolving IP Marketplace. This set of hearings will explore recent and proposed changes in remedies law. The February 11th hearings will focus on damages in patent cases. The February 12th hearings will discuss recent changes in permanent injunction and willful standards in the wake of the eBay and Seagate decisions. The event is free and open to the public and will also be webcast.


2008

The Evolving IP MarketPlace (December 5, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will begin a series of hearings to explore the evolving market for intellectual property (IP) on Friday, December 5, 2008.  The hearings will examine changes in intellectual property law, patent-related business models, and new learning regarding the operation of the IP marketplace since the FTC issued its October 2003 report, To Promote Innovation: The Proper Balance of Competition and Patent Law and Policy (the FTC IP Report).   The discussion on December 5th will be divided among three panels: (1) an overview of developing business models; (2) recent and proposed changes in remedies law; (3) changes in legal doctrines that affect the value and licensing of patents. The event is free and open to the public. 


Emerging Health Care Competition and Consumer Issues (November 21, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission will hold two roundtables on emerging health care competition and consumer issues.  They will focus on two distinct areas in which competition and consumer protection policies are implicated: (1) competition among health care providers based on quality information; and (2) competition provided by developing an abbreviated regulatory approval pathway for follow-on biologic drugs.


Market Manipulation Rulemaking (November 6, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff will host a workshop on Thursday, November 6, 2008, to discuss the FTC’s proposed petroleum industry market manipulation rule and the comments received in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This event is free and open to the public, and no pre-registration is necessary.


Protecting Personal Information: Best Practices for Business (November 13, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law will co-host a half-day public workshop on how businesses can secure personal information and protect the privacy of consumers and employees. The workshop is presented in partnership with the International Association of Privacy Professionals. It will feature business people, attorneys, government officials, privacy officers, and other experts who will provide practical guidance for businesses of all sizes on data security, privacy, developing an appropriate data security program, and responding to data breaches and other privacy and security problems.


Hart-Scott-Rodino Premerger Notification Workshop (October 23, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a half-day public workshop on October 23, 2008, in recognition of the 30th Anniversary of the implementation of Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.   The workshop, hosted by the Bureau of Competition's Premerger Notification Office, will cover the basics of HSR premerger notification, such as how to determine whether premerger notification is required and how to prepare an HSR filing. 


Section 5 as a Competition Statute  (October 17, 2008)
The Commission will host a one-day workshop to consider the appropriate scope of the prohibition on “unfair methods of competition” in Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.  The discussion will be divided among four panels: (1) the history of Section 5, including its enactment by Congress, the FTC’s enforcement, and the courts’ responses; (2) the range of possible legal interpretations of Section 5; (3) examples of contemporary business conduct that may be unfair methods of competition under one or more of these interpretations; and (4) business issues involving standard-setting organizations.  The event is free and open to the public.


Consumer Protection & the Debt Settlement Industry (September 25, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission staff will hold a workshop on September 25, 2008 to explore the growth of the for-profit debt settlement industry and to analyze how its model is affecting consumers and businesses. The event is free and open to the public, and there will be no pre-registration. The workshop will assemble consumer advocates, industry representatives, both state and federal regulators, and others with pertinent expertise to discuss a wide range of topics, including regulation and legal developments, advertising and marketing of debt relief services, role of third party lead generators and other service providers, the history and development of the industry, and consumer education. 


Transatlantic RFID Workshop on Consumer Privacy and Data Security (September 23, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission staff will hold a workshop on September 23, 2008, to explore emerging applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and their implications for consumer protection policy.  This event, “Transatlantic RFID Workshop on Consumer Privacy and Data Security,” is free and open to the public, and no pre-registration is necessary.  The workshop will bring together industry representatives, government officials, and consumer advocates from Europe and the United States to discuss security and privacy concerns associated with RFID. 


Protecting Personal Information: Best Practices for Business (August 13, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission and California Office of Privacy Protection (COPP) will co-host a half-day public workshop on how businesses can secure the personal information of consumers and employees. The workshop is presented in partnership with the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. It will feature business people, attorneys, government officials, privacy officers, and other experts discussing data security in general, privacy, best practices for developing an appropriate data security program, and how businesses can respond to privacy and security problems, including data breaches. 


Pay On The Go: Consumers and Contactless Payment (July 24, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic at the University of Washington will host a Town Hall meeting on July 24, 2008, to explore the growth of contactless payment systems and their implications for consumer protection policy. This Town Hall, titled “Pay on the Go: Consumers and Contactless Payment“ follows up on the FTC‘s November 2006 hearings, “Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade,“ which examined key technological and business developments that will shape consumers‘ experiences over the next ten years.


Green Building & Textiles (July 15, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission is planning to host a public workshop on July 15, 2008, to examine developments in green building and textiles claims and consumer perception of such claims. This workshop is one component of the Commission’s regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 CFR Part 260), which the FTC previously announced in a Federal Register Notice on November 26, 2007.


Consumer Information & the Mortgage Market (May 29, 2008)
The FTC’s Bureau of Economics will host a conference on Consumer Information & the Mortgage Market on Thursday, May 29th The purpose of this conference is to highlight and assess the role of consumer information in the current mortgage crisis from an economic perspective. Experts on real estate economics, information economics, consumer behavior, and consumer information policy will examine why mortgage products and markets have changed over time, and the effect of consumer information -- and information regulation -- on mortgage choices and mortgage market outcomes.


Clinical Integration in Health Care: a Check-Up (May 29, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission plans to hold a one-day public workshop on May 29, 2008, to examine developments in the health care sector relating to “clinical integration” among health care providers. Clinical integration is a term used to describe certain types of collaborations among otherwise independent health care providers to improve quality and contain costs. The 1996 joint FTC/Department of Justice Statements of Antitrust Enforcement Policy in Health Care expressly recognize the relevance of such integration to the antitrust analysis of health care provider networks that seek to collectively negotiate contracts with payers on behalf of their members.


Beyond Voice: Mapping the Mobile Marketplace (May 6-7, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a Town Hall meeting on May 6-7, 2008, to explore the evolving mobile commerce (M-commerce) marketplace and its implications for consumer protection policy. This Town Hall, titled “Beyond Voice: Mapping the Mobile Marketplace,” follows up on the FTC’s November 2006 forum, “Tech-Ade,” which examined key technological and business developments that will shape consumers’ experiences over the next decade.


Green Packaging Claims (April 30, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission is planning to host a public workshop on April 30, 2008, to examine developments in green packaging claims and consumer perception of such claims. This workshop is one component of the Commission’s regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 CFR Part 260), which the FTC announced in a Federal Register Notice on November 26 , 2007.


Innovations in Health Care Delivery (April 24, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public workshop on April 24, 2008, to examine recent trends in health care delivery. In a series of panel discussions, workshop participants will consider the competition and consumer protection issues regarding particular health care delivery innovations. These participants will represent a broad range of interests, including physician and healthcare associations, industry, government, privacy groups, academics, and other experts.


Protecting Personal Information: Best Practices for Business (April 15, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Northwestern University School of Law will co-host a one-day public workshop on how businesses can secure the personal information of consumers and employees on April 15, 2008. The workshop will feature business people, attorneys, government officials, privacy officers, and other experts discussing data security in general, best practices for developing an appropriate data security program, and how businesses can respond to security problems, including data breaches.


Unilateral Effects Analysis and Litigation Workshop (February 12, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission is planning to host a public workshop on February 12, 2008 to examine the application of unilateral effects theory to mergers of firms that sell competing, but differentiated products. ”Unilateral effects” as a formal theory of competitive harm was added to the joint FTC/DOJ Horizontal Merger Guidelines in 1992. The theory recognizes that, in some instances, mergers may create or enhance market power by allowing the merged firm to profitably raise prices, without accommodation of other rival market incumbents. While section 2.2 of the Guidelines explains that unilateral competitive effects can arise in a variety of different settings, the most common application of the theory is in differentiated product markets, where the products sold by different market participants are imperfect substitutes for one another.


Charting the Future Course of International Technical Assistance (February 6, 2008)
On February 6, 2008, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice will host a workshop on international technical assistance. During this workshop, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice officials will describe how their programs have worked and discuss ideas for maximizing their future effectiveness. Through interactive panels, the agencies will also obtain the perspectives of other aid providers in the field, academics, and private practitioners, with a view toward making improvements and charting a course for the future.


Carbon Offsets & Renewable Energy Certificates (January 8, 2008)
The Federal Trade Commission is planning to host a public workshop on January 8, 2008 to examine the emerging market for carbon offsets (i.e., greenhouse gas emission reduction products) and renewable energy certificates, and related advertising claims. The workshop will focus on consumer protection issues in these markets, such as consumer perception of carbon offset and REC advertising claims and substantiation for such claims. This workshop is one component of the Commission’s regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 CFR Part 260).


2007

Security in Numbers: SSNs and ID Theft (December 10-11, 2007)
On December 10 and 11, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop, “Security in Numbers: SSNs and ID Theft,” to explore the uses of Social Security numbers in the private sector and the role of SSNs in identity theft. This workshop continues the work of the President’s Identity Theft Task Force, and, in particular, its recommendation to explore ways to reduce unnecessary uses of the SSN. The workshop will provide a forum for public-sector, private-sector, and consumer representatives to discuss the various uses of SSNs by the private sector, the necessity of those uses, alternatives available, the challenges faced by the private sector in moving away from using SSNs, and how SSNs are obtained and used by identity thieves. The workshop will be free and open to the public.


Ehavioral Advertising: Tracking, Targeting, and Technology (November 1-2, 2007)
On November 1 and 2, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will host a Town Hall entitled “Ehavioral Advertising: Tracking, Targeting, and Technology.” The event will bring together consumer advocates, industry representatives, technology experts, and academics to address consumer protection issues raised by the practice of tracking consumers’ activities online to target advertising - or “behavioral advertising.” The Town Hall is a follow-on to a dialogue on behavioral advertising that emerged at a November 2006 FTC forum, “Tech-Ade,” which examined the key technological and business developments that will shape consumers’ core experiences in the coming ten years.


Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers (October 25, 2007)
On Thursday, October 25th, national advertising experts will gather in Houston for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC-BBB Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a “back to basics” workshop about complying with federal and state truth-in-advertising standards. Sponsored by the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. and the Federal Trade Commission, in partnership with Houston Bar Association and the American Advertising Federation Houston.


Collecting Consumer Debts: The Challenges of Change (October 10-11, 2007)
The Federal Trade Commission staff will host a workshop on October 10-11, 2007, to explore changes in the debt collection industry and examine their impact on consumers and businesses. The event will bring together consumer advocates, industry representatives, state and federal regulators, and others with relevant expertise to provide information on a range of issues, including the effects of technological, economic, and legal changes on the debt collection industry and whether the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and other laws have kept pace with the developments.


Weighing In: A Check-Up on Marketing, Self-Regulation, & Childhood Obesity (July 18, 2007)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will jointly sponsor a forum entitled, “Weighing In: A Check-Up on Marketing, Self-Regulation, and Childhood Obesity,” on July 18, 2007. The forum is planned as a follow up to the agencies’ 2005 workshop on the same topic. The forum will allow members of the food and media industries and self-regulatory groups to report on their progress in implementing initiatives addressing food and beverage marketing to children that respond to the agencies’ recommendations in their 2006 joint report entitled, “Perspectives on Marketing, Self-Regulation, and Childhood Obesity.” The forum will also provide an opportunity for consumer groups, advertising specialists, and other key experts to opine on the progress of actions undertaken to date, and to consider what steps should be taken next.


Spam Summit: The Next Generation of Threats and Solutions (July 11-12, 2007)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a two-day public event, “Spam Summit: The Next Generation of Threats and Solutions,” in Washington, DC on July 11 and 12, 2007. The summit will bring together experts from the business, government, and technology sectors, consumer advocates, and academics to explore consumer protection issues surrounding spam, phishing, and malware.


Grocery Store Antitrust: Historical Retrospective & Current Developments (May 24, 2007)
This one-day conference will look at antitrust analysis of the grocery industry including both historical analysis and analysis of current methods. The roundtable will include both paper presentations and panel sessions. The paper presentations will include recent academic work related to competition in the grocery store industry. The panels will include discussions from various people including academics, antitrust professionals and industry professionals. Topics will include historical review of the Commission’s actions in this industry, current economic analysis of grocery and retail competition, and recent work on new methods for analyzing grocery and retail competition.


Proof Positive: New Directions for ID Authentication ( April 23-24, 2007)
On April 23 and 24, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop, Proof Positive: New Directions for ID Authentication, to explore the role of authentication processes in preventing identity theft. The workshop will provide a forum for discussion among public sector, private sector, and consumer representatives about better ways to authenticate the identities of individuals. The workshop will focus on technological and policy requirements for developing better authentication processes, including the incorporation of privacy standards and consideration of consumer usability.


Conference on Behavioral Economics and Consumer Policy: On April 20, The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics will sponsor a conference to explore research into how consumer behavior should influence consumer protection policy. The "Behavioral Economics and Consumer Policy" event will bring together economists and other professionals from academia and government. Discussions will include the rapidly growing field of Behavioral Economics, which uses insights from psychological research to identify ways in which consumers may systematically fail to act in their own best interests due to behavioral traits such as self-control problems, failure to process information objectively, and inaccurately predicting the costs and benefits of prospective choices. The one-day conference is free and open to the public; it will be held in the FTC's Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Details are available at the conference Web site: /be/consumerbehavior/index.shtml


The Rebate Debate: On April 27, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop, The Rebate Debate, in [San Francisco]. The workshop will gather consumer advocates, government officials, business people, and other parties involved in the rebate process. The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss consumers’ perspectives on rebates and challenges businesses face when they offer rebates, and will explore “best practices” in the offering and fulfillment of rebates.


Energy Markets in the 21st Century: Competition Policy in Perspective (April 10-12, 2007)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a conference on April 10-12, 2007, to explore a range of energy issues of importance to American consumers and the U.S. and global economies. The three-day conference, "Energy Markets in the 21st Century: Competition Policy in Perspective," will bring together leading experts from the government, the energy industry, consumer groups, and the academic community. These experts will participate in panels that will examine such topics as the relationship between market forces and government policy in energy markets; the dependence of the U.S. transportation sector on petroleum; the effects of electric power industry restructuring on competition and consumers; what energy producers and consumers may expect in the way of technological developments in the industry; the security of U.S. energy supplies; and the Government’s role in maintaining competition and protecting energy consumers.


Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy (February 13-14, 2007)
On February 13 and 14, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop on “Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy.” The FTC will bring together experts from business, government, and the technology sector, consumer advocates, and academics to explore competition and consumer protection issues relating to broadband Internet access, including so-called “network neutrality.” The workshop will explore issues raised by recent legal and regulatory determinations that providers of certain broadband Internet services, such as cable modem and DSL, are not subject to the FCC’s common carrier regulations. The workshop will examine, for example, the capabilities and incentives of broadband Internet service providers to discriminate against, degrade, block, or charge fees for prioritized delivery of unaffiliated content and applications. The workshop will also address the potential effects of network neutrality regulation on innovation and competition in the market for broadband access.


Negative Option Marketing (January 25, 2007)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on January 25, 2007, at its satellite building in Washington, DC, to analyze the marketing of goods and services through offers with negative option features. The workshop, which will bring together consumer representatives, academics, and industry leaders, will address the pros and cons of such offers, discuss online marketing of such offers, and explore ways to make effective disclosures when such offers are made online. The workshop is free and open to the public. The Commission is also publishing a Federal Register notice soliciting public comment on the issues addressed by the workshop.


2006

Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade (November 6 - 9, 2006)
This fall, the Federal Trade Commission will host hearings on “Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade.” On November 6-9, 2006, the FTC will bring together experts from the business, government, and technology sectors, consumer advocates, academicians, and law enforcement officials to explore the ways in which convergence and the globalization of commerce impact consumer protection. The hearings will provide an opportunity to examine changes that have occurred in marketing and technology over the past decade, and to garner experts’ views on coming challenges and opportunities for consumers, businesses, and governmental bodies.


New York Hispanic Fraud Prevention Forum (September 27, 2006)
On September 27, the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, and the Manhattan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host a Hispanic Fraud Prevention Forum in New York City. The Forum, which will gather law enforcement and community leaders, will provide an opportunity to learn about the nature and extent of consumer fraud the Hispanic community is experiencing and to develop law enforcement and consumer education strategies for addressing these problems.


Protecting Consumers in the New Mortgage Marketplace (May 24, 2006)
The FTC will host a public workshop, Protecting Consumers in the New Mortgage Marketplace, to explore consumer protection issues arising from the emergence of “nontraditional” or “alternative” mortgage products in the United States residential mortgage marketplace. The workshop will provide an opportunity for government regulators, industry participants, consumer advocates, and other interested parties to discuss the impact of these products on consumers and the marketplace.


Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers (April 27, 2006)
On April 27th, national advertising experts will gather in New York City for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC-BBB Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a half-day “back to basics” workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws. Sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York, and the Consumer Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar.


2005

Competition Policy and the Real Estate Industry: A Public Workshop hosted by the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice
On Tuesday, October 25, 2005, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice will host a public workshop entitled “Competition Policy and the Real Estate Industry.” The workshop will focus on issues related to the competitiveness of the residential real estate industry, and will cover topics such as multiple listing services, online “virtual office Web sites,” discount and limited-service brokers, and minimum-service requirements. The event is open to the public and there is no fee for attendance.


Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers (September 21, 2005)
On Wednesday, September 21, the Federal Trade Commission and national experts will gather in Phoenix for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a one-day “back to basics” workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws. Sponsored by the FTC and the State Bar of Arizona, Green Lights & Red Flags will feature an impressive roster of educators, marketers, and attorneys.


Perspectives on Marketing, Self-Regulation, and Childhood Obesity (July 14 & 15, 2005)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Health and Human Services are sponsoring a workshop that will bring together representatives from the food and beverage industry and media and entertainment companies, medical and nutrition experts, consumer groups, advertising specialists, and other key experts for an open discussion on self-regulation and the marketing of food and beverages to children.


Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertising Law (April 19, 2005)
On Tuesday, April 19th, the Federal Trade Commission and experts will gather UNC-Chapel Hill for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertising Law, a one-day "back to basics" workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws.


OECD Workshop on Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress in the Global Marketplace (April 19-20, 2005)
Organized by the OECD's Committee on Consumer Policy and hosted by the Federal Trade Commission, this workshop will examine approaches to consumer dispute resolution and redress in OECD member countries. Experts from governments, business, consumer groups, and academia will explore different mechanisms for consumers to resolve disputes and obtain monetary redress, and exchange views about the advantages and disadvantages of the different mechanisms in the cross border context.


Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers (March 22, 2005)
On Tuesday, March 22nd, the Federal Trade Commission and experts will gather in Chicago for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a one-day "back to basics" workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws.


Town Meetings on Patent System Reform (February 18, March 4, and March 18 2005)
Tthe Federal Trade Commission, the National Academies’ Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP), and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) will co-sponsor a nationwide series of Town Meetings on patent reform. The first three meetings will take place in San Jose, California, on February 18, 2005; Chicago, Illinois, on March 4, 2005; and Boston, Massachusetts, on March 18, 2005. They will bring together government officials, business representatives, independent inventors, scholars, lawyers, and other members of the patent community to discuss the most significant recommendations for patent reform made by the FTC, the National Academies’ STEP Board, and the AIPLA.


Oil Industry Merger Effects (January 14, 2005)
The Federal Trade Commission will host a public conference in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2005, to examine two recent studies focusing on the price effects of mergers and concentration in the United States petroleum industry. The conference, which is open to the public, will be held at the FTC’s Conference Center located at 601 New Jersey Ave., NW. Preregistration is not required, and members of the media are welcome to attend the one-day event, which begins at 9 a.m.


2004

Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Technology: Consumer Protection and Competition Issues (December 15 and 16, 2004)
The workshop is the latest in a series of efforts to assess the impact of new and significant technologies on consumers and businesses. P2P file-sharing technology enables individuals to share files, including music, video, or software. Because the files do not reside in a central location — they are stored on the hard drives of users — P2P file-sharing technology allows for faster file transfer and conservation of bandwidth.


Email Authentication Summit (November 9-10, 2004)
Co-sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission and the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the Department of Commerce.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology will host an Email Authentication Summit on November 9-10, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m. The Summit follows the Commission's June 15, 2004 National Do Not Email Registry Report to Congress. In that Report, the Commission identified domain-level authentication as a promising technological development that would enable Internet Service Providers (''ISPs'') and other domain holders to better filter spam, and that would provide law enforcement with a potent tool for locating and identifying spammers. The Summit will bring together technologists and other interested parties to discuss the market's development, testing, evaluation, and deployment of domain-level authentication systems.


90th Anniversary Symposium (September 22 and 23, 2004). The Federal Trade Commission held a symposium in honor of the agency’s 90th anniversary. The event featured over 50 participants, including current Commissioners and other agency officials, as well as prominent academics and practitioners, many of whom are FTC alumnae. The papers presented looked well back into the past for the roots of the agency’s policies, and well ahead in their recommendations for future actions.


Protecting Consumer Interests in Class Actions (September 13 and 14, 2004)
The Federal Trade Commission and the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics will co-host a workshop on September 13 and 14, 2004, in Washington, DC. The workshop will bring together judges, academics, class action practitioners, in-house corporate and government attorneys, economists, advocacy groups, and claims facilitators to explore whether certain aspects of the class action mechanism - including settlement notices, non-pecuniary remedies, and attorney fee awards - can be revised, reformed, enhanced, or improved to protect the interests of consumer class members.


Green Lights and Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers (July 24, 2004)
On Thursday, July 22, the Federal Trade Commission and national experts will gather in Denver for a one-day “back to basics” workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws.


Roundtable on Methodologies for Assessing Accuracy and Completeness of Credit Reports
On June 30, 2004 , the Bureau of Economics hosted a roundtable with researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the credit reporting industry on methodologies for assessing the accuracy and completeness of credit reports. The roundtable was held in conjunction with Section 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Among other things, the Act requires the FTC to study the accuracy and completeness of the information in consumers’ credit reports. An agenda, list of participants, and transcript of the event are available at the linked website.


Radio Frequency IDentification: Applications and Implications for Consumers (June 21, 2004)
The emergence of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has important implications for businesses, consumers, and policymakers. Companies are turning to RFID to manage warehouse inventory and to stock retail shelves. Consumers are using RFID tags when they travel on highways, purchase gas and groceries, and protect their pets. RFID also has significant potential as a public safety and anti-counterfeiting tool. And as the cost of RFID chips declines, new applications will undoubtedly be developed.


Hispanic Outreach Forum & Law Enforcement Workshop
Hispanic Consumer Outreach Forum
(May 12, 2004)
Hispanic Consumer Protection Law Enforcement Workshop
(May 13, 2004)
On May 12 and May 13, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime will host back-to-back workshops on strategies for effective and high-impact education and enforcement to protect Hispanic consumers from fraud. On May 12, learn about the U.S. Hispanic market and how best to reach Hispanic consumers with useful information that impacts their homes, their health, and their finances. Speakers will include journalists, marketers, and consumer protection officials. On May 13, learn how to mobilize law enforcement resources to protect Hispanic consumers from fraud. Speakers will include representatives of state and local consumer affairs departments, offices of attorneys general, the Better Business Bureau, and district attorneys offices.


Ideas into Action: Implementing Reform of the Patent System (April 15 and 16, 2004)
The Federal Trade Commission, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology will co-sponsor a conference to address patent reform and how it might be implemented. The event will bring together government officials, business representatives, scholars, lawyers, and leading members of the patent community to discuss the most significant recommendations of two recent reports on patent reform – one from the FTC and one from the NAS that will be issued the week of April 12. In October 2003, the FTC issued a report on how to promote innovation by finding the proper balance of competition and patent law and policy. The FTC report contained ten recommendations to reform the patent system, including legislative and regulatory changes to improve patent quality. FTC Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson and Deputy General Counsel for Policy Studies Susan S. DeSanti will participate in the conference, along with government representatives from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office. Industry participants include representatives from CISCO, Chiron, eBay, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Google, Inflexion Point Strategy, Intel, and Microsoft. Representatives from the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, and the Intellectual Property Owners Association also will participate.


"Monitoring Software on Your PC: Spyware, Adware and Other Software" (April 19, 2004)
On April 19, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public workshop to explore the issues associated with the distribution and effects of software that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge and which may send such information to another entity without the consumer's consent, or asserts control over a computer without the consumer's knowledge. The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on April 19, 2004 at the FTC Conference Center located at 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.


FTC/DOJ to Host Joint Workshop on Merger Enforcement (February 17-19, 2004)
This three day workshop brought together prominent practitioners, academics and enforcement officials to discuss the Horizontal Merger Guidelines. The workshop explored state-of-the-art application of the Guidelines by those with the most experience using them. In preparation for this workshop, the Agencies released data associated with their enforcement efforts.


Announcement: Friday, April 16, 2004
Health Care Information and Competition. A quasi-academic conference organized by Dan Kessler, a Stanford health economist. This one-day conference in the 601 NJ Conference Center will bring together academics and health policy makers to examine the production of and use of health care market information by consumers and employers. It will examine some effects of competition in promoting or retarding information use. Aspects of health care quality will also be addressed. Seven papers will be presented, and government health care experts and employers will participate. There will be ample opportunity for the audience to interact with the speakers regarding their research on topics ranging from health plan report cards, to the incentive to provide accurate information, to restrictions on entry into medical specialties.


2003

Marketing Violent Entertainment To Children: A Workshop on Industry Self-Regulation (October 29, 2003)
On October 29, 2003, the Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public workshop to examine issues relating to the marketing of violent entertainment to children. The workshop will provide a forum for discussing the state of self-regulation in the entertainment industry and, in particular, children’s access to products that have been rated as potentially inappropriate for them or have been labeled with a parental advisory.


Roundtable with Former Directors of the Bureau of Economics
On September 4, 2003, the Bureau of Economics hosted a Roundtable with former Bureau Directors entitled "FTC History: Bureau of Economics Contributions to Law Enforcement, Research and Economic Knowledge and Policy." An agenda, edited transcript, and other materials are available on the conference website.


Green Lights and Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers (September 2003)
On Tuesday, September 9th, the Federal Trade Commission and regional experts will gather in Louisville for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a one-day “back to basics” workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws.


Public Workshop:
Costs and Benefits Related To the Collection and Use of Consumer Information (June 18, 2003) The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop to examine the costs and benefits to consumers and businesses of the collection and use of consumer information. In order to facilitate closer examination of the issues, the workshop will focus on the collection and use of consumer information for particular commercial purposes in the context of two or three case studies. In addition the workshop will inquire into the possible methodologies for further measuring and analyzing the costs and benefits to consumers of these information practices.


Public Workshop:
Technologies for Protecting Personal Information (Workshop 1: The Consumer Experience - May 14, 2003, Workshop 2: The Business Experience - June 4, 2003)
Technology has been widely heralded as a promising solution to the challenges presented by consumer privacy and information security. A number of products promise to help consumers and businesses control sensitive information and guard against internal and external threats; technology is also frequently cited as the best method for managing information and ensuring information security. As more and more consumers use “always on” Internet connections and share personal information online, it is useful to examine the current role of technology in addressing privacy and security issues.


Spam Forum: (April 30-May 2, 2003) The Federal Trade Commission will host a public forum to explore the issues regarding the proliferation of and potential solutions to unsolicited commercial email ("UCE" or "spam"). The forum will also look at how the unique qualities of spam contribute to and hinder both fraud and its prosecution.


Public Workshop:
Public/Private Partnerships to Combat Cross-Border Fraud (February 2003) The Federal Trade Commission will hold a public workshop on how to build public/private partnerships to combat cross-border fraud against consumers. The workshop will explore how the private and public sectors can work together to identify, stop, and bring effective enforcement actions against cross-border fraud operators; any legal constraints on cooperation; and recommendations for partnerships and legislative and other measures to assist the FTC in combating cross-border fraud.


Green Lights and Red Flags:
FTCRules of the Road for Advertisers (January 2003) On Tuesday, January 14th, the Federal Trade Commission and Chicago area legal experts will gather at the Drake Hotel for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a one-day "back to basics" workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws.


2002

Public Workshop:
FTC Merger Best Practices (November 2002)


Public Workshop:
Deception in Weight Loss Advertising (November 2002)


Public Workshop:
Possible Anticompetitive Efforts to Restrict Competition on the Internet (October 2002)


Public Workshop:
Consumer Information Security Workshop (May 2002)


Public Workshop:
Federal Trade Commission Workshop Health Care and Competition Law and Policy (September 2002)


Public Conference:
Factors that Affect Prices of Refined Petroleum Products
(August 2, 2001, May 8-9, 2002)


Green Lights and Red Flags:
FTC-BBB Rules of the Road for Advertisers (April 2002)
On Tuesday, April 30th, the Federal Trade Commission and New York City area legal experts will gather at the Meeting Hall of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York for Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC/BBB Rules of the Road for Advertisers, a one-day "back to basics" workshop about complying with truth-in-advertising laws.


2001

Public Roundtable:
Consumer Aspects of Hague Convention (December 2001)


Get Noticed: Effective Financial Privacy Notices
An Interagency Public Workshop (December 4, 2001)


Disclosure Exposure:
Effective Disclosures in Advertising: An FTC-NAD Workshop (May  2001)


Public Workshop:
Emerging Issues for Competition Policy in the World of E-Commerce (May 2001)


Educational Program
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Educational Program on Financial Privacy for Non-Bank Entities and Organizations, Boston, MA (May 2001)


FTC/DOC Esign Workshop:
Electronic Signatures In Global And National Commerce Act (April 2001)


Public Workshop:
The Information Marketplace: Merging and Exchanging Consumer Data
(March 2001)


Predatory Lending Forum:
Co-Sponsored by the Northeast Region of the Federal Trade Commission, the AARP, the New York State Attorney General's Office - Civil Rights Bureau, the New York Urban League, the National Consumer Law Center,the Consumer Affairs Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York Bankers Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, the Better Business Bureau serving Metropolitan New York, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (April 3, 2001)


Public Rountable:
Dispute Resolution for Online Business-to-Consumer Contracts (February 2001)


Etails Details:
A one-day seminar for Internet retailers, marketers and suppliers on applying offline rules and regulations online. (January 2001)


2000

Public Workshop:
The Mobile Wireless Web, Data Services and Beyond: Emerging Technologies and Consumer Issues (December 11-12, 2000)


Public Workshop:
Identity Theft Victim Assistance (October 2000)


Public Workshop:
Competition Policy in the World of B2B Electronic Marketplaces (June 2000)
Staff Report (10/00)


Public Workshop:
Slotting Allowances and Other Grocery Marketing Practices (May/June 2000)
Staff Report (02/01) [PDF 167K]


FTC/DOC Public Workshop:
Alternative Dispute Resolution for Online Consumer Transactions (June 2000)


Public Forum
Telemarketing Sales Rule: "Do-Not-Call" (January 2000)


1999

Public Workshop
"On-Line Profiling" (November 1999)


Joint FCC/FTC Public Forum:
Advertising Long-Distance Services (November 1999)


Public Workshop:
Market Power and Consumer Protection Issues Involved with Encouraging Competition in the U.S. Electric Industry (September 1999)


Public Forum:
The Consumer and Credit Scoring (July 1999)


Public Workshop
U.S. Perspectives on Consumer Protection in the Global Electronic Marketplace (June 1999)


Public Workshop
Interpretation of Rules and Guides for Electronic Media (May 1999)


1997

Commerical Weight-Loss Products and Programs
(October 16-17, 1997)


Public Workshops
Franchise Rulemaking (July 1997)


Public Workshop
Consumer Information Privacy (July 1997)


Rule Review
900 Number Rule Review (June 1997)


1996

Public Forum
Vehicle Buyback Disclosures (October 1996)


Consumer Identity Fraud Meeting
Transcript
, August 20, 1996 [PDF]


Public Workshop
Consumer Privacy on the Global Information Infrastructure (June 1996)


Public Workshop
"Made in USA" (March 1996)


1995

Public Workshop
Environmental Marketing Guides Workshop (December 1995)


Conference on Preventing Fraudulent Advertising
(April 21, 1995)


Public Workshop
Consumer Protection and the Global Information Infrastructure (April 1995)



Last Modified: Thursday, October 11, 2012