Category Archives: News

May 16, 2013

No Free TV Down Under Apparently: Australian ACCC Settles with Cable Co. & A Few Tips for Canada

There used to be a saying that nothing in life is free.  In Australia, it seems, there are no free TVs, or at least not that many.  In a curious case posted by the Australian ACCC earlier today (or was that yesterday?), it announced that … Read the rest of this entry »

May 6, 2013

“Babies Can Read” is Back – A Curious Advertising Tale on a Monday Afternoon

Advertising can be funny sometimes, or odd, or a bit like faith or all of these.   Let me explain what I’m talking about.  A few months ago, in perhaps one of the strangest advertising law tales I’ve seen in awhile (or ever), I wrote about … Read the rest of this entry »

April 30, 2013

Ontario Government Introduces New Wireless Consumer Protection Legislation

As previously announced, the Ontario Government has now introduced for first reading new proposed legislation for wireless contracts and services in Ontario (Bill 60 – An Act to strengthen consumer protection with respect to consumer agreements relating to wireless services accessed from a cellular phone, … Read the rest of this entry »

April 24, 2013

New Real Estate Council of BC Advertising Rules for Licensees

Yesterday, the British Columbia Real Estate Council issued its new Report from Council Newsletter, which includes a summary of the new and updated advertising requirements for British Columbia real estate licensees (see: here).  The Council’s new newsletter states: “Each month, the Real Estate Council receives … Read the rest of this entry »

April 23, 2013

Alberta Pharmacists Debate Proposed Loyalty Marketing Restrictions

There has been quite a bit of debate recently in Canada about the pros and cons of regulation.  Some of the highlights of this debate have included announcements by the Competition Bureau that it is stepping up its advocacy efforts in certain regulated sectors (e.g., … Read the rest of this entry »

April 17, 2013

Ontario Plans New Legislation to Regulate Debt Settlement Services

Yesterday, Consumer Services in Ontario announced that it would be introducing new legislation to strengthen consumer protection rules for debt settlement services.  In making the announcement, the Ministry said: “Ontario consumers need to have confidence that they’re getting what they pay for when purchasing debt … Read the rest of this entry »

April 12, 2013

New U.S. FTC Report With Competition and Advertising Highlights For the Past Year, Parallels to Competition Bureau Enforcement and Priorities

Earlier today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission released 2013 Annual Highlights setting out its priorities over the past year, which generally include promoting online privacy and data security, fostering competition in high-tech industries and healthcare and protecting children and other vulnerable consumers from fraud. In … Read the rest of this entry »

April 11, 2013

Telemarketer Pays $100,000 Penalty – Reminder of National Do Not Call List Rules

In recent news that may serve as a cautionary tale for telemarketers, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) recently announced that Comwave Telenetworks Inc. has paid a $100,000 penalty as part of a settlement for telemarketing practices involving the National Do Not Call List … Read the rest of this entry »