Category Archives: Sectors – Broadcasting

June 3, 2013

CRTC Issues New Wireless Code After Long Last: Reflects a Compilation of Consumer Wireless Woes

Well, after months of consultation and debate, and a seemingly ever rising swell of commentary and consumer gnashing of teeth about the poor quality of Canadian wireless services (and anticipated demise of Canada’s new wireless entrants), the CRTC today announced at long last its wireless … Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

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 »

April 6, 2013

A Few Thoughts on the Interim Commissioner of Competition’s C.D. Howe Institute Remarks

Yesterday, Canada’s Interim Commissioner of Competition, John Pecman, delivered remarks at the C.D. Howe Institute in Toronto – his fifth speech since taking the position of Interim Commissioner last fall (see: Remarks by John Pecman, Interim Commissioner of Competition).  In general, his remarks reflected some … Read the rest of this entry »

March 21, 2013

Telemarketing: CRTC Calls For Public Comments on Do Not Call List and Auto-Dialing Rules

Getting a sales call right when you’re eating dinner can be annoying.  On the other hand, like (in my view very valid) criticism of the pending anti-spam law, are telemarketing calls so troublesome that small and medium size companies should face yet more regulation? The … Read the rest of this entry »

March 19, 2013

U.S. FTC best practices for mobile advertisers and app developers – more U.S. activity and parallels Canadian enforcement priorities

Competition/antitrust enforcement agencies in both the U.S. and Canada have been increasing their focus on new media advertising/marketing practices, notably in the mobile space. In Canada, recent cases and initiatives include the ongoing challenge by the Competition Bureau of Bell/Rogers/Telus for allegedly misleading premium text … Read the rest of this entry »

March 12, 2013

Online Advertising: U.S. FTC Issues New “Dot Com” Advertising Guidelines

March 12, 2013 Earlier today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued revised Dom Com Disclosure guidelines (see: FTC Staff Revises Online Advertising Disclosure Guidelines).  From the FTC: “… the new FTC staff guidance, .com Disclosures: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising takes … Read the rest of this entry »

March 12, 2013

Fraud: Competition Bureau Announces Top 2 “2 Good 2 B True Day” Scams: Highlights False Online Testimonials & Mobile “Subscription Traps”

Earlier today, as part of its Fraud Prevention Month efforts in March, the Competition Bureau announced its Top 2 on “2 Good 2 B True Day” scams: false online testimonials; and mobile “subscription traps”. With respect to false testimonials, the Bureau highlighted concerns with testimonials … Read the rest of this entry »