Antitrust & Trade Regulation Report Index-Summary

TAXATION

– Hungary, tax benefit for steel maker to be probed, In Brief, 94:431
– Identity theft scams involving tax refunds and stimulus checks reported, 95:38
– Qualified intermediaries, FTC denies industry request for trade regulation rule, 95:210
– Spain, tax credit for corporations does not constitute illegal state aid, 94:171

TCPA

See TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (TCPA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

– Belgium, EU advances efforts to increase competition in broadband market, 94:27
– Canada

– – Consumer complaints agency conditionally approved, 94:29
– – Directory assistance, review set, In Brief, 94:607
– – Disclosure requirements, review opened, In Brief, 94:607
– – Dominance abuse bulletin issued, 94:606
– – Foreign services, regulatory approach maintained, In Brief, 95:173
– – Phone number portability mandated, 94:145
– – Quality of service rules, review launched, In Brief, 94:431
– – Retail services, review of approval process launched, 94:257; tariff review process introduced, 95:198
– – Wholesale services, new rules outlined, 94:256
– – Wireless spectrum auction will benefit consumers, official says, 95:99

– Cell phones

See CELLULAR TELEPHONES

– European Union (EU)

– – Broadband expansion in Germany and Italy, state aid approved, In Brief, 95:52
– – Standard setting discussed by Kroes, 94:605

– Exemption from pursuing complaints against telecom firms, FTC seeks to strike, 95:266
– France

– – Mobile phone operators accused of collusion, 94:257
– – Research and development program, EU approves state aid, 94:170
– – State aid, EU probes France Telecom pension financing, 94:534

– Fraud

– – Collect call crammer permanently banned (S.D. Fla.), 94:247; consumer redress of $1.9 million proposed, 94:297
– – Phone records, AccuSearch sale without consumer consent barred (D. Wyo.), 94:103

– Italy

– – Apple iPhone, limited distribution probed, 95:100
– – Satellite service bundling barred, 94:146

– Monopolization

– – PBX maker must defend claims brought by service provider (D.N.J.), 95:259
– – Software, telecom systems manufacturer must defend monopoly counterclaims (D.N.J.), 95:237
– – Wholesale price squeeze claim, Solicitor Gen. view sought, 94:75; (U.S., rev grant), 94:645

– Phone directory service will pay penalty to settle false advertising charges (N.Y. Sup. Ct.), 94:497
– Phone records, hiring of pretexters, FTC settles charges with Fla. firm (M.D. Fla.), 94:554
– Poland, Telekomunikacja Polska dominance abuse investigated, In Brief, 95:421
– Price fixing, phone billing practices, AT&T must defend conspiracy claim (D. Kan.), 95:88
– Restraints of trade, charges of Qwest secret rate discounts fail (D. Colo.), 94:554
– United Kingdom (UK)

– – Hospedia/Premier acquisition, Competition Comm'n investigates, 95:347
– – State aid for Scotland broadband approved, 94:452

– Verizon/MCI merger authorization by state Public Utility Comm'n reinstated (Pa.), 94:19

TELEMARKETING

– Do-Not-Call Registry

– – Fees, FTC implements new system, 95:84
– – Reauthorization, permanent collection of fees

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3541, S 781

– – Registrations must be honored indefinitely under amended FCC rules, 94:620

– Electronic bank transfers, first action starts limitations period (M.D. Tenn.), 95:87
– FTC sweep, Operation Tele-PHONEY, conducted, 94:519
– Payment processor faces contempt and arrest for noncompliance (M.D. Fla.), 94:181
– Prerecorded calls

– – Definition of “knowingly” under TCPA resolved (Ohio), 94:53
– – Interstate calls, ban not barred (U.S., rev den), In Brief, 94:499
– – New restrictions announced by FTC, 95:188
– – Satellite TV service, breach of settlement claim properly dismissed (Ohio Ct. App.), 94:472
– – Voice broadcaster charged automatically dialing 46 million consumers settles case (C.D. Cal.), 94:106

– Sweepstakes, phony FTC employees scam collects consumer fees, In Brief, 95:364

TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (TCPA)

See also TELEMARKETING
– Automated dialing systems, TCPA issue certified to U.S. Atty. Gen. (10th Cir.), 94:239
– Fax ads, unsolicited

See FAXES

TELEVISION

– Cable TV

See CABLE TELEVISION

– Canada outlines new approach to media ownership restrictions, 94:61
– France does not bar distribution of TV programs, 94:507
– Greece, broadcast transmission services, EU closes case over noncompliance with directive, 94:148
– Infomercials

– – Book author motion to restrain consumer protection officials denied (N.D.N.Y.), 94:250
– – Dietary supplements, “paid advertising” disclosure deficient (N.D. Fla.), 94:101
– – Weight loss book, infomercial barred (N.D. Ill.), 95:181; author awarded legal fees for dissolved injunction (N.D.N.Y.), 95:193

– Italy probes soccer game broadcasting rights, 94:303; pooling of revenues by leagues probed, 94:478
– Media ownership, disapproval of rule to ease 1975 ban

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, SJRes 28

– Merger, Raycom Media must divest CBS station to acquire Richmond NBC affiliate (D.D.C.), 95:213
– Poland, state aid for Sharp Mfg. liquid crystal display assembly approved, 94:658
– Sweden, Boxer monopoly abolished, EU drops court case, 94:582
– Telemarketing of satellite service, breach of settlement claim properly dismissed (Ohio Ct. App.), 94:472
– United Kingdom (UK)

– – Hospedia/Premier acquisition, Competition Comm'n investigates, 95:347
– – Proposed joint venture probed for video on demand, 95:19

TENNESSEE

– Alcoholic beverages, state must show legitimate purpose for discriminatory statutes, ban on direct wine sales upheld (6th Cir.), 95:408
– Tobacco, state immune from claim over retroactive application of escrow law (6th Cir.), 94:558

TEXAS

– Cable television, Tex., incumbent operators direct harm claims may proceed (5th Cir.), 94:164
– Computers, restatement of deception claims against Dell under Tex. law required (N.D. Cal.), 95:71
– Health care

– – Discovery, civil investigative demand documents not shielded in private actions (Tex. Ct. App.), 95:385
– – Specialty doctors group, horizontal price fixing finding upheld (5th Cir.), 94:515

– Mortgages, foreclosure rescue scams, two additional complaints filed (E.D. Tex.), 94:248
– Oil and gas

– – Natural gas market manipulation suits, Tex.-mandated restructuring impacts jurisdiction (Cal. Ct. App.), 94:56
– – Oil leases, royalty payee suit against producers, settlement distribution to class member upheld (S.D. Tex.), 94:41; Tex. may not share in settlement, In Brief, 94:220

– Travel club memberships, deception jury verdict not reinstated (Tex. Ct. App.), 95:73

TEXT MESSAGING

– Rate increases, Kohl (D-Wis) questions wireless firms, 95:262

TEXTILES

– Environment, FTC Green Guides workshop scheduled, 94:574; held, 95:63
– Linens, group boycott case lacked identifiable market (N.D. Cal.), 94:498
– Price fixing

– – Leather goods, purchaser class fails to show horizontal conspiracy (E.D. Tenn.), 95:230
– – Polyester staple, settlement approved (W.D.N.C.), 95:67

TILA

See TRUTH IN LENDING ACT (TILA)

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

– Ads targeting minors, state claim preempted (U.S., rev den), 94:299
– Deception, smokeless tobacco plaintiff must show reliance on statements (3d. Cir.), 95:168
– Exemptions, state immune from claim over retroactive application of escrow law (6th Cir.), 94:558
– Light and low tar claims

– – Machine-based cigarette testing, FTC proposes dropping support, 95:36
– – Preemption by cigarette labeling law (U.S., rev grant), 94:80; oral arg. set, 95:317; oral arg, 95:339
– – RICO class decertified (2d Cir.), 94:372

– Master Settlement

– – Allocable share amendments do not violate Sherman Act (10th Cir.), 95:120
– – Non-participating manufacturer may not broaden discovery (S.D.N.Y.), 95:411
– – Payment calculation, dispute may be arbitrated (La. Ct. App.), 95:13

– Preemption

– – Master settlement and implementation laws not barred (U.S., rev den), 94:496
– – Product liability claims not barred (U.S., rev den), 94:596

– Truck delivery of tobacco products to minors preempted (U.S., aff), 94:185
– Tying arrangements, charge by gas station store, market not adequately alleged (D. Conn.), 94:500

TOYS AND GAMES

– European Union (EU) proposes models for greater access to online music, films and games, 94:28
– France imposes cartel fines against toy makers and retailers, 94:27
– Video games, Grand Theft Auto, class decertified for lack of predominance (S.D.N.Y.), 95:166

TRANSPORTATION

– Air travel

See AIR TRANSPORTATION

– Automobiles

See MOTOR VEHICLES

– Cartels, Stolt-Nielsen case, DOJ will not appeal dismissal of indictment based on leniency pact breach, 94:11; FOIA denials for DOJ amnesty pacts vacated (D.C. Cir.), 95:112
– European Union (EU) confirms surprise probes in ship classification sector, 94:117
– France

– – State aid approved for transportation of goods, 94:635
– – Taxi driver group fined for barring entry of new drivers, 95:391

– Railroads

See RAILROADS

– Ships and shipping

See SHIPS AND SHIPPING

– Trucker fuel card boycott, law firm representing opposing parties not disqualified (D. Utah), 94:291

TRAVEL INDUSTRY

– False advertising, travel club memberships, jury verdict not reinstated (Tex. Ct. App.), 95:73
– Price fixing, airline termination of discount agency (U.S., rev den), 95:332

TRUTH IN LENDING ACT (TILA)

– Attorney sanctions for noncompliance with discovery orders (U.S., rev den), In Brief, 94:249
– Inclusion requirement for specificity (U.S., rev den), 94:319
– Payday loans, annual percentage rate data, disclosure ordered (FTC), 94:648

TYING ARRANGEMENTS

– Credit card and franchise sales, Marathon Petroleum lacks claim (7th Cir.), 94:650
– Credit card payment processing, processor claims valid (D.N.J.), 95:358
– Funeral industry, tying claims over Mich. burial marker and installation properly dismissed (6th Cir.), 94:463
– Gas stations

– – Credit card services, dealers fail to allege market power (9th Cir.), 95:93
– – Franchise and credit card sales, Marathon Petroleum lacks claim (7th Cir.), 94:650
– – Tobacco tying charge, market not adequately alleged (D. Conn.), 94:500

– Motor vehicles, tying of fuel pumps and modules, claims dismissed (S.D. Tex.), 94:157
– Railroads, tying of transload services, claims properly denied (U.S., rev den), 94:6
– Watches, tying of Cartier parts and repair services, settlement approved (N.D. Cal.), 95:64
– Water and sewer utility

See WATER