FTC charged VeriSign with deceptive-business practices -- but not over Sitefinder

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
> Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 15:08:14 -0400
> From: Gene Gaines <gene.gaines () gainesgroup com>
> Subject: FTC charged VeriSign with deceptive-business practices -- but not 
> over
>  Sitefinder
> To: dave () farber net
>
>
> Dave,  you did see the news item, didn't you?
>
> It is quoted below.
>
> Let's see, Verisign has a substantial charge of deceptive
> business practices brought by the Federal Trade Commission
> dating back to Spring 2002.
>
> That reaches court on Sep. 11, 2003, with a prompt settlement,
> following a successful class action suit against Verisign
> in California.
>
> Verisign's "Find" service started the following Monday, Sep. 15.
> I suppose they were very busy over the wekend?  Give me a break!
>
> Gene Gaines
> gene.gaines () gainesgroup com
> Sterling, Virginia
>
>  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> Reuters
> VeriSign agrees to Oversight of marketing efforts
> Monday September 15, 3:10 pm ET (2003)
> By Andy Sullivan
>
> WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will make sure
> Internet domain-name seller VeriSign Inc (NasdaqNM:VRSN - News).
> provides refunds or free service to consumers it signed up in a
> controversial marketing campaign last year, according to court
> documents filed late last week.
>
> The Federal Trade Commission charged VeriSign with deceptive-business
> practices on Thursday in U.S. court in Washington after the firm sent
> out "domain name expiration notices" to competitors' customers in the
> spring of 2002.
>
> VeriSign warned domain-name holders that they could lose control of
> addresses like "www.example.com" if they did not promptly send $29 to
> VeriSign.
>
> The forms were intended to trick domain owners into unwittingly
> transferring their accounts to VeriSign, the FTC charged.
>
> VeriSign agreed to provide refunds or a year of free service to
> thousands of customers under a class-action settlement reached earlier
> this year in a California court. Friday's FTC settlement, in which the
> company did not admit or deny guilt, means that it could face steep
> fines if it resorts to such marketing tactics again.
>
> VeriSign must also allow the FTC to monitor its marketing efforts for
> the next five years.
>
> "This matter relates to a marketing campaign that ended more than a
> year ago," VeriSign spokesman Tom Galvin told Reuters. "VeriSign
> cooperated fully with the FTC and is pleased that the matter is fully
> resolved."
>
> An FTC official declined to comment.

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