Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC seeks comment on proposed changes to Hobby Protection Rules, (Apr 15, 2016)

By Michael Menzhuber, J.D., LL.M.

The FTC is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the Rules and Regulations Under the Hobby Protection Act (“Hobby Protection Rules”) that regulate the marketing of imitation coins and political items sold to hobbyists, the agency announced today.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which soon will be published in the Federal Register, summarizes the Hobby Act, the Rules, and the recent amendments to the Hobby Act. It also summarizes the comments the Commission received in response to its 2014 request for comment and explains why the Commission proposes amendments.

Based on the 2014 Collectible Coin Protection Act, which amended the Hobby Protection Act, the FTC proposes to extend the scope of the rules to cover persons or entities that:

• sell imitation numismatic items (coins, paper currency, and commemorative medals); or

• provide substantial assistance and support to any manufacturer, importer, or seller of imitation numismatic items, or any manufacturer or importer of imitation political items, who they know, or should have known, is violating marketing requirements of the Hobby Act and the Rules.

Comments may be submitted online or on paper. To file comments online, use the agency’s link and follow the instructions on the web-based form. To file a comment on paper, mail the comment to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite CC-5610 (Annex B), Washington, D.C. 20580. All comments must be received on or before July 1.

News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews