Stephens Lawyers & Consultants Legal Update: January 2013 Federal Court rules that the ‘corporate world should know that it is wrong to engage in … deceptive business practices and doing so will incur the risk of large penalties’ Business should be aware that there are significant penalties that attach to offences under the Australian Consumer… Read More
Read moreUnder the Australian Consumer Law, the ACCC has wide enforcement powers to combat ‘green washing’ claims. The ACCC has stepped up prosecutions in this area. This legal update looks at recent ACCC court actions on ‘green washing’ claims relating to false, misleading and deceptive representations [read more].
Read moreUnder the Australian Consumer Reforms, the Trade Practices Act 1974 is being replaced by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Businesses must review and update their trade practices compliance procedures and manuals, existing contracts, warranties/guarantees to ensure compliance with the new regime. The Competition and Consumer Act involves a substantial restructure of the Trade Practices… Read More
Read moreThe Minister for Small Business DR Craig Emerson has announced the creation of an expert panel on franchising and unconscious conduct, as part of the ongoing inquiry into reforming these areas of trade practices law. The proposed reforms aim at providing increased protections for small business from anti-competitive conduct by more powerful and unscrupulous business…. Read More
Read moreThe implied statutory warranties and conditions regime has now been replaced by a comprehensive new framework of statutory guarantees under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. These new laws have important implications in the franchise industry. Any franchisors involved in the supply of goods and services to consumers will have to abide by the statutory… Read More
Read moreAs for shadowed in our March 2010 Newsletter, franchisors will face disclosure requirements under reforms to the Franchising Code of Conduct as announced by Small Business Minister Dr Craig Emerson. In addition to the amendments to the Franchising Code of Conduct, the ACCC has been given new powers to conduct random audits of franchisors. These… Read More
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