Reference no: EM131473714

Question: UNITED STATES v. THE STANLEY WORKS, CIV. DOCKET 3: 06-CV-00883-JBA (D. CONN. JUNE 13, 2006), AVAILABLE AT WWW.FTC.GOV/OS/CASELIST/C3876/STANLEY_CON_DEC_1.PDF

FACTS The FTC alleged that The Stanley Works, a U.S. tool manufacturer, falsely claimed that its Zero Degree ratchets, made under Stanley's MAC Tools trademark, were Made in USA. The FTC alleged that the ratchets contained a substantial amount of foreign content. DECISION The FTC and The Stanley Works entered into a Consent Decree in which The Stanley Works agreed to pay a $205,000 civil penalty. In addition, The Stanley Works agreed not to violate a 1999 FTC Order issued against it to resolve earlier claims that the company had made false Made in USA claims. The 1999 Order had prohibited The Stanley Works from misrepresenting the extent to which any of its professional-grade hand tools were made in the United States.

The expiration date of the 1999 Order was extended to 20 years from the date of the Complaint in the current action. (The Complaint was filed in June, 2008.) In addition, for a period of 10 years, The Stanley Works must provide a copy of the Consent Decree and 1999 FTC Order to, and receive a signed acknowledgment of receipt from, all current or future officers and directors and all current or future employees, agents, or representatives responsible for "marking, labeling, packaging, advertising, or promoting any product covered" by the Consent Decree.