United States of America: Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement and adopted consent order against Publishing.com requiring payment of USD 1.50 million

On 13 April 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it had reached a settlement and issued a proposed consent order against Publishing.com LLC and its principals regarding deceptive marketing of online self-publishing programs. The order requires the company to pay USD 1.50 million to settle charges that it misled consumers with unsubstantiated earnings claims concerning its AI Publishing Academy and Publishing Accelerator services. Under the terms of the agreement, the company must substantiate all future income claims with a reasonable basis and clearly disclose any material connections or incentives related to consumer testimonials and reviews. Furthermore, Publishing.com is prohibited from making misrepresentations regarding its refund policies and is mandated to honor cancellation requests promptly. The case was coordinated through the FTC Labor Task Force to address deceptive practices affecting American workers and is subject to a 30-day public comment period before being finalised.