The Federal Commerce Fee has sued a California-based mild bulb producer and its principals to stop them from deceptive consumers by exaggerating the sunshine output and life expectancy of its Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs. As a part of the FTC’s persevering with work to stop deceptive advertising, the agency filed a complaint charging that since 2008, Lights of America, Inc. has overstated the light output and life expectancy of its LED bulbs on packages and in brochures. The agency also charges that Lights of America misled consumers about how the brightness of its LED bulbs compares to conventional incandescent lights. Manufacturers have not too long ago begun selling LED bulbs for family use because they're the next-effectivity, longer-lasting alternative to incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs. Though the initial worth tag may be larger, well-designed and manufactured LED bulbs save on power costs and last for energy-efficient bulbs much longer than other sorts of mild bulbs. The FTC alleges that in lots of situations, Lights of America’s LED bulbs produced significantly much less mild, as measured in lumens, than the company claimed in its promotional supplies.

For example, one bulb was promoted as producing ninety lumens of gentle output, however Lights of America’s own tests confirmed it produced only 43 lumens. Also, in many instances, Lights of America deceptively in contrast the brightness of its LED light bulbs with incandescent bulbs, the FTC alleges. For example, EcoLight the agency claimed that considered one of its LED lantern bulbs may substitute a 40-watt incandescent bulb. However, while the typical 40-watt incandescent bulb produces about 400 lumens, the Lights of America LED bulb produced only 74 lumens. Furthermore, the FTC complaint states that in lots of instances, Lights of America’s LED bulbs would not last as lengthy because the company’s promotional materials said they would. In a single case, for instance, the agency mentioned that one among its LED recessed bulbs would final 30,000 hours. Impartial exams, nevertheless, confirmed that the bulb would not final so long as claimed because it misplaced 80 p.c of its gentle output after only 1,000 hours. In filing the complaint, the FTC is in search of a everlasting injunction to cease the defendants’ allegedly illegal conduct, EcoLight products as well as financial redress for consumers who purchased the deceptively labeled products.

The Fee vote authorizing the filing of the complaint was 5-0. It was filed within the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on September 7, 2010 towards Lights of America, Inc.

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Pub: 08 Aug 2025 17:41 UTC

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