# 15 U.S.C. § 45: Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45

## Section

- **Citation:** 15 U.S.C. § 45
- **Heading:** Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 9, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE > CHAPTER 2—FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION › PROMOTION OF EXPORT TRADE AND PREVENTION OF UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION > SUBCHAPTER I—FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

## Text

Unfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, are hereby declared unlawful.

( Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, § 5 , 38 Stat. 719 ; Mar. 21, 1938, ch. 49, § 3 , 52 Stat. 111 ; June 23, 1938, ch. 601 , title XI, § 1107(f), 52 Stat. 1028 ; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(a) , 62 Stat. 991 ; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127 , 63 Stat. 107 ; Mar. 16, 1950, ch. 61, § 4(c) , 64 Stat. 21 ; July 14, 1952, ch. 745, § 2 , 66 Stat. 632 ; Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV , §§ 1401(b), 1411, Aug. 23, 1958 , 72 Stat. 806 , 809; Pub. L. 85–791, § 3 , Aug. 28, 1958 , 72 Stat. 942 ; Pub. L. 85–909, § 3 , Sept. 2, 1958 , 72 Stat. 1750 ; Pub. L. 86–507, § 1(13) , June 11, 1960 , 74 Stat. 200 ; Pub. L. 93–153, title IV, § 408(c) , (d), Nov. 16, 1973 , 87 Stat. 591 , 592; Pub. L. 93–637, title II , §§ 201(a), 204(b), 205(a), Jan. 4, 1975 , 88 Stat. 2193 , 2200; Pub. L. 94–145, § 3 , Dec. 12, 1975 , 89 Stat. 801 ; Pub. L. 96–37, § 1(a) , July 23, 1979 , 93 Stat. 95 ; Pub. L. 96–252, § 2 , May 28, 1980 , 94 Stat. 374 ; Pub. L. 97–290, title IV, § 403 , Oct. 8, 1982 , 96 Stat. 1246 ; Pub. L. 98–620, title IV, § 402(12) , Nov. 8, 1984 , 98 Stat. 3358 ; Pub. L. 100–86, title VII, § 715(a)(1) , Aug. 10, 1987 , 101 Stat. 655 ; Pub. L. 103–312 , §§ 4, 6, 9, Aug. 26, 1994 , 108 Stat. 1691 , 1692, 1695; Pub. L. 109–455 , §§ 3, 13, Dec. 22, 2006 , 120 Stat. 3372 , 3382; Pub. L. 112–203, § 1 , Dec. 4, 2012 , 126 Stat. 1484 .)

## Nearby sections

- [15 U.S.C. § 41 Federal Trade Commission established; membership; vacancies; seal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s41.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 42 Employees; expenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s42.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 43 Office and place of meeting](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s43.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 44 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s44.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45 Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45a Labels on products](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45a.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45b Consumer review protection](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45b.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45c Unfair and deceptive acts and practices relating to circumvention of ticket access control measures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45c.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45d Unfair or deceptive acts or practices with respect to substance use disorder treatment service and products](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45d.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45e Office for the prevention of fraud targeting seniors](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45e.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 45f Collection, verification, and disclosure of information by online marketplaces to inform consumers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45f.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 46 Additional powers of Commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s46.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 46a Concurrent resolution essential to authorize investigations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s46a.md)
- [15 U.S.C. § 47 Reference of suits under antitrust statutes to Commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s47.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t15_s45. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.