Category: CE

New York, NY – March 17, 2026 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by The Farmer’s Dog, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division found certain Freshpet, Inc. dog food claims supported, but recommended others suggesting that its dog food is “human grade” be discontinued.

Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited process for single-issue advertising cases reviewed by the National Advertising Division (NAD). The Farmer’s Dog and Freshpet compete in the fresh pet food market.

Farmer’s Dog argued that three video advertisements include various statements and images that necessarily imply that Freshpet’s dog food is human grade.

During the challenge, Freshpet informed NAD that it was permanently modifying the claim in a commercial “How does Freshpet make healthy food for dogs? The same way you make healthy food for people” to remove the second sentence. NAD determined that, as modified, the commercial does not convey a message that Freshpet dog food is human grade. Based on this voluntary permanent modification, NAD did not address the merits of this specific claim, and for compliance purposes it will be treated as if NAD recommended the modification and Freshpet agreed to comply.

In a social media advertisement, a dog owner states “We eat fresh, real food as much as possible at home, so of course, we want the same for Benji. That’s why we give him Freshpet Fresh from the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe” and Freshpet dog food is “made with the same level of quality I want in my own food.”

NAD determined that these claims convey a message that Freshpet dog food is human grade and recommended Freshpet discontinue the claims as they appear in the Benji video.

NAD also reviewed a video depicting food being prepared in a home kitchen while Freshpet dog food is later served to a dog. NAD determined that this advertisement does not convey the message that Freshpet dog food is human grade because it focuses on freshness and simple ingredients and shows the dog being served its own meal from a package of Freshpet taken from the refrigerator, without suggesting that the product is human grade.

In its advertiser statement, Freshpet stated that it “will comply with the NAD’s recommendation.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, promote fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and promoting fair competition for business.

New York, NY – March 16, 2026 – Following a challenge from Reus Research LLC, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division recommended that Niagen Bioscience, Inc. modify or discontinue certain express and implied claims for its Tru Niagen dietary supplement, including that it is “clinically proven to significantly increase NAD⁺ levels, and help maintain them with daily use,” as well as additional claims linking increased NAD⁺ levels to a range of health-related benefits.

Niagen Bioscience will appeal the National Advertising Division’s (NAD) decision.

Niagen and Reus compete in the dietary supplement market, each offering products intended to raise NAD⁺ levels in the body. Reus challenged claims that Niagen’s advertising conveyed unsupported messages regarding increases in NAD⁺ levels, organ-specific health benefits, broader vitality and anti-aging claims, cellular-level benefits, and consumer-perceptible effects, as well as the use of consumer testimonials and influencer marketing practices.

Establishment Claims

NAD evaluated the claim “clinically proven to significantly increase NAD⁺ levels, and help maintain them with daily use,” as well as a separate claim that NAD⁺ levels rise within hours and show significant increases within two weeks of supplementation.

Although the record included studies demonstrating that nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation, the active ingredient in Tru Niagen, can increase NAD⁺ levels under certain conditions, NAD concluded that differences in study design, populations, duration, endpoints, and conditions of use limited the extent to which the evidence supported the broad “clinically proven” claim.

Therefore, NAD recommended that Niagen discontinue the unqualified establishment claim and discontinue the compound timing claim as presented.

Health Benefit Claims

The challenged advertising included organ-specific health claims (e.g., “supports heart health,” “supports brain health”), broader vitality and anti-aging claims, and claims framed at the cellular level (e.g., “supports cellular energy that your heart cells need”).

NAD explained that claims framed at the cellular level may, depending on context—including surrounding clinical claims, organ-level health references, or consumer testimonials—reasonably convey consumer-perceptible functional health benefits. NAD distinguished between evidence demonstrating biomarker or mechanistic changes and evidence demonstrating functional health outcomes in consumers.

Where the record did not substantiate functional benefits reasonably conveyed, including cardiovascular, cognitive, immune, metabolic, exercise, anti-aging, or cellular repair-related outcomes, NAD recommended that the claims be discontinued or modified.

Testimonials

NAD determined that certain consumer testimonials conveyed unsupported messages regarding improvements in health, vitality, or functional benefits. Therefore, NAD recommended that Niagen discontinue those testimonials.

Influencer Advertising

NAD reviewed influencer marketing practices and recommended that Niagen ensure material connections are clearly and conspicuously disclosed in both audio and visual portions of content, consistent with the FTC Endorsement Guides and NAD’s guidance.

During the proceeding, Niagen voluntarily agreed to permanently discontinue certain challenged claims, including reproductive health, sleep improvement, and Made in the USA claims. NAD did not review those claims on the merits and will treat the discontinued claims, for compliance purposes, as though NAD recommended their discontinuance and Niagen agreed to comply.

In its advertiser statement, Niagen stated that it “will appeal NAD’s decision.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB Procedures, this release may not be used for promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and promoting fair competition for business.  

New analysis also reveals sharp rise in FMLA claims, highest annual pro se filings since 2016, and over $2 billion in court-approved employment damage awards between 2023 and 2025.

San Jose, CA — March 10, 2026 — LexisNexis^® Legal & Professional today announced the release of the Lex Machina® 2026 Employment Litigation Report, which provides a highly detailed analysis of trends in federal employment lawsuits since 2016. Exclusive insights from the report provide law offices with actionable, data-driven insights to better assess risk, strategy, and outcomes in modern workplace disputes.

Key findings from the report include: 

• Surge in disability accommodation cases: Employment cases involving federal claims that employers failed to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities have increased sharply. In 2025, plaintiffs filed 6,796 such cases, representing a single-year record and a year-to-year increase of about 42 percent. In addition to long-term health issues associated with Covid-19, recent large damage awards in disability accommodation lawsuits have likely encouraged further filings. 
• Heightened focus on discrimination issues: Since 2022, claims under federal laws that prohibit adverse employment actions or unwelcome conduct against individuals in protected classes, or against employees who engaged in legally protected activity, have risen above pre-COVID averages. The year 2025 marked the first time that plaintiffs filed more than 20,000 federal discrimination lawsuits, likely tied in part to developments in case law that reinforced certain routes of recovery for employment-discrimination plaintiffs. 
• Increasing proportion of pro se plaintiffs: The proportion of federal employment lawsuits with unrepresented plaintiffs grew each year from 2021 through 2025, rising nearly 3 percentage points last year alone. In 2025, more than 16 percent of federal employment lawsuits were filed by individual plaintiffs without legal representation, from under 10 percent in 2021. The consequences can be severe: From 2023 through 2025, pro se employment plaintiffs lost at a ratio of greater than 40:1 in cases decided on the merits.

“The Lex Machina Employment Report 2026 is a rich report with interesting data and insights on trends and developments in employment related claims and lawsuits,” said Daniel A. Cotter, partner with Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa. “The information related to disability accommodations cases growing is something that the report had identified to me to monitor closely.”

“The Employment Litigation Report reveals a rapidly shifting liability risk profile for employers in this decade,” said Eric Wright, senior vice president for Lex Machina at LexisNexis. “From 2023 to 2025, employee claims on median took 1,021 days – that’s nearly three years – to reach trial, and courts approved nearly $2 billion in settlement awards for employment-related class actions despite reductions in FLSA claims. These findings give practitioners concrete benchmarks for assessing risk, timing, and potential exposure in modern workplace disputes.”

To request a copy of the report, visit LexisNexis.com/LexMachina.

The Lex Machina® Legal Analytics® platform equips litigation professionals to win more cases and generate business. From precise timing metrics that inform legal budgeting to trend data on top law firms and leading judges, Lex Machina uniquely supplements traditional legal research and experience with customized, data-backed insights. These insights help lawyers identify and pursue new matters, navigate motion and trial strategies, and negotiate smarter settlements, ultimately giving firms a competitive edge in litigation.

About LexisNexis^® Legal & Professional

LexisNexis^® Legal & Professional provides AI-powered legal, regulatory, business information, analytics and workflows that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis^® and Nexis^® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,900 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

About Lex Machina

Lex Machina® fundamentally changes how companies and law firms compete in the business and practice of law. The company provides strategic insights on judges, lawyers, law firms, parties, and other critical information across 22 federal practice areas and a rapidly growing number of state courts. Lex Machina allows law firms and companies to anticipate the behaviors and outcomes that different legal strategies will produce, enabling them to win cases and close business.

Lex Machina was named Winner of the “Overall LegalTech Data Solution Provider of the Year” LegalTech Breakthrough Award 2025, “Best Data Analytics & Insight Solution” 2025 CODiE Award, one of Forbes’ Best Workplaces in the Bay Area in 2024, Winner of the “Media Excellence Award” for Analytics/Big Data 2024, “Great Places to Work” (2023-2024), one of “Legal Tech’s Most Promising Solution Providers” (CIO Review Awards 2022), “Greater Bay Area Top Workplaces 2022” (The San Francisco Chronicle Top Workplaces in the Bay Area 2022), “Legal Tech Company of the Year 2021″ (CIO Review, 2021), “2021 Legal Technology Trailblazer” (National Law Journal Trailblazer Awards, 2021), and Winner of the “Media Excellence” Award for Analytics/Big Data (13th Annual Media Excellence Award, 2021). Based in Silicon Valley, Lex Machina is part of LexisNexis, a leading global provider of legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics. For more information, please visit www.lexmachina.com.

Eric Wright is senior vice president for Lex Machina and Print at LexisNexis and serves as CEO of LexisNexis Canada.

Media Contact

Venture PR
lexmachina@venturepr.co

New York, NY – March 10, 2026 – In a challenge brought by Mint Mobile, LLC, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division determined that RedPocket, Inc. had a reasonable basis for its “no price increases ever” claim. However, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that RedPocket modify or discontinue certain “unlimited” claims, claims regarding coverage on three major 5G networks, and certain comparative claims.

Mint Mobile and RedPocket compete in the mobile wireless services market. NAD considered whether RedPocket’s advertising conveyed unsupported messages regarding its “unlimited” claims, claims customers could get simultaneous coverage on three major 5G networks, its “2-Minute Customer Care” claim, price stability claims, and certain comparative claims.

Price Increases

NAD determined that RedPocket’s “no price increases ever” claim was supported finding that the claim reasonably conveys that existing customers will not experience an increase to their monthly plan price after enrollment, and that the record substantiated that practice.

Unlimited Data Claims

 Mint Mobile challenged RedPocket’s claims that certain wireless plans are “unlimited” or offered “unlimited talk, text, and data.”  

NAD concluded that RedPocket’s unlimited data claims were unsupported because customer data speeds are reduced under certain plans after consumers reach their relevant 5G cap and there was no evidence in the record that consumers who reach this cap could continue to engage in typical online activities consistent with reasonable consumer expectations at the lower throttled speeds.  

Accordingly, NAD recommended that RedPocket discontinue the challenged claims or modify them to clearly and conspicuously communicate, in the main claim, that high-speed data is capped under certain plans and that data speeds are reduced to 512 kbps once the cap is reached.

Coverage on 3 Major 5G Networks

NAD reviewed claims that consumers “get coverage on 3 major 5G networks” and are offered “3 Major 5G networks for ultimate coverage.”

Because RedPocket offers only the choice of coverage on one of the three major 5G networks and does not provide simultaneous access, NAD recommended that RedPocket discontinue the challenged “3 major networks” claims.

Nothing in this decision prevents RedPocket from truthfully touting that customers are offered a choice of coverage on one of the three major 5G networks or any associated benefits that choice provides.

2-Minute Customer Care

NAD found that RedPocket’s “2-Minute Customer Care” claims conveyed either a general expectation of responsiveness or a guaranteed level of responsiveness depending on the context. NAD determined that average response times was insufficient to support the broader and stronger promise conveyed by the claims. Therefore, NAD recommended that RedPocket modify its “2-Minute Customer Care claim to clearly communicate in the main claim that it’s “2-Minute Customer Care” is based on average response times.

Comparative Claims

NAD reviewed comparative messages suggesting that, unlike RedPocket, competing wireless service providers did not offer price stability or responsive customer care. NAD concluded that RedPocket’s comparative advertising claims were unsupported and recommended they be discontinued. While RedPocket provided support for some of its monadic claims, the record did not establish that competitors categorically lacked similar pricing or customer care practices.

During the proceeding, RedPocket voluntarily and permanently discontinued challenged claims that it offered “Unlimited 5G.” NAD did not review those claims on the merits and will treat the discontinued claims, for compliance purposes, as though NAD recommended their discontinuance and RedPocket agreed to comply.

In its advertiser statement, RedPocket said although it “respectfully disagrees with certain of NAD’s findings,” it “will comply with NAD’s recommendations.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, promote fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and promoting fair competition for business.

By Greg Dickason, Chief Technology Officer, LexisNexis Legal & Professional, and Jeff Bleich, General Counsel, Anthropic

Legal AI is entering a new phase. The first wave proved that generative AI can draft, summarize, and brainstorm at speed. The next wave is authoritative, agentic legal AI that is powerfully integrated, deeply embedded in legal workflows, repeatable at scale, and capable of producing finished, citable work product that meets the highest legal standards.

As Legalweek begins, we are seeing this shift happen in real time. LexisNexis has integrated Anthropic’s Legal Plugin (Legal Plugin) into the Lexis+® with Protégé^™ (Protégé) platform. This integration enhances hundreds of existing AI and agentic AI legal workflow capabilities available via Protégé and reflects the company’s process to continuously evaluate and incorporate new technologies or capabilities that help customers achieve better outcomes in trusted LexisNexis solutions.

LexisNexis had been evaluating the Legal Plugin capabilities since before its market release. This powerful agentic experience has been tested in a limited commercial preview with customers over the past several weeks.

Now, Protégé users can automate finished, verifiable legal work product in multiple ready-to-use formats with their work grounded accurately in the company’s vast 200-billion document repository – with four million new documents added daily – essential, unique, constantly updated, Shepardized, and linked legal content. It all operates within the Protégé world-class, private, secure, and trusted technology environment.

This is not about adding another chat interface. It is about helping legal professionals move from a single prompt to authoritative, trusted outcomes with confidence.

What Legal Professionals Actually Need

Legal professionals don’t need more AI-generated paragraphs. They need:

• A data protection agreement they can review, refine, and sign.
• A contract review they can trust.
• A research briefing grounded in authoritative sources.
• A client-ready deck and tracking spreadsheet that align with their written advice.
• Citations that are validated before they ever leave the screen.

Together, with a shared commitment to bringing customers the highest-quality AI, LexisNexis and Anthropic are enabling legal professionals to go from prompt to validated, formatted, client-ready deliverables inside one secure legal workspace.

Why Agentic AI Represents a Turning Point for Legal Work

Agentic AI unlocks new levels of productivity for legal users. Instead of stopping at answers, AI capabilities become even more effective – and in this case, can produce completed deliverables by executing structured steps, orchestrating workflows, and outputting professional work product.

In law, however, capability alone is not enough. Legal teams need trust: authoritative grounding, citation validation, and legal-grade privacy and security. That’s exactly what this integration is designed to deliver.

With the Legal Plugin embedded within Protégé, legal professionals can move from a single prompt to authoritative, validated, formatted, client-ready deliverables, all inside one secure legal workspace.

This is the difference between AI that assists and AI that operationalizes.

A Long-Time Partnership Focused on Legal AI Innovation

LexisNexis and Anthropic have been collaborating for years, including fine-tuning early legal generative AI solutions on AWS Bedrock in 2023. We know high-quality legal outcomes are possible when the most authoritative legal content and AI technology meets the best advanced model capabilities with domain-grade infrastructure, including privacy, security, governance.

Today, we’re continuing that mutual innovation, now delivering powerful agentic AI capabilities that let customers do even more, wherever they work, with fully integrated workflows inside Protégé.

A Different Approach to Legal AI

As legal AI matures, two approaches are emerging:

One focuses on connecting point solutions across platforms which can introduce fragmentation and governance complexity.

The other is integration: embedding advanced model capabilities inside a legal-grade infrastructure where authority, validation, and governance are built in from the start.

LexisNexis has long taken a technology-agnostic, multi-model, multi-tool, and multi-agent approach: continuously evaluating new capabilities and embedding them where they measurably improve customer outcomes. By integrating the Legal Plugin directly into Protégé, the center of gravity remains where legal professionals need it: inside a trusted workspace designed specifically for legal work. It’s a purpose-built legal AI platform that integrates leading models and differentiates through authoritative grounding and workflow execution.

The Vision Ahead

The future of legal AI is not about better chat. It is about coordinated, agentic workflows that:

• Orchestrate tasks intelligently
• Generate multi-format deliverables
• Validate authority automatically
• Operate inside governed enterprise environments
• And give legal professionals time back for higher-value thinking

That future is not theoretical. That future is already taking shape in collaboration with LexisNexis customers. Customers have highlighted the value of automatic citation validation and the ability to quickly finalize polished outputs.

When advanced AI meets trusted legal authority, something powerful happens. AI stops being another step in legal work. It starts to become essential infrastructure, enabling legal professionals to deliver authoritative work faster, with greater confidence, and at enterprise scale.

To learn more about Lexis+ with Protégé: www.lexisnexis.com/ai.

New York, NY – March 9, 2026 – The National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising body of BBB National Programs, recommended that T-Mobile US, Inc. discontinue or modify certain express and implied satellite coverage claims for its T Satellite service.

The underlying National Advertising Division (NAD) proceeding (Case #7458) was brought by competitor AT&T Services, Inc. NAD found that certain claims related to price increases were supported, while recommending that other claims be modified or discontinued. T-Mobile appealed NAD’s decision.

At issue for NARB were T-Mobile’s claims that “If customers can see the sky, they’re connected [to T Satellite]” and “No matter where you are, you will never miss a moment,” as well as implied claims that T Satellite provides 100% coverage everywhere or everywhere the sky is visible.

NAD determined that these claims communicated universal coverage and cannot be properly qualified with a disclosure. Accordingly, NAD recommended that T-Mobile discontinue the two express claims and modify its advertising to avoid conveying the implied universal coverage messages.

In the appeal, the NARB panel concluded that NAD reached the correct conclusion that the challenged claim language conveys that the coverage available from T-Satellite is universal. As noted, there is no dispute that this message is unsupported. As NAD pointed out, consumers are very likely to be unfamiliar with the emerging satellite technology, and accordingly advertisers must exercise caution to avoid overstating the extent of satellite coverage.

The NARB panel recommended T-Mobile discontinue the challenged express claims, including “If customers can see the sky, they’re connected [to T-Satellite] – even in the areas no traditional cellular network reaches today” and “No matter where you are, you will never miss a moment [with T-Satellite].”

The panel also recommends that T-Mobile modify its advertising to avoid conveying that

T-Satellite provides 100% coverage everywhere and that T-Satellite provides 100% coverage everywhere the sky is visible.

In its advertisers statement, T-Mobile stated that it will “comply with the panel’s recommendations.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB Procedures, this release may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, promote fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Review Board (NARB): The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) is the appellate body for BBB National Programs’ advertising self-regulatory programs. NARB’s panel members include 85 distinguished volunteer professionals from the national advertising industry, agencies, and public members, such as academics and former members of the public sector. NARB serves as a layer of independent industry peer review that helps engender trust and compliance in NAD, CARU, and DSSRC matters.

McLean, VA – March 4, 2026 – BBB National Programs’ Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP) worked with Audiomob to update its privacy policy and in-app notices to bring its platform and third-party interest-based advertising (IBA) into compliance with the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) Self-Regulatory Principles.

As part of its routine monitoring, DAAP reviewed Audiomob, a London-based advertising platform that helps game developers better reach their customers (including consumers based in the U.S.). Audiomob facilitates audio ads to 300 million users in 160 countries. As an advertising platform that facilitates IBA across non-affiliate platforms, Audiomob meets the definition of a Third-Party Advertiser under the DAA Principles and must comply with certain requirements, including providing consumers with clear, meaningful, and prominent notice of interest-based advertising and the ability to opt out of IBA.  

Through routine monitoring activities, DAAP identified third-party targeted Audiomob advertisements with a “Report Ad” link at the top that, when clicked, directed users to an in-app reporting page with no clear, meaningful, or prominent indication of where users could access IBA-specific disclosures. 

The reporting page also included a dropdown menu with the following ad violation categories: 1) Inappropriate, 2) Repetitive, 3) Irrelevant, and 4) Other. There was no clear, meaningful, or prominent mechanism (known as enhanced notice) where users could access IBA-specific disclosures and view opt-out choices. As such, Audiomob did not provide adequate third-party notice under the DAA Principles.

The DAA Mobile Guidance requires that third parties that engage in IBA must provide transparency (notice and enhanced notice) and consumer control (an easy-to-use opt-out from IBA) when collecting or using consumers’ browsing data for IBA on non-affiliate mobile applications. 

To comply with the DAA Principles, Audiomob made substantial changes to its in-app advertising features and privacy policy. 

To improve consumer transparency and choice, and to help users better navigate its privacy policy and identify IBA-relevant disclosures, Audiomob implemented updates to its software development kit (SDK) to include “AdChoices” text next to the audio ads. When clicked, the AdChoices text links to an updated notice and reporting page with direct access to the “Interest-Based Advertising Opt-Out and Consent Management” section of Audiomob’s privacy policy.

Audiomob also made significant updates to its privacy policy, including new access points to opt-out and consent management options, new disclosures such as a statement of adherence to the DAA Principles, and updates to device-level instructions for consumers to set advertising preferences (for iOS and Android users).
 
In its statement, Audiomob stated that it “welcomed the opportunity to work with the Digital Advertising Accountability Program.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. To access all DAAP decisions, visit the DAAP decisions webpage. 

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, promote fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

Top 100 Companies Identified by LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions Based on Quantifiable Improvement in Patent Portfolios

New York, NY – March 4, 2026 – LexisNexis^® Legal & Professional today announced the “Top 100 Global Innovators” for 2026, the companies around the world that are driving innovation in the global economy, based on quantifiable improvement in the patent portfolios held by those companies over the last two years. Representing 18 countries, the top 100 companies were identified through an analysis by LexisNexis^® Intellectual Property Solutions using its proven Patent Asset Index methodology across its database of more than 17 million global patent families.

“Innovation can sometimes feel like an abstract concept that is hard to measure and even harder to improve. Happily, patent analytics can provide a relevant and impactful gauge for evaluating innovation from companies across all industries, technologies, and sizes,” said Marco Richter, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer for LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions. “LexisNexis^® Patent Asset Index provides an objective apples-to-apples framework for analyzing innovation leadership based on changes in the strength of each company’s patent assets. This goes beyond simply counting patents. The Top 100 Global Innovators have showcased true leadership by advancing the world’s knowledge and developing technologies and services that help shape a better future.”

Key Insights:

Semiconductors Take the Lead: Having dominated the 2025 ranking by company count, pharmaceuticals cede the top position this year to the semiconductor industry, which leads with 14 honorees. Pharmaceuticals now rank second with 13 companies, followed by Chemicals and Materials with 12 entrants.

Innovators Span the Globe: For the fifth consecutive year, US-based companies dominated the Top 100 Global Innovators with 46 honorees. US-based companies on the list excel in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology, while Asia dominates representation in Chemicals and Materials. Notably, within the Asian region there is balanced representation from China, Korea, and Japan, each represented by seven companies. EMEA scores highest in the Automotive sector with strong representation from Germany.

Top 100 Global Innovators by Industry Sector

Industries	Americas	Asia	EMEA	Grand Total
Semiconductors	6	5	3	14
Pharmaceuticals	10	–	3	13
Chemicals and Materials	1	6	5	12
Consumer Goods	4	4	3	11
Information Technologies	6	2	3	11
Engineering	4	1	5	10
Medical Technologies	7	–	–	7
Technology R&D	5	1	–	6
Automotive	–	1	5	6
Electronics	2	4	–	6
Biotechnologies	2	–	–	2
Appliances	–	1	–	1
Conglomerates	–	1	–	1
Grand Total	47	26	27	100

New Entrants Range from Startups to Industry Giants: The report introduces 21 new entrants to the list, reflecting the increasingly global and cross-sector nature of breakthrough innovation. From small companies to global conglomerates, those new companies include innovators such as Adeia and Flagship Pioneering (US), Airbus and Safran (EMEA), and Fujitsu and LONGi Green Energy (Asia), illustrating the breadth of momentum, as they span advanced engineering, next-generation electronics, clean energy technologies, and life sciences.

Intellectual Property Drives Corporate Strategy: The report emphasizes the importance of high-quality, impactful patent portfolios in driving competitive advantage and revenue. For example, IBM reflects a value-driven approach, while Adeia focuses on acquiring strategic portfolios for targeted growth, and Huawei and InterDigital demonstrate how strong portfolios underpin sustainable licensing revenue.

Smaller Companies Demonstrate Value of Patent Assets: Smaller, specialist players such as Acuitas Therapeutics, Strong Force IP, Ofinno, and Magic Leap illustrate how focused capabilities and high-value IP can create outsized strategic relevance. This dynamic is reinforced by the combination of two companies on this year’s Top 100 list, as Eli Lilly acquired venture-backed Orna Therapeutics in February.

US and China Dominate Academic Arena: The academic innovation leaders are mostly made up of US and Chinese institutions, highlighting their central role in high-impact research. The United States features leading research institutions such as the Broad Institute, MIT, Harvard, and the University of California, while China shows strong depth across multiple universities and research labs. Europe is solely represented by Germany’s Fraunhofer, underscoring continued strength in applied research and technology transfer.

Five-Year Innovation Momentum Shows Both Change and Continuity: Over five years, Top 100 recognitions have been awarded to 190 companies across 21 countries, led by the United States, followed by China and Germany.

Pharmaceuticals stood out with 87 recognitions, ahead of Semiconductors and Information Technologies. Biotechnologies showed the highest recurrence and stability, while Engineering reflected greater volatility with the lowest average repeat rate of companies.

New: Inventor Network Analysis: This year’s report introduces a new framework for analyzing inventor networks, showing how collaboration patterns drive innovation performance. By mapping co-invention relationships, it identifies teams, key connectors, and knowledge flows. For IP professionals, this framework provides actionable insights to support competitive intelligence, identification of critical inventors, organizational benchmarking, and enhanced M&A due diligence.

The Top 100 Global Innovators list was released as part of the Innovation Momentum 2026: The Global Top 100 report.

Top 100 Global Innovators in Alphabetical Order with Global Headquarters and Industry Sector

Patent Owner	HQ	Industry
10x Genomics	US	Biotechnologies
Acuitas Therapeutics	CA	Pharmaceuticals
Adeia*	US	Technology R&D
AGCO*	US	Engineering
Airbus Group*	NL	Engineering
Align Technology	US	Medical Technologies
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals	US	Pharmaceuticals
Alphabet	US	Information Technologies
Amazon	US	Information Technologies
Amgen	US	Pharmaceuticals
Apple	US	Electronics
Applied Materials	US	Semiconductors
ARAMCO	SA	Chemicals and Materials
ASM	NL	Semiconductors
ASML	NL	Semiconductors
AutoStore	NO	Information Technologies
BASF	DE	Chemicals and Materials
Becton, Dickinson	US	Medical Technologies
BioNTech	DE	Pharmaceuticals
Boeing	US	Engineering
Bosch	DE	Automotive
Bristol-Myers Squibb	US	Pharmaceuticals
British American Tobacco	GB	Consumer Goods
CATL	CN	Chemicals and Materials
Chengdu Qinchuan IoT	CN	Technology R&D
Coupang	US	Information Technologies
Daikin	JP	Appliances
Deere & Co	US	Engineering
Dyson*	SG	Consumer Goods
E Ink*	TW	Electronics
Edwards Lifesciences	US	Medical Technologies
Eli Lilly	US	Pharmaceuticals
Ericsson	SE	Information Technologies
Flagship Pioneering*	US	Technology R&D
Fujitsu*	JP	Conglomerates
Gilead Sciences	US	Pharmaceuticals
Honor Device*	CN	Electronics
Huawei	CN	Information Technologies
Hyundai Motor	KR	Automotive
IBM	US	Information Technologies
Illumina	US	Biotechnologies
Intel	US	Semiconductors
InterDigital	US	Technology R&D
Intl. Flavors & Fragrances	US	Chemicals and Materials
Intuitive Surgical	US	Medical Technologies
Japan Tobacco	JP	Consumer Goods
JFE Holdings	JP	Engineering
JinkoSolar*	CN	Semiconductors
Johnson & Johnson	US	Pharmaceuticals
KLA	US	Semiconductors
Krones*	DE	Engineering
KT&G	KR	Consumer Goods
Lam Research	US	Semiconductors
LG Chem	KR	Chemicals and Materials
LG Electronics	KR	Electronics
LONGi Green Energy*	CN	Semiconductors
Magic Leap	US	Electronics
Masimo	US	Medical Technologies
MediaTek	TW	Semiconductors
Meta	US	Information Technologies
Moderna Therapeutics	US	Pharmaceuticals
Nestlé	CH	Consumer Goods
Nike	US	Consumer Goods
Nippon Steel*	JP	Chemicals and Materials
Nvidia	US	Semiconductors
Ocado	GB	Information Technologies
Ofinno	US	Technology R&D
OMV Group	AT	Chemicals and Materials
Orna Therapeutics*	US	Pharmaceuticals
P&G	US	Consumer Goods
Philip Morris	US	Consumer Goods
Qualcomm	US	Semiconductors
Regeneron	US	Pharmaceuticals
Roche	CH	Pharmaceuticals
Rolls-Royce	GB	Engineering
ROMTech*	US	Medical Technologies
RTX	US	Engineering
Safran*	FR	Engineering
Saint-Gobain	FR	Chemicals and Materials
Samsung	KR	Electronics
Samsung SDI	KR	Chemicals and Materials
Sanofi	FR	Pharmaceuticals
Schaeffler*	DE	Automotive
SharkNinja*	US	Consumer Goods
Shin-Etsu*	JP	Chemicals and Materials
SK Innovation	KR	Chemicals and Materials
Snap	US	Information Technologies
Strong Force Innovation*	US	Technology R&D
Stryker	US	Medical Technologies
Techtronic	HK	Consumer Goods
Tetra Laval*	CH	Consumer Goods
thyssenkrupp	DE	Engineering
Tokyo Electron	JP	Semiconductors
Topsoe	DK	Chemicals and Materials
TSMC	TW	Semiconductors
Valeo*	FR	Automotive
VW Group	DE	Automotive
ZEISS	DE	Semiconductors
ZF	DE	Automotive
ZTE	CN	Information Technologies

* Denotes first-time inclusion in the Global Top 100 Innovators list.

 The full report is available for download at http://www.lexisnexisip.com/most-innovative-companies-2026

About the Methodology

LexisNexis^® conducted an analysis across its database of more than 17 million global patent families to identify companies that are leaders in global innovation. The methodology was based on the LexisNexis Patent Asset Index, which was used to measure the strength and quality of a company’s patent assets. The analysis tracked exceptional shifts in patent portfolio quality over the last two years to identify companies as the “Top 100 Global Innovators” in this year’s “Innovation Momentum 2026” report. 

About LexisNexis^® Legal & Professional 

LexisNexis^® Legal & Professional provides AI-powered legal, regulatory, business information, analytics, and workflows that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis^® and Nexis^® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,900 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. 

About LexisNexis^® Intellectual Property Solutions   

LexisNexis^® Intellectual Property Solutions brings clarity to innovation for businesses worldwide. We enable innovators to accomplish more by helping them make informed decisions, be more productive, comply with regulations, and ultimately achieve a competitive advantage for their business. Our broad suite of workflow and analytics solutions (LexisNexis^® PatentSight+, LexisNexis^®Classification, LexisNexis^® TechDiscovery, LexisNexis^® IPlytics, LexisNexis PatentOptimizer^®, LexisNexis PatentAdvisor^®, and LexisNexis TotalPatent One^®, LexisNexis^® IP DataDirect), enables companies to be more efficient and effective at bringing meaningful innovations to our world. We are proud to directly support and serve these innovators in their endeavors to better humankind. 

 

Media Contact:

Andrew Weinstein 
Andrew.Weinstein@LexisNexis.com

 

LexisNexis  |  Intellectual Property Solutions

Bringing clarity to innovation

New York, NY – March 3, 2026 – In a joint inquiry, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division and Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) found that Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.’s express claims regarding the performance, functionality, and privacy protections of its CryAssist technology used in the Maxi‑Cosi Sibia Bassinet and Starling Smart Bassinet are supported.

However, CARU recommended Dorel implement changes to its online privacy practices to ensure compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), specifically with respect to direct notice to parents and verifiable parental consent.

Dorel markets a collection of connected baby nursery products under the MaxiCosi brand, including the Sibia Bassinet with CryAssist Audio Monitor and the Starling Smart Bassinet. These products include CryAssist technology developed by Zoundream AG, a Swiss-based company.

As part of their ongoing monitoring programs, the National Advertising Division (NAD) and CARU brought this inquiry to review certain AI-related advertising claims as well as data privacy practices regarding children, as the products collect audio data from children under 13 and include AI-based features marketed to parents.

At issue for NAD were Dorel’s claims that its CryAssist technology uses AI to translate infant cries into categories (sleepy, fussy, gassy, agitated, or hungry) and that cry data is anonymized, encrypted, and processed securely.

In support of its claims, Dorel provided peer-reviewed published research documenting and validating the underlying AI model, as well as evidence demonstrating calibration and performance of the technology in the devices.

Based on that evidence, NAD concluded that Dorel supported the claim “Our groundbreaking CryAssist technology uses AI to translate your little one’s cries, letting you know if they might be sleepy, fussy, gassy, agitated, or hungry.”

Regarding the claim “Each of CryAssist’s response-based features are optional, ensuring control is always in your hands,” NAD found that the claim that this feature is “optional” and that users are in “control” was also supported.

In support of the claim, “With cries and cry data kept anonymous and encrypted on our cloud, private moments are kept between you and baby,” Dorel provided an explanation and documentation of its data collection and retention practices related to cry sounds. Based on the evidence, NAD found the claim supported.

At issue for CARU was whether Dorel’s data collection practices comply with COPPA and CARU’s Privacy Guidelines. CARU found that Dorel maintains reasonable security measures, limits data collection to information necessary to support the service, and does not use children’s data for undisclosed secondary purposes.

However, CARU concluded that Dorel’s current practices demonstrate deficiencies with respect to COPPA’s notice-based requirements. Specifically, those deficiencies are the absence of a compliant online privacy policy and direct notice to parents, and the lack of a verifiable parental consent mechanism. CARU therefore recommended that Dorel implement these required notice and consent procedures.

In its advertiser statement, Dorel stated that it “will comply with the decision of the NAD and CARU.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, promote fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and promoting fair competition for business.

New York, NY – March 2, 2026 – In a challenge brought by competitor Bayer HealthCare LLC, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division recommended that OLLY PBC modify claims that its Kids Chillax dietary supplement supports a calm and relaxed mood “for ages 7+” to avoid conveying the message that Chillax reduces children’s activity levels.

After a decision by the National Advertising Division (NAD) (#7350) and appeal to the National Advertising Review Board (#7350-337), this matter was reopened after NAD agreed to consider new evidence submitted by OLLY.

In the original case, NAD concluded that Olly’s study was not a good fit for the challenged express claims that Kids Chillax can calm kids and make them stay engaged because, among other reasons, NAD found that the assessments used to assess anxiety levels in the study were not reliable for the youngest participants in the study.

In this reopened proceeding, OLLY submitted new evidence after modifying its advertising, including removing imagery of pandas, changing the age recommendation from 4+ to 7+, removing the language “peaceful pals” and “gently calm little minds while helping kiddos stay engaged,” and removing the claim “L-Theanine. Captain calm. This amino acid supports a relaxed state of mind.” 

In support of its modified claims targeting children ages seven and older, OLLY submitted a post-hoc analysis of the Chillax Study limited to the subgroup of children ages seven and fifteen.

The Chillax Study was comprised of three scales that that measured the emotional state of the subjects. NAD found that the post-hoc subgroup analysis was unreliable as to two of the scales because their results were not consistent with the results of the larger study from the initial NAD case. Measures that were statistically significant in the full study were not statistically significant in the subgroup, and measures that were not statistically significant in the full study became statistically significant in the subgroup.

NAD further found that one of the scales used in the Chillax Study consistently showed statistical significance. However, this scale assessed anxiety rather than activity levels and therefore could not support the implied message that Kids Chillax reduces children’s activity levels.

Accordingly, NAD recommended that OLLY modify its Kids Chillax advertising to avoid conveying the unsupported message that Chillax reduces activity levels. In particular, NAD recommended that the following claims be modified to clearly and conspicuously disclose that “calm and relaxed” does not refer to a reduction in activity levels:

• OLLY’s Kids Chillax “supports a calm and relaxed mood*” “*for ages 7+”
• “Z is for Zen: These delightful gummies are formulated to support a calm & relaxed mood. That’s our kind of peace of mind.”
• Kids Chillax is “formulated to support a calm & relaxed mood.”

In its advertiser statement, OLLY stated it “will comply with the recommendation that references to “calm and relaxed” avoid implying a reduction in activity levels.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB Procedures, this release may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, promote fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and promoting fair competition for business.