FTC Finalizes $1.5 Million Settlement With Publishing.com Over Alleged Deceptive Earnings Claims

Key Takeaways

• FTC Finalizes Settlement: The FTC finalized a $1.5 million settlement with Publishing.com, CEO Christian Mikkelsen, and Chief Product Officer Rasmus Mikkelsen over allegations that they misled consumers about expected earnings from the company's self-publishing programs.
• Earnings Claims Face New Requirements: The final order requires the company to substantiate future earnings claims with a reasonable basis and prohibits misleading income representations.
• Refund Practices Addressed: The order bars the company from obscuring refund and cancellation terms and requires it to promptly honor consumers' refund and cancellation requests in accordance with its policies.

Deep Dive

There is a familiar rhythm to businesses that promise financial independence. The details change with technology but the promise remains durable. There is a system, the system works, and ordinary people need only follow it. The Federal Trade Commission argues that Publishing.com sold precisely that story, and on Thursday the agency formally closed the case with a final order designed to ensure the company cannot tell it the same way again.

The order settles allegations that Publishing.com LLC, together with its chief executive, Christian Mikkelsen, and chief product officer, Rasmus Mikkelsen, misled consumers about how much money they were likely to earn through the company's self-publishing programs. Under the settlement, the company and its principals will pay $1.5 million and, going forward, will be required to substantiate any earnings claims they make.

The case began with a complaint the FTC announced in April 2026. According to the agency, Publishing.com marketed programs and services that promised consumers the opportunity to earn substantial income by publishing e-books and audiobooks online. The FTC also alleged that Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen represented that they had personally used the same system to build significant personal wealth through online self-publishing, lending the marketing an air of firsthand proof rather than mere aspiration.

The Commission contends that the experience of many customers bore little resemblance to those assurances. Its complaint alleges that most consumers who purchased Publishing.com's products and services never earned the income promoted in the company's advertising. For those who attempted to recover their money, the FTC alleges the path was narrowed by additional conditions—often buried in fine print or lengthy terms of service—that made refunds difficult, and in some cases impossible, to obtain.

The agency's allegations extended beyond earnings claims. It also accused Publishing.com of presenting reviews without adequately disclosing when they had been written by company employees or other interested individuals, including relatives of the Mikkelsens. According to the complaint, the company also offered incentives in exchange for positive testimonials without making those arrangements clear to prospective customers.

The final order reaches each of those practices. It prohibits Publishing.com and the Mikkelsens from making earnings claims unless those claims are not misleading and supported by a reasonable basis. It also bars the specific misrepresentations identified in the FTC's complaint, along with other misrepresentations concerning material facts in the sale of any product or service.

The order further requires the company to clearly disclose the terms and conditions governing cancellations and refunds and prohibits it from failing to promptly honor consumers' cancellation or refund requests in accordance with its own policies. On endorsements and reviews, the settlement requires Publishing.com and its principals to disclose any unexpected material connection with endorsers or reviewers, including payments or other incentives provided in exchange for reviews, while prohibiting misrepresentations about endorsements altogether.

The order does not resolve a debate over whether self-publishing can generate meaningful income; it addresses something more fundamental. The Commission's position is that whatever opportunities a business offers, they cannot be sold through earnings claims that lack adequate support, refund policies that become harder to find the moment they matter, or endorsements that conceal who is really speaking. For companies built on selling opportunity itself, those distinctions are no longer peripheral. Under the FTC's final order, they have become enforceable obligations.

The GRC Report is your premier destination for the latest in governance, risk, and compliance news. As your reliable source for comprehensive coverage, we ensure you stay informed and ready to navigate the dynamic landscape of GRC. Beyond being a news source, the GRC Report represents a thriving community of professionals who, like you, are dedicated to GRC excellence. Explore our insightful articles and breaking news, and actively participate in the conversation to enhance your GRC journey.