QT Inc.
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QT Incorporated is the manufacturer of the Q-Ray ionized bracelet. It is headed by the infomercial entrepreneur Que Te "Andrew" Park.
[edit] 2003 FTC injunction
Mayo Clinic Proceedings published a study in 2002 showing definitively that Q-Ray bracelets have no effect upon muscle pain relative to the placebo effect.[1] This study prompted the Federal Trade Commission to impose an injunction upon QT Inc. during 2003, preventing any further claims regarding pain relief.[2]
[edit] 2006 case
On September 8, 2006, a federal judge ordered QT Inc. to pay back $22.5 million "in ill-gotten gains", and the defendants could owe even more--up to $87 million--depending on how many Q-Ray customers seek refunds. U.S. Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow wrote a 136-page opinion and concluded, "Park made up the theory that the bracelet works like acupuncture or Eastern medicine. He has no testing or studies to support his theory". Thus, the theory was made "to defraud consumers out of millions of dollars by preying on their desire to find a simple solution to alleviate their physical pain".[3] On January 3, 2007, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the lower court's ruling.[4]
QT Inc continues to sell Q-Ray Bracelets online, but no longer claims that they have any particular effect.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2002. 77:1164-1168.
"Effect of 'Ionized' Wrist Bracelets on Musculoskeletal Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial" - ^ FTC halts deceptive pain relief claims. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/06/qtinc.htm
- ^ Q-Ray inventor gets more than wrist slap, http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0609090160sep09,1,2422233.story
- ^ FTC v. QT Inc. (7th Cir. Jan. 3, 2007) http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?submit=showbr&shofile=07-1662_018.pdf
- ^ Multimillion judgment upheld in Q-Ray case - Justice System, Chicago - chicagotribune.com
