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Records show FTC investigation into side-hustle company Publishing.com

Jan 13, 2025 - businessinsider.com
Publishing.com, founded by Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen, offers courses and tools for creating AI-generated books, charging $1,995 per course. The company reportedly earned nearly $50 million in 2022 but is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for potential deceptive marketing practices, hidden fees, and unfair refund policies. The investigation, revealed through a public contracts database, involves hiring an expert witness, indicating its seriousness. Customers have lodged numerous complaints about high-pressure sales tactics and difficulties in obtaining refunds, with some spending over $7,000 on courses and materials.

The Mikkelsen twins, who describe themselves as millionaire digital nomads, have faced criticism for contributing to a market of low-value online content. In 2018, Amazon temporarily restricted their selling privileges after discovering they were using Google Translate to create books. Despite these controversies, Publishing.com is considered one of America's fastest-growing companies. The company promotes success stories of students earning significant income from self-publishing, though a disclaimer notes the average income is $21,612 annually. Attempts to contact the company for comments were unsuccessful.

Key takeaways:

  • Publishing.com, founded by Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen, sells courses for creating AI-generated books and reportedly made $50 million in 2022.
  • The company is under investigation by the FTC for potential deceptive marketing practices, high-pressure sales tactics, and refund difficulties.
  • Customers have complained about being encouraged to incur debt to afford the program and facing challenges in obtaining refunds.
  • Publishing.com has been criticized for contributing to a flood of low-value AI-generated content on platforms like Amazon.
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