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☆ DOJ will hire more data experts to scrutinize digital monopolies, antitrust chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Justice Department will expand its stable of data experts charged with analyzing how businesses use and abuse consumer data to violate US antitrust law, the agency’s antitrust chief told CNN in an onstage interview Monday. DOJ’s antitrust division plans to post additional job listings for data scientists and analysts, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said at a Washington conference. Under Kanter, the division has already hired technologists and a chief economist with a background in computer science and machine learning. “A lot of the assumptions have been that consumers can discipline bad behavior [of a company] by switching. But if consumers don’t switch as easily as they used to, or if consumers are being nudged in one direction or another, that’s a market reality we need to understand.”

[1/2] The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 17, 2021. The complaint filed Tuesday in a Virginia federal court by the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division attempts to compel Google to sell part of its advertising technology unit. The suit mirrors allegations in another antitrust case brought against Google in New York federal court by a Texas-led coalition of 17 states in 2020. In the states' case, a New York federal judge in September rejected Google’s bid to dismiss it entirely. Google also faces two largely parallel antitrust lawsuits by states and the federal government alleging unlawful dominance in online searching.

☆ The DOJ's antitrust case against Google is ambitious but risky
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

But alongside the possibility of great reward comes significant risk in seeking to push the boundaries of antitrust law. "All antitrust cases are an uphill battle for plaintiffs, thanks to 40 years of case law," said Rebecca Haw Allensworth, an antitrust professor at Vanderbilt Law School. But, Allensworth added, the government's challenges may be different than those in many other antitrust cases. Like all antitrust cases, this one is unlikely to be concluded anytime soon. "This is clearly the blockbuster case so far from the DOJ antitrust division," Francis said.

☆ DOJ probing Visa on U.S. debit card practices, competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Visa Inc (V.N) said on Friday the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice had issued investigative demand earlier this month seeking documents and information about U.S. debit card practices and competition with other payment networks. The probe, which began in early 2021, followed reports the United States was investigating whether the credit card company uses anticompetitive practices in the debit card market. The Justice Department has previously investigated the credit card payments industry but settled with Visa and Mastercard Inc (MA.N) in 2010 when they agreed to allow merchants to offer consumers incentives to use a low-cost credit card. Both Visa and Mastercard have faced increasing scrutiny for their dominance in the credit card market. Visa, in 2019, had to settle a European Union antitrust probe over card fees.

☆ DOJ files second antitrust suit against Google, seeks to break up its ad business
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday filed its second antitrust lawsuit against Google in just over two years. This lawsuit, focused on Google’s online advertising business, seeks to make Google divest parts of the business and is the first against the company filed under the Biden administration. Google also faces three other antitrust lawsuits from large groups of state attorneys general, including one focused on its advertising business led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The company has long denied that it dominates the online advertising market, pointing to the market share of competitors including Meta’s Facebook. Google and other tech companies have also faced increasing scrutiny from abroad, particularly in Europe, where Google has also fought multiple competition cases and new regulations threaten major changes to tech business models.

☆ U.S. targets non-compete clauses that block workers from getting better jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Noncompete agreements "block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they need to build and expand," said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a statement. The training repayment would be banned if it "is not reasonably related to the costs the employer incurred for training the worker," the proposed rule said. FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter said in 2020 that surveys have estimated that 16% to 18% of all U.S. workers are subject to noncompete provisions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicated that it opposed the proposed rule. Ardagh Glass S.A. and O-I Glass Inc, the two largest U.S. glass container makers, had noncompete provisions that affected more than 1,700 workers.

☆ TikTok banned on government devices under spending bill passed by Congress
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The bill includes an exception for law enforcement, national security and research purposes. TikTok has repeatedly said its U.S. user data is not based in China, though those assurances have done little to alleviate concern. While it fell short of antitrust advocates' hopes, the inclusion of the merger filing fee bill still gained praise. Miller said the bill will "significantly strengthen antitrust law for the first time since 1976." Empowering state AGs in antitrust casesAnother antitrust bill included in the package was a version of the State Antitrust Enforcement Venue Act.

☆ Why the Taylor Swift debacle could lead to renewed scrutiny of the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Lawmakers and Swifties are calling for the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger to be reexamined. The Department of Justice was reportedly investigating the merger prior to the Eras Tour madness. Now, the Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger, a probe that began even before the Eras Tour debacle. That's the kind of merger critics argue happened with Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Live Nation has not incurred any of those penalties.

☆ If the Biden administration doesn't step in to block the $25 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger, it will be devastating for shoppers and grocery-store workers — while the rich shareholders will get rich
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Paul Constant | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Last month, Kroger announced a $25 billion deal to merge with grocery chain Albertsons. During the pandemic last year, local city councils in Long Beach and Seattle passed "hero pay" laws requiring grocery stores to pay their public-facing workers $4 extra per hour. Last month, Kroger announced a $25 billion deal to merge with Albertsons, another major national grocery chain. In the press release announcing the merger, Kroger promised that the consolidation would result in lower prices for customers and better compensation and benefits for workers. But the larger Kroger-Albertsons merger is still on track to conclude in 2024, unless the Biden administration steps in to stop it.

☆ Meet a Taylor Swift fan who regrets paying $5,500 for resale tickets: 'I'm embarrassed I did it, I regret it, and I kind of just wish I had a nosebleed ticket'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Paige, a Swiftie of 15 years, was not enchanted by the way ticket sales went down for the Eras tour. Swifties across the country have been disappointed by high-priced resale tickets and ticket scarcity. The gold rush on Swift tickets has led to some tickets being resold for up to $13,000. Paige says she saw tickets going for $33,000 when she purchased hers. "Like in the same way getting something in the wrong way would feel bad, it's the same with this.

☆ Taylor Swift fans are angry at Ticketmaster's merger with Live Nation after the company's debacle around her concert tickets. An antitrust expert who testified against it said he thinks breaking it up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Taylor Swift tickets queue was once a madhouse, before Ticketmaster canceled its public ticket sale. Some are pointing to Ticketmaster's merger with Live Nation as the reason that prices are high and competition low. An antitrust expert who testified against the merger told Insider that breaking it up "will be a major priority for the antitrust division" of the DOJ. "The value in going to the Taylor Swift concert is Taylor Swift," Balto said. The madness over Taylor Swift tickets has refreshed calls for the merger to be reexamined, with several lawmakers weighing in.

☆ Taylor Swift meltdown caused by Ticketmaster abusing its market power, Senate antitrust chair says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —Senator Amy Klobuchar criticized Ticketmaster in an open letter to its CEO, saying she has “serious concerns” about the company’s operations following a service meltdown Tuesday that left Taylor Swift fans irate. Ticketmaster and Live Nation, the country’s largest concert promoter, merged about a decade ago. Klobuchar noted that the company at the time pledged to “develop an easy-access, one-stop platform” for ticket delivery. It’s no secret that Live Nation-Ticketmaster is an unchecked monopoly,” Rep. David Cicilline, currently the chairman of the Antitrust Subcommittee, tweeted on Tuesday. The Justice Department and states allowed the Live Nation Ticketmaster merger to go through despite a 2010 court filing in the case raising objections to the merger.

☆ Ticketmaster meltdown for Taylor Swift tickets sparks outrage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Justice Department and many state attorneys general have made similar complaints over the years. The Justice Department and states allowed the Live Nation Ticketmaster merger to go through despite a 2010 court filing in the case raising objections to the merger. In the filing, the Justice Department said that Ticketmaster’s share among major concert venues exceeded 80%. Past efforts to rein in Ticketmaster control over the ticket market have failed. The Justice Department and the states gave approval of to the Live Nation-Ticketmaster combination, but did call for some oversight.

☆ Leidos Discloses Subpoenas Amid Antitrust, Bribery Probes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Dylan Tokar | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

Leidos Holdings Inc., an information-technology and engineering services firm, received dual subpoenas in recent months in connection with criminal investigations into potential foreign bribery and antitrust violations. The Reston, Va.-based company was served with a grand jury subpoena in August related to an investigation by the Justice Department’s antitrust division, Leidos said Tuesday. The probe is the second ongoing criminal investigation disclosed by Leidos this year. The FCPA probe was first disclosed by the company in a securities filing earlier this year. At the time, Leidos said it was conducting an internal investigation into activities within its international operations that it discovered in late 2021.

☆ Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster merger is blocked by judge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Penguin Random House quickly condemned the ruling, which it called “an unfortunate setback for readers and authors.” In its statement Monday, the publisher said it would immediately seek an expedited appeal. The publishing industry has been consolidating for years with little interference from the government, even when Random House and Penguin merged in 2013 and formed what was then the biggest publishing house in memory. The joining of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would have created a company far exceeding any rival. Penguin Random House’s global CEO, Markus Dohle, had promised that imprints of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would still be permitted to bid against each other for books. Pan otherwise persistently challenged Penguin Random House’s assurances that the merger would not reduce competition.

Amazon quietly donated $400,000 to a conservative nonprofit last year as the group pushed back on antitrust bills being considered in Congress, according to documents reviewed by CNBC. The donation is tied for the second-highest contribution listed on the documents showing last year's top donors to the conservative nonprofit. She wrote, "antitrust efforts such as this bill, are not protecting consumers, but reducing their choices and driving up prices." The Independent Women's Forum was also among 30 organizations that co-signed an Oct. 2021 open letter to Senate lawmakers pushing back on antitrust legislation. We have highlighted our concerns about big tech censorship and publicly criticized what we see as censorship of conservative views.

☆ Augusta National Golf Club Under Investigation in DOJ Antitrust Probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Louise Radnofsky | Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Justice Department’s antitrust investigation into professional golf includes the powerhouse bodies Augusta National Golf Club and the United States Golf Association, in addition to the PGA Tour, according to people familiar with the matter. The PGA Tour is battling the upstart, Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s bid to establish a rival golf tour that has already lured away a number of star players. The DOJ antitrust division’s scrutiny of the PGA Tour was first reported by The Wall Street Journal in July. Players’ agents have received inquiries about the Tour’s bylaws as they pertain to players’ participation in non-PGA Tour events, and the Tour’s actions relating to LIV Golf.

☆ U.S. says seven board directors resigned under antitrust pressure
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Seven directors on the boards of five companies have resigned because of the U.S. Justice Department's concerns over the directors holding similar board positions at rival companies, the department said on Wednesday. Two others representing Thoma Bravo on the SolarWinds board also resigned, the department said. SolarWinds said in a legal filing dated Oct. 14 that the three board members had decided to resign after receiving a letter from the Justice Department alleging that their board service broke antitrust law. A spokesperson for Udemy said a director stepped down on Sept. 23 because of U.S. Justice Department concerns. Directors also resigned from the board of Definitive Healthcare (DH.O), Redwire Corp (RDW.N) and CTS Corp (CTS.N) because they were on the boards of competing companies, the department said.

☆ Bills to add muscle to antitrust efforts up for vote in U.S. House
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote late Wednesday on a bill that would update fees companies pay for merger reviews and strengthen state attorneys general in antitrust fights, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office. The bill combines measures introduced by Representative Joe Neguse, a Democrat, and Representative Ken Buck, a Republican,It would allow state attorneys general to choose which court they want to hear antitrust cases. The measure also lowers the fees paid for antitrust reviews of smaller deals. The reviews are conducted by the U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. The Senate has passed a bill giving state attorneys general the right to pick the venue for antitrust fights but has not passed a bill to update merger filing fees.

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