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☆ Microsoft's decision to give up OpenAI board observer seat doesn't quell key concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (R) speaks as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (L) looks on during the OpenAI DevDay event in San Francisco on Nov. 6, 2023. Microsoft has given up its observer seat on OpenAI's board. Apple , which was reportedly expected to take a similar observer position, will no longer pursue one, according to the Financial Times. "The timing of this move matters," Kak wrote in a message to CNBC. Kak told CNBC that regulators' pursuits are helping to get answers and deliver transparency.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, aren't, Amba Kak, Kak, Lina Khan Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Financial Times, CNBC, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Justice Department, Nvidia Locations: San Francisco

☆ Federal Trade Commission to sue drug middlemen over prices of medications including insulin, source says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino Mary Catherine Wellons | Annika Kim Constantino | Mary Catherine Wellons | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesAn Express Scripts spokesperson said the "prices of insulin and other medicines are set by their manufacturers, who have raised list prices repeatedly." They also create lists of medications — or formularies — that are covered by insurance and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions. The investigation into insulin prices also examines drugmakers, but it is unclear whether they will be named in the upcoming lawsuits, Politico reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Eli Lilly , French drugmaker Sanofi and Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk control roughly 90% of the U.S. insulin market. Pharmacist Thomas Jensen looks over a prescription drug at the Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 9, 2019.

Persons: Lina Khan, Tom Williams, Joe Raedle, PBMs, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Thomas Jensen, George Frey Organizations: Trade, Financial Services, General Government, CQ, Inc, Getty, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, UnitedHealth, CVS, FTC, Politico, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy Locations: Miami, U.S, Danish, Provo , Utah

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesAn Express Scripts spokesperson said "the prices of insulin and other medicines are set by their manufacturers, who have raised list prices repeatedly." The FTC's investigation into insulin prices also examines drugmakers, but it is unclear whether they will be named in the upcoming lawsuits, Politico reported, citing sources. Eli Lilly , French drugmaker Sanofi and Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk control roughly 90% of the U.S. insulin market. They also create lists of medications – or formularies – that are covered by insurance and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions. Pharmacist Thomas Jensen looks over a prescription drug at the Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 9, 2019.

Persons: Lina Khan, Tom Williams, Joe Raedle, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Thomas Jensen, George Frey Organizations: Trade, Financial Services, General Government, CQ, Inc, Getty, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, UnitedHealth, CVS, Politico, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy Locations: Miami , Florida, Danish, U.S, Provo , Utah

☆ F.T.C. Says Middlemen Appear to Be Driving Up Drug Prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Reed Abelson | Rebecca Robbins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday sharply criticized pharmacy benefit managers, saying in a scathing 71-page report that “these powerful middlemen may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies.”The regulator’s study signals a significant ramping up of its scrutiny of benefit managers under the agency’s chair, Lina Khan. It represents a remarkable turnabout for an agency that has long taken a hands-off approach to policing these companies. has so far stopped short of bringing a lawsuit or other enforcement action against a benefit manager. But the industry fears that the report could lead to a formal investigation into its practices or to a lawsuit accusing benefit managers of anticompetitive conduct. The agency’s findings could also fuel legislative efforts in Congress and in the states to impose limits on the industry.

Persons: Lina Khan Organizations: Federal Trade Commission

☆ Popular app banned from hosting young teens in a groundbreaking settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The regulators wrote that the app billed itself as a “safe space” for teens but, in reality, preyed on them. The app, known as NGL, had been downloaded millions of times, according to the complaint. NGL deceptively hooked teens into subscribing to its premium service by sending them fake, anonymous messages and then promising to reveal the sender after they paid, said the complaint. Highlighting the groundbreaking nature of the NGL settlement, FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson described Tuesday’s action as a “novel” use of the agency’s legal powers. But, he argued, the public should not interpret the lawsuit to mean that it is illegal in general to market any anonymous messaging app to teens.

Persons: ”, Lina Khan, ” NGL, NGL, Joao Figueiredo, ” Figueiredo, “ I’ve, Figueiredo, Khan, Andrew Ferguson, ” Ferguson, Kristin Bride, Bride, Carson, Fairplay Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Los Angeles, Attorney’s, US, Court, Central, Central District of, FTC, Meta, Epic Games, Facebook Locations: Central District, Central District of California, New York, Arkansas, Florida , Louisiana

☆ Paramount and Skydance just agreed to a takeover. But media's messiest deal isn't over yet.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Paramount agreed to merge with Skydance Media after tumultuous acquisition talks. But the Hollywood megamerger may face FTC scrutiny. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementParamount, the media giant that owns Nickelodeon and MTV, has finally agreed to a deal with Skydance Media, the companies said late Sunday. The deal includes an acquisition of National Amusements, which holds the controlling stake in Paramount, and a merger of Skydance and Paramount Global.

Persons: Lina Khan, —, Shari Redstone, David Ellison Organizations: Paramount, Skydance Media, Hollywood, FTC, Service, Nickelodeon, MTV, National Amusements, Paramount Global Locations: Skydance

When the White House chief of staff, Jeffrey Zients, met with dozens of top executives in Washington this month, he encountered a familiar list of corporate complaints about President Biden. The executives at the Business Roundtable, a group representing some of the country’s biggest corporations, objected to Mr. Biden’s proposals to raise taxes. While the meeting was not antagonistic, it was indicative of three and a half years of executive grousing about Mr. Biden. Business leaders have criticized his remarks on “corporate greed” and his appearance on a union picket line. A number of prominent figures in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street — including the venture capitalists David Sacks and Marc Andreessen, and the hedge fund magnate Kenneth Griffin — have grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of Mr. Biden, their praise of former President Donald J. Trump, or both.

Persons: Jeffrey Zients, Biden, ”, —, Lina Khan, David Sacks, Marc Andreessen, Kenneth Griffin —, Mr, Donald J, Trump Organizations: White House, Business, Biden, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington, Silicon Valley

☆ Going After the Middleman
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Lauren Hirsch | Sarah Kessler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

They’ve zeroed in on what may sound like a nerdy legal theory, but one that could have huge implications: the tyranny of the intermediary, middleman companies that abuse their role by squeezing out competition or creating artificially expensive moats. The Justice Department has already made one high-profile strike along these lines, suing to break up Ticketmaster and Live Nation. It is reportedly investigating at least two others. One is RealPage, a property management company that uses artificial intelligence to suggest prices and has already been sued by renters accusing it of facilitating a new type of collusion. The second is UnitedHealth Group, the health care conglomerate that owns a cobweb of businesses that include an insurer and another unit that employs about 10,000 physicians in the United States.

Persons: Lina Khan, Jonathan Kanter, They’ve Organizations: Biden, Federal Trade Commission, Ticketmaster, UnitedHealth Locations: United States

☆ Americans tired of sky-high borrowing costs will be disappointed this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Another month, another hot jobs report that has Wall Street wondering when the Federal Reserve will finally cut interest rates. On the other, it puts long-awaited interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve on the back burner. Before the Bell: Do you think the Fed could lower its projection for three quarter-point rate cuts this year? Is it concerning that the European Central Bank and Bank of Canada have begun cutting rates before the Fed? A Samsung spokesperson told CNN that, “there is no impact on production and management activities” as a result of the one-day walkout.

Persons: Bell, Nate Thooft, I’m, that’s, Yoonjung Seo, —, Son Woomok, Matt Egan, Lina Khan, Beam, Robinson Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Manulife Investment Management, Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Canada, European Central Bank and Bank of Canada, Workers, Samsung Electronics, Nationwide Samsung Electronics Union, CNN, Reuters, Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron Technology, Federal Trade Commission, Southern, Biden, FTC, Politico Locations: New York, South Korea, Miami, United States

☆ How a Depression-era law could be used to make your booze cheaper
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Southern Glazer’s, based in Miami and operating in 44 US states, is the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States. Abandoned antitrust law from 1936The FTC lawsuit, previously reported by Politico, could come in the next few weeks and would rely on the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936, the source said. That Depression-era law prohibits suppliers from providing deeper discounts to large chains than to smaller stores. At the time, the antitrust law was aimed at helping smaller grocers survive when A&P and other chains dominated with lower prices. However, a person familiar with the matter said Southern Glazer’s discounts are available to all retailers where permitted by state law.

Persons: Lina Khan, Beam, Robinson, it’s, McCormick, “ It’s, It’s, hasn’t, Alden Abbott, Trump, ’, ”, Abbott, George Mason University’s, “, Patman, Ed Schwartz, Reed Smith, Lee Hepner, Hepner, Chris Jones, Jones, Schwartz, Khan Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Southern, Biden, FTC, Politico, Walmart, Patman, RPA, Congress, American Economic Liberties, National Grocers Association, Street Competition Coalition, Southern Glazer’s Locations: Miami, United States, Southern

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (L) speaks with Microsoft Chief Technology Officer and Executive VP of Artificial Intelligence Kevin Scott during the Microsoft Build conference at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2024. The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department are set to open antitrust investigations into Microsoft , OpenAI and Nvidia , examining the powerful companies' influence on the artificial intelligence industry, a source familiar confirmed to CNBC. The FTC will take the lead on looking into Microsoft and OpenAI, while the DOJ will focus on Nvidia, and the investigations will focus on the companies' conduct, rather than mergers and acquisitions, according to the source. The news also follows the FTC's January decision to conduct an extensive study on AI industry heavyweights, including Amazon , Alphabet , Microsoft, Anthropic and OpenAI. Microsoft and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Sam Altman, Kevin Scott, Anthropic, Claude chatbots, that's, Lina Khan, Khan, OpenAI, — CNBC's Eamon Javers Organizations: Microsoft Chief Technology, Artificial, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Nvidia, CNBC, FTC, DOJ, New York Times, Google, Meta Locations: Redmond , Washington

☆ FTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ's Jonathan Kanter on antitrust policy, monopolies and consumer impact
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ's Jonathan Kanter on antitrust policy, monopolies and consumer impactCNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin reports on the highlights from his interview with FTC Chair Lina Khan and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter at the CNBC CEO Summit in Washington, DC.

Persons: Lina Khan, DOJ's Jonathan Kanter, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Antitrust Jonathan Kanter Organizations: Antitrust, CNBC, Summit Locations: Washington , DC

☆ FTC prepares to sue largest U.S. alcohol distributor, alleging 'secret kickbacks'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, speaks during the 2024 CNBC CEO Council Summit in Washington, D.C. on June 4, 2024. The Federal Trade Commission is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against the largest U.S. alcohol distributor, Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. But one source said the commission is likely to allege that Southern Glazer's has been providing "secret kickbacks" to large retail customers and violating the 1936 Robinson-Patman Act. Florida-based Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits distributes alcohol for over 7,000 brands in 44 states. Under the FTC's interpretation, the Robinson-Patman Act is not a wholesale ban on price discrimination and could allow volume discounts.

Persons: Lina Khan, Robinson Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, Summit, Southern, Politico, Forbes Locations: Washington ,, Southern, Florida

☆ The scary secret behind the boom in data centers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Last year all the data centers in the world had room for 10.1 zettabytes of information — roughly 456 billion Wikipedias. And with the rise of artificial intelligence, which requires vast quantities of data and power, the global capacity of data centers is expected to double by 2027. Data centers are more than just vast digital warehouses. The more data centers those companies have, the more of those services they can offer, and the more storage and number-crunching capacity they can provide. Over time, economists warn, AI startups will inevitably lose out to the tech giants that control the data centers.

Persons: they're, Cecilia Rikap, Matthew Wansley, Jonas Jacobi, Jacobi, It's, Rikap, Bengt, Åke, There's, Lina Khan, Today's, Adam Rogers Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Big Tech, Corporate, Regulators, Yeshiva University, Amazon, Venture, Aalborg University, Tech, Google Cloud, Federal Trade Commission, Business Locations: OpenAI, Hotel California, Denmark, Europe, lockstep

☆ Meet the leaders of the Trump era's new conservative economic populism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Drew Angerer | Getty ImagesThis reported column is Part Two of Eamon Javers' two-part series on the new, conservative economic populism gaining ground among Republicans close to former President Donald Trump. In Part One, Javers introduces readers to the new, conservative economic populism gaining ground among Republicans close to former President Donald Trump. Senator Republican Marco Rubio gives a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, February 25, 2022. Cass counts among his allies several well respected conservative economic thinkers. "It's economic policy that emerges not from good economics, but from politics and the culture war and what your base wants," he said.

Persons: Vance, Sen, Josh Hawley, Drew Angerer, Eamon Javers, Donald Trump, Javers, WASHINGTON —, Trump, Sohrab Ahmari, Ahmari, Donald Trump's, –, We've, Oren Cass, —, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Republican Marco Rubio, Octavio Jones, Cass, Robert Lighthizer, Lighthizer, James Pethokoukis, Pethokoukis, Joe Biden —, Biden, Kahn, Lina Kahn, Lina Khan, Tom Williams Organizations: Republican, U.S, Senate, GOP, Wall Street Journal, Security, African American, Trump coalition, National Labor Relations, American, Conservative Political, Reuters, CNBC, United States Trade, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Democratic, Big Tech, Biden's Federal Trade Commission, Financial Services, General Government, Federal Trade Commission, Cq, Inc, Getty Locations: Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio, America, Washington, Ukraine, Vance ( Ohio, Fla, Mo, Washington . U.S, Orlando , Florida, Biden's, Rayburn

☆ The Rise of a New Centrism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Washington, you often hear, is a place so polarized that our leaders barely get anything done. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a progressive leader, has worked on legislation with several conservative Senate Republicans, including Josh Hawley and J.D. My editors recently asked me to make sense of this conundrum: A polarized country in which bipartisanship has somehow become normal. To do so, I spoke with Congress members from both parties, as well as Biden administration officials and outside experts. I emerged from the project believing that the U.S. was indeed a polarized country in many ways — but less polarized than people sometimes think.

Persons: Biden —, Donald Trump’s, —, Elizabeth Warren, Josh Hawley, J.D, Vance, Lina Khan —, Biden, ” Biden, bipartisanship Organizations: Democrats, Republican, Republicans, Federal Trade Commission Locations: U.S

☆ FTC accuses ex-Pioneer CEO of colluding with OPEC, blocks him from Exxon board seat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The FTC filed a complaint alleging that Scott Sheffield attempted to collude with representatives of OPEC to reduce oil and gas output to increase prices at the pump and inflate Pioneer's profits. "The FTC has a responsibility to refer potentially criminal behavior and takes that obligation very seriously," spokesman Doug Farrar told CNBC. In response, Exxon agreed to keep Sheffield off its board, the oil major said in a statement Thursday. The FTC alleged that Sheffield repeatedly held private conversations with high-ranking OPEC representatives to assure them that Pioneer and its competitors in the Permian Basin were working to keep oil output artificially low. "Notwithstanding, Pioneer and Mr. Sheffield are not taking any steps to prevent the merger from closing," the company said in the statement.

Persons: Scott Sheffield, Doug Farrar, Exxon, Sheffield, Sheffield's, Lina Khan, — CNBC's Pippa Stevens, Mary Catherine Wellons, Lina Khan's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Natural Resources, OPEC, Exxon Mobil, Pioneer, FTC, Justice Department, Wall Street, CNBC, Exxon, Sheffield

☆ ‘Smartphones on Wheels’ Draw Attention From Regulators
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Kashmir Hill | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the American imagination, car keys and a driver’s license have long represented freedom, autonomy and privacy. But modern cars, which have hundreds of sensors, cameras and internet connectivity, are now potential spying machines acting in ways drivers do not completely understand. The senators, both Democrats, say this sharing can “seriously threaten Americans’ privacy” by revealing their visits to protests, health clinics, places of worship, support groups or other sensitive places. “As far-right politicians escalate their war on women, I’m especially concerned about cars revealing people who cross state lines to obtain an abortion,” Senator Wyden said in a statement. Government attention to the car industry is intensifying, experts say, because of the increased technological sophistication of modern cars.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Edward J, Markey, Lina Khan, Wyden Organizations: Oregon, Massachusetts, Federal Trade Commission

☆ FTC challenges 'junk' patents held by 10 drugmakers, including for Novo Nordisk's Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it is challenging hundreds of alleged "junk" patents held by pharmaceutical companies for 20 brand-name drugs, including Novo Nordisk's blockbuster drugs Ozempic, Saxenda and Victoza. The FTC issued letters to 10 companies, warning them that certain drug patents were improperly listed. Many of the drug patents are for Type 2 diabetes, along with asthma and inhalers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Generic drugmakers can only launch cheaper versions of a branded drug if the patents have expired or are successfully challenged in court. The FTC first challenged dozens of branded drug patents last fall, leading three drugmakers to comply and delist their patents with the FDA.

Persons: Novo, Boehringer, Lina Khan, Biden, drugmakers, Joe Biden's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Covis Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Food and Drug Administration, FDA Locations: U.S

☆ FTC is sued by business groups over its ban on noncompete agreements, which may delay enforcement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Another lawsuit was filed in federal court in the Northern District of Texas by business tax services firm Ryan. “The FTC contends that by using regulation they can simply declare common business practices to be ‘unfair methods of competition’ and thus illegal. “If the FTC can regulate noncompete agreements, then they can decide to regulate or even ban any other business practice. Long delays may be on tap before the rule takes effectThe FTC rule isn’t set to go into effect until 120 days from the day it is published in the Federal Register. In the near term, “I’m generally telling clients to take a wait-and-see approach with respect to the FTC rule while court challenges play out in the next few weeks,” Turinsky said.

Persons: Ryan, ”, Daniel Turinsky, DLA Piper, Lina Khan, Jake Tapper ”, isn’t, —, ” Turinsky, James Witz, ” Witz Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Trade Commission, US Chamber of Commerce, Business, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of, US Chamber, FTC, Chamber, Longview Chamber, Commerce, Federal Locations: New York, United States, Eastern District, Northern District, Northern District of Texas, Longview, Longview , Texas, Texas, Littler

☆ FTC Chair Lina Khan: Eliminating noncompetes will boost innovation and new business creation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFTC Chair Lina Khan: Eliminating noncompetes will boost innovation and new business creationFTC Chair Lina Khan joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the agency's decision to ban noncompete clauses for U.S. workers, lawsuits by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups challenging the new rules, impact of the ban on businesses and workers, limitations of the noncompete ban, and more.

Persons: Lina Khan Organizations: U.S . Chamber of Commerce

☆ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, business groups sue FTC over ban on noncompete clauses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several other business groups on Wednesday sued the Federal Trade Commission in Texas federal court over the commission's vote to ban noncompete clauses, which are used to block employees from leaving to work for competitors in the same industry. On Tuesday, the FTC voted to enact the ban on the basis that noncompete clauses stifle the efficiency of the labor market, hinder competition and can lead to higher prices for consumers. The business groups claimed that the FTC's ban, "breaks with centuries of state and federal law." In addition to the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, Texas Association of Business and Longview Chamber of Commerce are all plaintiffs in the suit. The FTC suggested that instead of relying on noncompete clauses, companies should look to other safeguards of information, like nondisclosure agreements.

Persons: Lina Khan, Douglas Farrar Organizations: House Energy, Commerce, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Wednesday, Federal Trade Commission, Federal, U.S . Chamber, Eastern District of Texas, Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Texas Association of Business, Longview Chamber, FTC, CNBC Locations: Texas, Eastern District

☆ FTC votes to ban noncompete clauses that bar employees from working for competitors
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., July 13, 2023. The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday voted 3-2 for a nationwide ban against noncompete agreements, which companies use to prevent employees from taking jobs with competitors in the same industry. The FTC estimates that 30 million American workers, or roughly 18%, are currently subject to a noncompete. The FTC initially proposed the noncompete ban in January 2023. Meanwhile, business trade groups claim that noncompetes help preserve intellectual property and company secrets.

Persons: Lina Khan, Joe Biden, Joe Biden's, Biden Organizations: Federal Trade, Federal Trade Commission, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Federal, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Workers, FTC, Department, DOJ Locations: Washington ,, U.S

The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued to block Tapestry’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri, a blockbuster fashion tie-up that would bring together Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Versace. The lawsuit is a rare move by the agency to block a fashion deal, given that the industry does not suffer from a lack of competition. In her time as the chair of the F.T.C., Lina Khan has prioritized taking on the power of big business in suits across industries. The agency has moved to block the supermarket merger between Kroger and Albertsons; Meta’s acquisition of the virtual reality start-up Within; and Microsoft’s bid for the gaming giant Activision. failed to block Microsoft’s deal and Meta’s acquisition, both of which closed last year.

Persons: Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Versace, Lina Khan, ” Henry Liu, ” Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Kroger, Albertsons, Activision, “, Competition Locations: Capri, ’

☆ Republican House panel launches probe into Biden's FTC-DOJ task force on corporate pricing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The timing of the Strike Force announcement, in an election year, raises the likelihood that political motivations rather than the interests of American consumers drove the action," House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said in the letter. The Strike Force is jointly led by the FTC and the Department of Justice, which have been at the front lines of the Biden administration's regulatory agenda over the past several years. Comer alleged in the letter that "this pattern" of blaming corporate-pricing practices for inflation "signals that the new FTC-DOJ Strike Force will be used as a political tool." But Biden's logic that companies are the ones responsible for high prices, not his economic agenda, could be taking hold with voters. A March survey found that respondents blamed recent price hikes on "large corporations taking advantage of inflation" more than Democratic policies.

Persons: Lina M, Khan, Bill Nelson, Joe Biden's, Lina Khan, Biden, James Comer, Jonathan Kanter, Comer, —, Biden's Organizations: Commerce, Science, NASA, Capitol, Republican, CNBC, Federal Trade, Strike Force, Force, U.S, FTC, Department of Justice, Biden, Kroger, Albertsons, DOJ Strike Force, Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S, Ky

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