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Showing results for:  “digital markets act”

Larry Craig, Coordination Crimes, and the Weirdest Law School Paper Ever

One question has come up several times in conversations I’ve had about the very sad Larry Craig matter: What’s the deal with the foot-tapping? I’m surprised at how many people were unaware of this signal. The women, I suppose, could be forgiven. But the ignorant men are not so easily excused. Do they just ignore ... Larry Craig, Coordination Crimes, and the Weirdest Law School Paper Ever

Setting Up a Fair System for Determining Police Misconduct: Towards A Law & Economics Analysis of Qualified Immunity

Yet another sad story was caught on camera this week showing a group of police officers killing an unarmed African-American man named George Floyd. While the officers were fired from the police department, there is still much uncertainty about what will happen next to hold those officers accountable as a legal matter.  A well-functioning legal ... Setting Up a Fair System for Determining Police Misconduct: Towards A Law & Economics Analysis of Qualified Immunity

Global Competition Policy Symposium on Section 5

The newest issue in Global Competition Policy includes a symposium (disclosure: for which I was the senior editor) on Section 5 enforcement under the FTC Act. Contributors included Commissioner Rosch’s attorney advisor Kyle Andeer, Doug Melamed (WilmerHale) and Joe Sims. My views on the expansion of Section 5 in the standard setting context, at least ... Global Competition Policy Symposium on Section 5

How to Survive A Motion to Dismiss After Twombly

David Fischer at Antitrust Review points to a decision out of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where plaintiffs’ allegations of conspiracy in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act survived a motion to dismiss. Recall that Twombly rejected the “any set of facts” or “conceivability” standard set forth in Conley v. Gibson in favor ... How to Survive A Motion to Dismiss After Twombly

Obama "Voted With the Socialist" 92% of the Time

The Mizzou campus is all atwitter today over a scheduled appearance this evening by the world’s biggest celebrity — my old constitutional law prof, Barack Obama. As I write this, I’m watching the Obama folks prepare for the rally, which is to take place on the quad my office overlooks. I must say, it’s a ... Obama "Voted With the Socialist" 92% of the Time

The Deterioration of Appropriate Remedies in Patent Disputes

Property rights are a pillar of the free market. As Harold Demsetz famously argued, they spur specialization, investment and competition throughout the economy. And the same holds true for intellectual property rights (IPRs).  However, despite the many social benefits that have been attributed to intellectual property protection, the past decades have witnessed the birth and ... The Deterioration of Appropriate Remedies in Patent Disputes

Reverse Payments Ripe for Cert?

The Federal Circuit came down on the side of rule of reason analysis, and no liability, in a reverse payment case in Cipro (HT: Antitrust Review and Patently-O): Since there was no basis for the district court to confidently predict that the Agreements at issue here would be found to be unlawful under a rule ... Reverse Payments Ripe for Cert?

Citigroup, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo: Round Three

For those who have missed it, Citigroup announced almost two weeks ago an agreement in principle with Wachovia to acquire for $2.1 billion Wachovia’s retail banking operations.  Four days later, Wells Fargo jumped the deal, announcing a merger agreement signed by both boards for Wells Fargo to acquire all of Wachovia.  This violated an Exclusivity ... Citigroup, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo: Round Three

FTC to Dr. Miles: "I Wish I Knew How to Quit You!"

In April 2000, the FTC issued a Complaint against women’s shoe distributor Nine West, claiming that Nine West had engaged in minimum resale price maintenance (RPM) (i.e., the setting of minimum prices that retailers could charge for its shoes). Apparently, Nine West was providing retailers with lists of “off limits” or “non-promote” shoes that weren’t ... FTC to Dr. Miles: "I Wish I Knew How to Quit You!"

N-Data Settlement Approved 3-1

The public comment period has closed and the N-Data settlement has been approved by a vote of 3-1 with Chairman Kovacic voting against (his earlier dissent is here).  I think is a sleeper candidate for one of the most important antitrust events of the year as it potentially signals a remarkable expansion of the Commission’s ... N-Data Settlement Approved 3-1

Are All Mergers Inherently Anticompetitive?

A recent viral video captures a prevailing sentiment in certain corners of social media, and among some competition scholars, about how mergers supposedly work in the real world: firms start competing on price, one firm loses out, that firm agrees to sell itself to the other firm and, finally, prices are jacked up.(Warning: Keep the ... Are All Mergers Inherently Anticompetitive?

The Price of Merger Approval and Triple Federal Enforcement

Geoff and Thom (see the comments) continue to have the Whole Foods litigation covered.  I don’t and can’t have anything to add to their comments about the particulars of the litigation.  I will note, playing off my previous post on bad case law out there looking to be overturned, that there is significant demand for ... The Price of Merger Approval and Triple Federal Enforcement