North Carolina Dental and Protectionism: March 31 Heritage Foundation Presentation by FTC Commissioner Ohlhausen and March 30 Heritage Foundation Legal Memorandum
In its February 25 North Carolina Dental v. Federal Trade Commission decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a state regulatory board that is controlled by market participants in the industry being regulated cannot invoke “state action” antitrust immunity unless it is “actively supervised” by the state. Will this decision discourage harmful protectionist regulation, such ... North Carolina Dental and Protectionism: March 31 Heritage Foundation Presentation by FTC Commissioner Ohlhausen and March 30 Heritage Foundation Legal Memorandum
Undermining Investment in Standard Setting by Weakening Patents: How a Recent Justice Department Business Review Letter Gets Things Wrong
As I explained in a recent Heritage Foundation Legal Memorandum, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) New Patent Policy (NPP) threatens to devalue patents that cover standards; discourage involvement by innovative companies in IEEE standard setting; and undermine support for strong patents, which are critical to economic growth and innovation. The Legal Memorandum ... Undermining Investment in Standard Setting by Weakening Patents: How a Recent Justice Department Business Review Letter Gets Things Wrong
March 31 Heritage Foundation Speech by FTC Commissioner Ohlhausen on U.S. Supreme Court’s North Carolina Dental Decision
In a recent post, I explained how the U.S. Supreme Court’s February 25 opinion in North Carolina Dental Board v. FTC (holding that a state regulatory board controlled by market participants must be “actively supervised” by the state to receive antitrust immunity) struck a significant blow against protectionist rent-seeking and for economic liberty. Maureen Ohlhausen, ... March 31 Heritage Foundation Speech by FTC Commissioner Ohlhausen on U.S. Supreme Court’s North Carolina Dental Decision
The Supreme Court Puts the Bite on Special Interest Dental Regulations and Strikes a Blow for Economic Liberty
In its February 25 North Carolina Dental decision, the U.S. Supreme Court, per Justice Anthony Kennedy, held that a state regulatory board that is controlled by market participants in the industry being regulated cannot invoke “state action” antitrust immunity unless it is “actively supervised” by the state. In so ruling, the Court struck a significant ... The Supreme Court Puts the Bite on Special Interest Dental Regulations and Strikes a Blow for Economic Liberty
IEEE Patent Policy Change Would Undermine Property Rights and Innovation
American standard setting organizations (SSOs), which are private sector-based associations through which businesses come together to set voluntary industrial standards, confer great benefits on the modern economy. They enable virtually all products we rely upon in modern society (including mechanical, electrical, information, telecommunications, and other systems) to interoperate, thereby spurring innovation, efficiency, and consumer choice. ... IEEE Patent Policy Change Would Undermine Property Rights and Innovation
D.C. Circuit POM Wonderful Decision Begins to Rein in Excessive FTC Regulation of Commercial Speech
In a previous Truth on the Market blog posting, I noted that the FTC recently revised its “advertising substantiation” policy in a highly problematic manner. In particular, in a number of recent enforcement actions, an FTC majority has taken the position that it will deem advertising claims “deceptive” unless they are supported by two randomized ... D.C. Circuit POM Wonderful Decision Begins to Rein in Excessive FTC Regulation of Commercial Speech
FTC Staff Report Misses the Mark on “Internet of Things” Regulation
Today the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) missed the mark in authorizing release of a staff report calling for legislation and regulation of the “Internet of Things.” The Internet of Things is already affecting the daily lives of millions of Americans through the adoption of health and fitness monitors, home security devices, connected cars and household ... FTC Staff Report Misses the Mark on “Internet of Things” Regulation
Si Monumentum Requiris, Circumspice
The famous epitaph that adorns Sir Christopher Wren’s tomb in St. Paul’s Cathedral – Si monumentum requiris, circumspice (“if you seek his monument, look around you”) – applies equally well to Henry Manne, who passed away on January 17. Wren left a living memorial to his work in St. Paul’s and the many other churches ... Si Monumentum Requiris, Circumspice
Heritage Foundation January 29 Conference on Obama Administration Antitrust Enforcement Record
During the 2008 presidential campaign Barack Obama criticized the Bush Administration for “the weakest record of antitrust enforcement of any administration in the last half century” and promised “to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement.” In particular, he singled out allegedly lax monopolization and merger enforcement as areas needing improvement, and also vowed “aggressive action to curb the ... Heritage Foundation January 29 Conference on Obama Administration Antitrust Enforcement Record
Challenging Anticompetitive Government Action, in Light of Constitutional Constraints on U.S. Antitrust Law
On December 11 I published a Heritage Foundation Legal Memorandum on this topic. I concluded that the federal courts have done a fairly good job in harmonizing antitrust with constitutionally-based federalism and First Amendment interests (petitioning, free speech, and religious freedom). Nevertheless, it must be admitted that these “constitutional constraints” somewhat limit the ability of ... Challenging Anticompetitive Government Action, in Light of Constitutional Constraints on U.S. Antitrust Law
Grading Obama Administration Antitrust Policy
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama criticized the Bush Administration for “the weakest record of antitrust enforcement of any administration in the last half century” and promised “to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement.” Has the Obama Administration’s antitrust enforcement record over the last six years lived up to this extravagant promise? More specifically, what grade should ... Grading Obama Administration Antitrust Policy
Transatlantic Trade Negotiations: Keeping Regulation in Check
Last week, the George Washington University Center for Regulatory Studies convened a Conference (GW Conference) on the Status of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United States (U.S.), which were launched in 2013 and will continue for an indefinite period of time. In launching TTIP, the Obama ... Transatlantic Trade Negotiations: Keeping Regulation in Check
