Showing archive for: “EU”
Kolasky on What Happens with the Section 2 Report
William Kolasky (Wilmer Hale, and one of the frontrunners for the DOJ AG spot according to the rumormill) has an interesting piece in the Antitrust Source on the DOJ Section 2 Report arguing that while: even the objecting Commissioners would probably agree that the Justice Department Report does a good job analyzing particular types of ... Kolasky on What Happens with the Section 2 Report
The Costs of International Antitrust Enforcement and Superficial Convergence
There is an interesting profile on Intel in the WSJ. While the profile focuses on some of the technological and competitive challenges facing Intel and CEO Paul Otellini, the CEO mentions the proliferation of antitrust laws across the globe, and the uncertainty associated with regulatory costs in such an environment, as one of the major potential impediments facing ... The Costs of International Antitrust Enforcement and Superficial Convergence
A Separate FTC Section 2 Report?
[UPDATE: I misread Kroes’ speech in a rush. As a loyal blog reader points out, Kroes was obviously referring to the European Commission’s release of its own report, not the Federal Trade Commission. Oops.]. I’ve discussed some problems with the FTC statement in response to DOJ’s release of the Section 2 Report. In particular, I criticized some ... A Separate FTC Section 2 Report?
Geradin on Loyalty Rebates
Damien Geradin has posted an interesting paper on “Separating Pro-competitive from Anti-competitive Loyalty Rebates: A Conceptual Framework.” Here’s the (long) abstract: In its submission to the recent OECD Roundtable on Bundled and Loyalty Discounts and Rebates (the “OECD Roundtable on rebates“), Korea observed that “loyalty discounts are getting growing attention both academically and practically” and ... Geradin on Loyalty Rebates
An Unsurprising Result
The Irish Competition Authority releases a report offering the stunning finding that “The retail planning system limits competition among grocery retailers and as a result consumers are not getting the best possible choice or value for money.” HT: Danny Sokol. The retail planning system apparently imposes restrictions on retailer size, location, and other dimensions of ... An Unsurprising Result
Why Antitrust?
As the start of the new academic year inches closer, and students are deciding what courses to take, I thought I’d give a little plug to antitrust law. I’ve seen enrollment in antitrust courses vary dramatically over the past 10 years or so since I was a student and now as a professor. I certainly ... Why Antitrust?
International Antitrust Explosion in the FT
Financial Times (HT: Danny Sokol) highlights the problem of multi-jurisdictional antitrust enforcement, emphasizing the rise of India and China. The article repeats the basic point, worth repeating, that international cooperation can help avoid bad outcomes with multiple regulatory stakeholders with different incentives and institutional environments: That is not a criticism of the new competition rules ... International Antitrust Explosion in the FT
EU/US Convergence in Competition Policy
FTC Chairman William Kovacic, easily one of the most insightful thinkers and writers on issues of global competition policy, has posted a new paper offering a thoughtful analysis of where the EU and US competition policy systems have been, where they are going, what institutional differences might cause the systems to converge or diverge further, ... EU/US Convergence in Competition Policy
EU Clears Google-Doubleclick
From the WSJ Online: The transaction had faced stiff opposition in Brussels from Google rivals including Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc., as well as privacy advocates who fretted that a combined company would control a vast storehouse of data on Web users and their surfing habits. But European Commission antitrust officials early on ruled out ... EU Clears Google-Doubleclick
Cuomo Goes After Intel (to Get AMD Plant for NY?)
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has issued a subpoena to Intel Corp. as part of an investigation into whether Intel’s discounting practices violate federal or state antitrust laws. According to Cuomo’s press release, the subpoena seeks documents and information concerning Intel’s pricing practices and possible attempt to exclude competitors through its market domination. The ... Cuomo Goes After Intel (to Get AMD Plant for NY?)
Intel’s Loyalty Rebates: Why the Interventionists Are Wrong
The New York Times isn’t the only one calling for the FTC to go after Intel for its purportedly exclusionary discounting. The reliably interventionist American Antitrust Institute concurs. In a recent letter to the FTC, it wrote: Based on allegations by AMD [Advanced Micro Devices] in a private U.S. case and on what we have ... Intel’s Loyalty Rebates: Why the Interventionists Are Wrong
Antitrust Activity and Distinguishing Influence from Quality
From the Economic Times: The European Union’s antitrust agency is becoming more influential just as its US counterparts have grown more cautious and inactive, experts say. The European Commission’s recent success in forcing Microsoft to carry out antitrust sanctions underscores the differences, and academic researchers say the US is also hanging back in merger challenges. ... Antitrust Activity and Distinguishing Influence from Quality
