Latest News
By Federal Newswire | Apr 30, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have jointly called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider the competitive risks associated with common ownership. This call comes as part of their assessment of acquisitions that involve less than a controlling interest in competing firms. Currently, FERC is inviting public comments as it reviews its existing policy on investment company ownership of electric utilities.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 30, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expanded its efforts to combat the improper listing of patents in the Food and Drug Administration’s Orange Book, targeting over 300 questionable listings for diabetes, weight loss, asthma, and COPD drugs. One of the drugs under scrutiny is Novo Nordisk Inc.’s popular weight-loss medication, Ozempic.FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the negative impact of bogus patent listings on drug prices, stating, “By filing bogus patent listings, pharma companies block competition and inflate the cost of prescription drugs, forcing Americans to...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 30, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have solidified their collaboration on consumer protection matters through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In response to the FCC's recent decision to restore net neutrality, the agencies aim to work closely together in safeguarding consumers.FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, "The FTC is squarely focused on protecting Americans from illegal business tactics... We look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The incarcerated people’s communications services (IPCS) market is currently under the control of a small group of companies. The U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division has submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), advocating for new rules that would introduce more competition into this market.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that Razer, Inc., the sellers of the Zephyr face mask, will pay over $1.1 million to provide full refunds to consumers nationwide and a civil penalty for misrepresenting the performance and efficacy of the supposed "N95-grade" masks. The complaint alleged that Razer falsely marketed the Zephyr masks as N95-grade without submitting them for testing to the FDA or NIOSH, leading to the deceptive claims being halted only after negative press coverage and consumer outrage."These businesses falsely claimed, in the midst of a global...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 28, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has enacted a final rule that prohibits noncompete clauses nationwide. The FTC maintains that this measure will safeguard workers' ability to switch jobs, stimulate innovation, and foster the creation of new businesses.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 22, 2024
TopBuild Corp. announced its decision today to abandon its proposed $960 million acquisition of its rival, SPI Parent Holding Company (SPI). This decision came after concerns raised by the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department.Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Antitrust Division highlighted the potential negative impact of the proposed acquisition on competition in the United States. Kanter stated, "TopBuild’s proposed acquisition of SPI would have harmed competition across the United States by combining two of the largest providers of important...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 22, 2024
Washington, D.C. — In a landmark decision that could reshape the American workplace, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has scheduled a virtual Open Commission meeting on April 23, 2024, to finalize a rule that would ban noncompete clauses, a move seen as a significant boost to economic liberty and worker mobility.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Justice Department (DOJ), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have introduced a new tool to help identify illegal anticompetitive behavior in the healthcare industry. The tool, an online portal, allows the public to lodge complaints against companies that engage in practices detrimental to competition.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 13, 2024
The Australian government is preparing to revise the nation's merger laws, a move that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) believes will align Australia with other developed countries.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 13, 2024
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has initiated legal proceedings against Enable entities and Symmetry Energy Solutions LLC. The state contends that these companies breached the Oklahoma Antitrust Reform Act and the Oklahoma Common Carrier statute during a significant winter storm that affected the state three years ago.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 13, 2024
The U.S. Department of Justice has broadened the scope and resources of its Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) by incorporating four national partners. With these new additions, the PCSF now consists of 38 agencies.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 12, 2024
The Justice Department's Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) has announced the addition of four new national partners, bringing the total to 38 agencies and offices dedicated to combating antitrust crimes and related schemes in government procurement, grants, and program funding.Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter highlighted the PCSF's commitment, stating, "Since 2019, the Procurement Collusion Strike Force has aggressively investigated and prosecuted crimes that undermine and distort the competitive process in taxpayer-funded procurements."U.S. Attorney...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 11, 2024
Antitrust leaders from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission convened in Washington, D.C., this week for the fourth assembly of the U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD). The TCPD serves as a platform to discuss both current and emerging challenges and threats to fair competition in the digital economy.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 11, 2024
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, and European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager convened in Washington, D.C., for the fourth U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD) on Apr 11, 2024.During the meeting, Kanter emphasized the challenges posed by data monopolies and artificial intelligence, stating, "The growth of data monopolies and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence expand the competitive threats we face from dominant digital gatekeepers."...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 6, 2024
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced an extension to the public comment period for their joint Request for Information (RFI). The RFI seeks to understand how group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and drug wholesalers contribute to generic drug shortages. The deadline has been extended to May 30, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 6, 2024
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has lifted restrictions that previously prevented the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) from investigating potential anticompetitive behavior by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This decision reinforces the DOJ's authority to scrutinize NAR's Participation Rule and Clear Cooperation Policy in an effort to safeguard competition.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 5, 2024
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has confirmed the Justice Department's authority to investigate potentially anticompetitive conduct by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The decision, announced on April 5, 2024, overturns restrictions that had previously hindered the Department's ability to probe into NAR's practices.Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division expressed the importance of this ruling, stating, “Real-estate commissions in the United States greatly exceed those in any other...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 2, 2024
In a recent correspondence with Lael Brainard, Director of the White House National Economic Council, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation expressed its views on the developments concerning Nippon Steel Corp.'s bid to acquire United States Steel Corp. The acquisition proposal from Nippon Steel, Japan's leading steelmaker, is currently undergoing federal scrutiny.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 1, 2024
The Justice Department announced today that two directors of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (WBD) have resigned from the WBD board after the Antitrust Division expressed concerns that their positions on both the WBD and Charter Communications Inc. boards violated Section 8 of the Clayton Act (Section 8)."In enacting Section 8 of the Clayton Act, Congress was concerned that competitors who shared directors would compete less vigorously to provide better services and lower prices. We will continue to vigorously enforce the antitrust laws when necessary to address overreach by...
