Google hired investment bank Lazard to evaluate the potential sale of its advertising exchange unit in 2020, according to court testimony on Wednesday. A federal judge declared last April that the business is an illegal monopoly https://t.co/3sO4WC8qRB ...

Joining me now is Matt Stler, director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project and author of the book Goliath: The Hundred-Year- War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. Matt, welcome to the show. It's good to have you here.Hey, thanks for having me. Matt, I'm I'm trying really hard to to make sure people understand this this connection that monopolies and corporate control and consolidation are all bad, but they're not just bad for the sake of being bad because your prices go up. They're ba ...

Well, I'm excited because just like 2008 at the moment, I'm 0% cash. You're 0% cash. Founder friendly has become bullit, right.Any hot AI deal, there is no diligence provided, nor is any done. It's just done on Saturday. All you can lose is one extra money.Having an early success is highly correlated with future success. Partly, you get the referral effect, but partly I think it's that you just have the stomach to roll the dice and you get braver. This is an epic monopoly like we've never seen.Think how muc ...

This company holds a valuable monopoly that's easy to understand.Warren Buffett is well known for eschewing advanced technology stocks. That's often led him and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A -0.13%) (BRK.B 0.14%) investors to miss out on some of the most lucrative investment opportunities in the market.One of the biggest winners of the last few years has been Nvidia (NVDA -2.79%). Its GPUs are essential infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) training and inference. As a result, it's seen demand soar ov ...

tom lee's bitmine staking 2.42m eth generates 74,536 eth yearly at 3.08% apr. they control 2% of ethereum supply today. 2.5% in 5 years without buying another token. 3% in 10 years. staking compounds their monopoly. market pricing eth like supply stays constant when 2% locked forever keeps growing ...

Core Viewpoint - Google is facing potential forced breakup due to its monopoly in digital advertising technology, as hearings commence in federal court [1] Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The Justice Department (DOJ) argues for a forced divestiture of Google's key ad exchange, AdX, to restore fair competition [2] - US District Judge Leonie Brinkema is presiding over two weeks of hearings, having previously ruled that Google violated the Sherman Act by dominating the online publisher ad server and ad-exchange markets [3] - The DOJ's case was initiated by the Biden administration and a coalition of states in 2023 [10] Group 2: Google's Defense - Google, led by CEO Sundar Pichai, contends that the DOJ's proposal could dismantle its advertising tech platform, complicating business for advertisers and publishers [4] - Google's attorney, Karen Dunn, describes the DOJ's push for a forced sale as "radical and reckless," asserting that Google's alternative plan would provide a workable solution within a year [5] - Dunn emphasized that the DOJ misunderstood how Google's ad technology operates, arguing against the necessity of a breakup [7] Group 3: Expert Testimonies - Experts expected to testify during the remedy phase include former executives from News Corp, Daily Mail, and Advance Local [8]

The Justice Department argued that the best way to address the company's unfair advantage was to force it sell off portions of its business. ...

Core Viewpoint - Google is facing a trial regarding its digital advertising practices, which have been deemed monopolistic by a U.S. District Judge, potentially leading to significant changes in its advertising business model [2][5]. Group 1: Trial Details - The trial is set to begin in Alexandria, Virginia, focusing on Google's conduct in digital advertising that has harmed competition and affected online publishers' revenue [2]. - The trial will last for two weeks, with the judge expected to issue a ruling on how to restore fair market conditions, although a decision is unlikely before the end of the year [3]. - Google plans to appeal the previous ruling that labeled its ad network as a monopoly, but appeals can only be filed after the remedy is determined [4]. Group 2: Implications for Google - The case, initiated in 2023, threatens Google's extensive digital advertising network, which generates a significant portion of the $305 billion in revenue for its parent company, Alphabet Inc. [5]. - If the Justice Department's proposal is accepted, it may lead to Google being ordered to sell parts of its ad technology, which could disrupt the internet ecosystem according to Google's legal team [6]. - Google asserts that it has already made sufficient changes to its "Ad Manager" system to address the issues raised in the monopoly ruling [7].

Core Viewpoint - The tech giant is currently in a legal confrontation with the U.S. government regarding the resolution of its advertising technology monopoly [1] Group 1 - The court case represents a significant challenge for the company as it seeks to address allegations of monopolistic practices in its advertising technology [1]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance Corporation is rumored to be planning a preemptive acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to expand its entertainment portfolio [2][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Strategy - The potential acquisition comes shortly after WBD announced plans to split into two entities by April 2026, which could influence the transaction's dynamics [4]. - Acquiring WBD before the split may allow Paramount Skydance to secure assets at a lower price compared to a competitive auction in the future [5]. - The acquisition would involve significant assets, including major franchise intellectual properties, making it a strategic move for market positioning [14]. Group 2: Regulatory and Business Challenges - The acquisition faces scrutiny from the Department of Justice due to antitrust concerns, similar to those raised during the Paramount and Skydance merger [6]. - The merger could lead to regulatory challenges regarding media consolidation, particularly concerning the ownership of multiple broadcast platforms [8]. - Paramount Skydance must also address shareholder concerns about the value of a sale compared to WBD's planned split into two publicly traded companies [9]. Group 3: Content Library and Market Position - Warner Bros. Discovery holds valuable franchises such as "Harry Potter," "The Lord of the Rings," and "DC Comics," which could significantly enhance the buyer's market position [14]. - The acquisition could reshape the competitive landscape of streaming services, as Warner Bros. has successfully bolstered its HBO Max platform with award-winning content [14]. - The ongoing media transformation emphasizes the importance of strategic mergers and acquisitions for traditional media companies to thrive in the digital age [15].