The Justice Department’s, DOJ, Antitrust Division filed a proposed consent decree to resolve the United States’ claims against LivCor, a Blackstone (BX) portfolio company, as part of its ongoing enforcement action in the Middle District of North Carolina against algorithmic coordination and other anticompetitive practices in rental markets across the country. If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree would require LivCor to: Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricin ...

Core Perspective - The European Commission has initiated three investigations into Amazon and Microsoft to assess whether their cloud computing services should be classified as gatekeepers under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) [4][5][9] Investigation Details - Two of the investigations will evaluate if Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure meet the criteria to be designated as gatekeepers, despite currently not fulfilling the quantitative thresholds for size, user numbers, or market dominance [5][6] - To qualify as a gatekeeper under the DMA, a company must have over 45 million monthly active users and a market capitalization exceeding 75 billion euros (approximately US$87.87 billion) [6] - Companies that violate DMA regulations could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue [6] Regulatory Implications - The DMA's requirements for interoperability and alternative ranking systems may inadvertently lead to more uniform and risk-averse content moderation policies among large platforms, potentially affecting free speech online [7][8] - The third investigation will assess whether the existing DMA framework is adequate to tackle anticompetitive practices in the cloud sector [9][11] Statements from Companies - AWS expressed confidence that the EC would determine that stricter regulations are unnecessary, citing the dynamic nature of the cloud computing sector [12][13] - Microsoft stated its readiness to participate in the inquiry, acknowledging that if AWS and Azure are deemed important gateways, they could be added to the list of core platform services already classified as gatekeepers [14][15] Timeline for Investigations - The EC aims to conclude its investigations within 12 months, with a potential six-month compliance period for any designated gatekeepers [16] - The broader investigation regarding the adequacy of the DMA in governing the cloud market is expected to conclude within 18 months and may lead to formal updates to the legislation [16]

The European Commission said it’s raided the premises of a vaccine firm suspected of abusing its market dominance by engaging in “anticompetitive disparagement” https://t.co/9Czyxg1gvk ...

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and seven states have filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment, alleging illegal practices in ticket sales and consumer deception [1][3]. Group 1: Allegations Against Ticketmaster - The complaint claims that Ticketmaster violated the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) by allowing brokers to purchase tickets beyond artists' limits and selling them at significant markups in the secondary market [3]. - Ticketmaster is accused of engaging in bait-and-switch pricing, which obscures mandatory fees from consumers [3]. - The FTC is seeking civil penalties and additional monetary relief in its lawsuit [5]. Group 2: Regulatory Context - The lawsuit follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need for the federal government to protect consumers from ticketing fraud [4]. - The FTC has been investigating whether Ticketmaster has effectively enforced the BOTS Act, which prohibits automated software from circumventing ticket limits [5]. - Ticketmaster claims to block approximately 200 million bot attempts daily [5]. Group 3: Industry Reactions - Ticketmaster has expressed that the FTC has a fundamental misunderstanding of its policies [6]. - The FTC previously sued ticket reseller Key Investment Group for allegedly using illegal tactics to bypass Ticketmaster's purchasing limits [6]. - A representative from Key Investment Group criticized the FTC's lawsuit, arguing it misapplies the BOTS Act and threatens the secondary ticket market, consolidating power within the industry's largest monopoly [7].

Core Points - District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers criticized Apple for violating a 2021 injunction related to the Epic Games antitrust case, stating that Apple executives, including VP of Finance Alex Roman, provided false testimony under oath [1][2] - The court has referred the matter to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California to investigate potential criminal contempt proceedings against Apple [2] - The original case against Apple was initiated by Epic Games in 2020, accusing the company of anticompetitive practices concerning its App Store and in-app payment systems [2][3] - In a 2021 ruling, the court found that Apple's restrictions on in-app purchasing methods were anticompetitive in one of ten counts, leading to an injunction that required Apple to allow developers to inform users about external purchasing options [3] - Judge Rogers stated that Apple has not complied with the injunction and has continued its anticompetitive conduct to maintain its revenue stream, indicating a deliberate effort to mislead the court [3] - An Apple spokesperson expressed strong disagreement with the court's decision and stated that the company would comply with the order while planning to appeal [4]