You don’t have to read the business pages to know that recent decades have resulted in massive corporate consolidation. Whether it’s air travel, wireless service, internet, banking, or eyeglasses, a number of industries have enjoyed such merger mania that only a few national competitors remain. [More]
anti trust
AT&T, Feds Settle Dodgers Lawsuit Over SportsNet LA; Blackout To Continue
By 3.24.17
The Department of Justice and AT&T settled a lawsuit claiming DirecTV — which AT&T purchased in 2015 — colluded unlawfully with other carriers about their negotiations to carry SportsNet LA, the only cable channel in Los Angeles to air most Dodgers games. But that doesn’t mean the cable provider will be adding the channel to its lineup anytime soon. [More]
DOJ Raises A Glass To Anheuser-Busch With Approval Of Grupo-Modelo Merger
By 4.19.13
A few weeks back it seemed likely that the Department of Justice would let loose a little and allow Anheuser-Busch InBev to merge with Grupo-Modelo, and now it’s official. The DOJ announced today that it had approved the merger after a settlement soothed its fears over anti-competitiveness. Or maybe Anheuser just kept plying it s new BFF with drinks until it agreed.* [More]
FBI Raids 3 Auto Parts Suppliers In Detroit As Part Of Anti-Trust Case
By 2.24.10
While the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform was busy raking Toyota’s chief executives over the coals in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Federal agents in Detroit were going all Untouchables-like at the offices of three auto parts suppliers, including one company owned in part by Toyota. [More]
eBay To Be Credit Card, PayPal Only
By 8.29.08
The word is that eBay is banning checks and money orders, and buyers will have to use PayPal or (if the seller has a credit card merchant account or an account with a service called ProPay), credit cards.
Food Stamp Users Subsidize Your Credit Card Rewards Programs
By 9.21.07
Food stamp users are helping pay for your credit card rewards programs, according to “Priceless? The Social Costs Of Credit Card Merchant Restraints” (PDF), a paper by Gerogetown professor Adam Levitin published in the Harvard Journal on Legislation.
FTC Appeals, Still Trying To Stop Whole Foods/Wild Oats Merger
By 8.17.07
A judge has ruled in favor of the Whole Foods/Wild Oats merger, but the FTC has announced they will appeal the decision and are asking that the merger be blocked pending that appeal.
Refreshing: Limewire Sues the RIAA
By 9.26.06
In a move as refreshing as a cool summer breeze, the pirates from Limewire are sueing the RIAA for anti-trust violations and a bunch of other cool shit.
