President Trump publicly intervenes in the DOJ’s antitrust review of Netflix’s $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, stating it ‘could be a problem’ due to market concentration and demanding that CNN be sold. Trump’s intervention follows his …
Donald TrumpNetflixWarner Bros DiscoveryParamountLarry Ellison+2 moreantitrustpolitical-interferencecorruptiondojmedia-consolidation+1 more
Judge James Boasberg ruled that Meta does not hold an illegal monopoly in personal social networking, dismissing the FTC’s five-year antitrust case seeking to force divestiture of Instagram and WhatsApp despite extensive evidence of Meta’s “buy or bury” strategy to eliminate …
Judge James BoasbergMetaMark ZuckerbergFederal Trade CommissionLina Khanantitrustmetafacebookftcregulatory-capture+4 more
The DOJ Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission announced they had identified over 125 federal regulations for review and potential elimination under Trump’s Executive Order on Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers. The initiative represents a systematic dismantling of …
Department of JusticeFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Trump Administrationderegulationantitrustregulatory-capturecorporate-welfare
Former DOJ antitrust official Roger Alford publicly accused Attorney General Pam Bondi’s chief of staff Chad Mizelle of ‘perverting justice’ by overruling career officials to approve the Hewlett Packard Enterprise-Juniper Networks $14 billion merger. Alford and another senior …
Roger AlfordPam BondiChad MizelleHewlett Packard EnterpriseJuniper Networks+1 moreinstitutional-capturedojsystematic-corruptionantitrust
President Trump signs executive order revoking previous competition and antitrust enforcement policies, clearing path for increased corporate consolidation and monopolistic practices without federal oversight.
Donald TrumpDepartment of Justice Antitrust DivisionFederal Trade Commissionmonopoly-powerantitrusteconomic-policyreward-alliescorporate-consolidation+3 more
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google illegally monopolized digital advertising technology markets through systematic anticompetitive conduct including tying arrangements, exclusionary contracts, and manipulation of ad auctions—finding that Google’s control of 91% of publisher …
Judge Leonie BrinkemaDepartment of JusticeGoogleSundar Pichai8 State Attorneys Generalantitrustgooglemonopolyad-techregulatory-capture+3 more
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon granted the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction to prevent Kroger from acquiring Albertsons on December 10, 2024, blocking the largest proposed supermarket merger in U.S. history. The FTC had sued to block the $24.6 …
Federal Trade CommissionKroger CompanyAlbertsons CompaniesJudge Nelsonantitrustftckrogeralbertsonsmerger-enforcement+2 more
The Federal Trade Commission filed an administrative antitrust complaint against the three largest pharmacy benefit managers—CVS Caremark, Express Scripts (Cigna), and OptumRx (UnitedHealth)—and their affiliated group purchasing organizations, charging them with anticompetitive and unfair practices …
Federal Trade CommissionLina KhanCVS CaremarkExpress ScriptsOptumRx+3 morehealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustftc+3 more
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google illegally maintained monopolies in general search services and search text advertising, marking the most significant antitrust victory against a tech company since the Microsoft case in 1998. The ruling found that Google’s payments exceeding $26 …
Judge Amit MehtaDepartment of JusticeGoogleSundar PichaiAppleantitrustgooglemonopolyregulatory-capturetech-monopoly+3 more
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing with executives from the three largest PBMs—Adam Kautzner (Express Scripts), David Joyner (CVS Caremark), and Patrick Conway (OptumRx)—presenting findings from a comprehensive 32-month investigation. Chairman James Comer released a …
House Oversight CommitteeJames ComerAdam KautznerDavid JoynerPatrick Conway+3 morehealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustcongressional-oversight+2 more
The Federal Trade Commission released its interim staff report titled ‘Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The Powerful Middlemen Inflating Drug Costs and Squeezing Main Street Pharmacies,’ revealing alarming market concentration and anticompetitive practices. The report found that three PBMs—CVS …
Federal Trade CommissionLina KhanCVS CaremarkExpress ScriptsOptumRx+1 morehealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustregulatory-capture+3 more
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, joined by the Business Roundtable, the Texas Association of Business, and the Longview Chamber of Commerce, filed a lawsuit in Tyler, Texas federal court against the FTC and Chair Lina Khan over the commission’s vote to ban noncompete clauses used to block …
U.S. Chamber of CommerceFederal Trade CommissionLina KhanBusiness Roundtableantitrustftcchamber-of-commercecorporate-lobbyinglabor-rights+2 more
The Department of Justice, joined by 16 state attorneys general, filed a comprehensive antitrust lawsuit against Apple alleging the company illegally monopolizes smartphone markets through a systematic strategy of ecosystem lock-in, developer restrictions, and suppression of “super apps” …
Department of JusticeAppleTim Cook16 State Attorneys Generalantitrustappledojmonopolyregulatory-capture+4 more
On February 27, 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice launched a major antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group, focusing on whether the company’s vertical integration strategy—particularly Optum’s acquisition of physician practices—creates …
Department of JusticeUnitedHealth GroupUnitedHealthcareOptumhealthcaremedicare-advantageantitrustvertical-integrationregulatory-capture+1 more
U.S. District Judge William Young blocked JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion acquisition of low-cost rival Spirit Airlines on January 16, 2024, handing the Biden administration a significant victory in preserving airline competition. Judge Young ruled that the merger would harm competition and …
Department of JusticeJetBlue AirwaysSpirit AirlinesJudge William Youngantitrustdojairline-industrymerger-enforcementbiden-administration+1 more
The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice released final 2023 Merger Guidelines on December 18, 2023, representing a major departure from the consumer welfare standard that had guided antitrust enforcement for nearly half a century. The Guidelines signaled a move from the existing …
Federal Trade CommissionDepartment of JusticeLina KhanJonathan Kanterantitrustftcdojmerger-guidelinesregulatory-reform+2 more
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission in December 2023, alleging a lack of transparency and accountability under Chairwoman Lina Khan’s leadership. The business group alleged that the FTC had regularly avoided responding to lawful requests for public …
U.S. Chamber of CommerceFederal Trade CommissionLina KhanSuzanne Clarkantitrustftcchamber-of-commercecorporate-lobbyingregulatory-resistance+1 more
The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 17 state attorneys general, filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Amazon alleging the company illegally maintains monopoly power in online retail through systematic anti-competitive practices. The complaint documents Amazon’s …
Federal Trade CommissionAmazonAndy Jassy17 State Attorneys Generalantitrustamazonftcmonopolyregulatory-capture+3 more
The Federal Trade Commission issues a policy statement declaring that improper patent listings in the FDA’s ‘Orange Book’ (Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations) constitute potential unfair methods of competition under Section 5 of the FTC Act or unlawful …
FTCAndrew N. FergusonFDAAmphastarMylan+2 moreintellectual-propertypharmaceutical-patentspatent-evergreeningorange-bookftc+3 more
Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California denied the Federal Trade Commission’s motion for a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard on July 10, 2023. The FTC had voted to file a …
Federal Trade CommissionMicrosoft CorporationActivision BlizzardJudge Jacqueline Scott Corleyantitrustftcmicrosoftactivision-blizzardbig-tech+2 more
U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila (N.D. Cal.) denied the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt Meta’s acquisition of Within Unlimited, a VR fitness app developer, on January 31, 2023. The FTC had sued to block the merger in July 2022, arguing Meta …
Federal Trade CommissionMeta PlatformsJudge Edward DavilaLina Khanantitrustftcmetabig-techmerger-enforcement+2 more
On January 24, 2023, the United States Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Google seeking to break up the company’s advertising technology business—marking the first government attempt to structurally dismantle a major corporation since AT&T in 1982. The case …
Department of JusticeGoogleSundar PichaiJonathan Kanter8 State Attorneys Generalgoogledojantitrustad-techdivestiture+3 more
The Federal Trade Commission ordered private equity firm JAB Consumer Partners to divest veterinary clinics in four metropolitan areas as a condition of its $1.65 billion acquisition of Ethos Veterinary Health, citing concerns about JAB’s roll-up strategy creating local monopolies in specialty …
Federal Trade CommissionJAB Consumer PartnersJAB Holding CompanyNational Veterinary AssociatesEthos Veterinary Health+1 moreantitrustconsolidationprivate-equityveterinaryhealthcare+4 more
The Federal Trade Commission unanimously voted to authorize a comprehensive investigation into pharmacy benefit manager business practices under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act, with all five commissioners voting in favor. The FTC issued compulsory orders to the six largest PBMs—CVS Caremark, Express …
Federal Trade CommissionLina KhanChuck GrassleyMaria CantwellCVS Caremark+2 morehealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustregulatory-capture+2 more
The U.S. Senate confirmed Jonathan Kanter as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice by a bipartisan vote of 68-29 on November 16, 2021, and he was sworn in the same day. Kanter’s confirmation came after the longest delay for a nominee to lead the …
Jonathan KanterDepartment of JusticeU.S. SenateAntitrust Divisionantitrustdojbiden-administrationregulatory-reformbig-tech+1 more
President Biden signed Executive Order 14036, ‘Promoting Competition in the American Economy,’ on July 9, 2021, launching what the administration characterized as the most comprehensive federal effort to promote competition since the New Deal. The executive order directed over a dozen …
Joe BidenFederal Trade CommissionDepartment of JusticeWhite House Competition Councilantitrustbiden-administrationcompetitionregulatory-reformexecutive-order+1 more
The U.S. Senate confirmed Lina Khan to the Federal Trade Commission by a bipartisan vote of 69-28 on June 15, 2021, and President Biden immediately named her chair of the five-member Commission. At 32, Khan became the youngest commissioner ever confirmed to the agency, let alone to lead it. Khan …
Lina KhanJoe BidenU.S. SenateFederal Trade Commissionantitrustftcbiden-administrationregulatory-reformlina-khan+1 more
On December 16, 2020, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google joined by nine other states, exposing secret agreements between Google and Facebook—including the “Jedi Blue” deal—to eliminate competition in digital advertising and maintain Google’s …
Texas Attorney General Ken PaxtonGoogleFacebookMark ZuckerbergSundar Pichai+1 moregooglefacebookantitrustjedi-bluecollusion+4 more
The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam, files major antitrust lawsuit against Facebook alleging illegal monopolization through systematic acquisition of competitors Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC seeks structural breakup of Facebook through forced …
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On October 20, 2020, the United States Department of Justice, joined by eleven state Attorneys General, filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Google LLC for illegally monopolizing search and search advertising markets. The case represented the federal government’s most significant …
Department of JusticeGoogleSundar PichaiAppleTim Cook+3 moregoogledojantitrustsearch-monopolyapple-deal+3 more
AbbVie completed its $63 billion acquisition of Allergan after FTC approval requiring divestiture of digestive drug brazikumab to resolve antitrust concerns. The merger created a pharmaceutical giant with combined 2019 revenues of $48 billion and a diversified portfolio spanning immunology, …
AbbVieAllerganFederal Trade Commissionantitrustconsolidationmergerpharmaceutical-industryregulatory-capture+3 more
On April 3, 2020, Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation (UTC) completed a $135 billion merger creating Raytheon Technologies, the world’s second-largest aerospace and defense company behind only Boeing. The merger combined Raytheon’s weapons systems—including the Patriot …
RaytheonUnited Technologies CorporationGreg HayesDepartment of JusticeBAE Systemsraytheondefense-contractorsantitrustmonopolizationmergers+1 more
One day before trial, California hospital system Sutter Health agreed to pay $575 million and change anticompetitive practices after a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and consolidated with a 2014 case brought by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. …
Sutter HealthXavier BecerraCalifornia Attorney Generalhealthcarehospitalantitrustprice-transparencymarket-concentration+1 more
Federal Judge Lucy Koh issues a 233-page decision finding Qualcomm violated antitrust laws (Sherman Act Sections 1 and 2) through its ’no license, no chips’ policy for standard essential patents (SEPs) covering cellular modem technology, which Qualcomm had committed to license on Fair, …
FTCLucy KohQualcommNinth Circuit Court of AppealsDepartment of Justice+1 moreintellectual-propertypatent-abusestandard-essential-patentsfrandantitrust+3 more
The Department of Justice approved Cigna’s $52 billion acquisition of Express Scripts, one of the three largest pharmacy benefit managers, completing the deal announced in March 2018. Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim stated that after a six-month investigation reviewing over two …
CignaExpress ScriptsDepartment of JusticeMakan DelrahimDavid Cordanihealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustregulatory-capture+2 more
On July 18, 2018, the European Commission imposed a record €4.34 billion ($5 billion) fine on Google for breaching EU antitrust rules through three separate illegal practices involving its Android mobile operating system. The penalty was the largest antitrust fine ever imposed globally, exceeding …
GoogleEuropean CommissionMargrethe VestagerSundar PichaiAndroid phone manufacturers+2 moregoogleandroidantitrusteumobile-monopoly+3 more
Bayer AG completed its $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto after receiving antitrust approval from U.S. and European regulators, consolidating the agricultural seeds and chemicals industry from the “Big Six” into a “Big Four” oligopoly controlling over 60% of global seed …
Bayer AGMonsantoDepartment of JusticeAntitrust DivisionEuropean Commission+1 moreantitrustconsolidationmergeragricultureoligopoly+4 more
Northrop Grumman completed its $9.2 billion acquisition of Orbital ATK on June 6, 2018, gaining control of the premier supplier of solid rocket motors essential for missile systems and creating anticompetitive market dominance that the Federal Trade Commission warned would “reduce competition …
Northrop GrummanOrbital ATKFederal Trade CommissionDepartment of DefenseBoeingmilitary-industrial complexdefense contractorsmonopoly powermergers and acquisitionsantitrust+2 more
On May 4, 2018, Axon Enterprise acquired VieVu LLC, its primary competitor in the police body camera industry, for $7.1 million ($4.6 million cash and $2.5 million in stock) plus performance-based milestone payments of 141,000 additional shares. The acquisition eliminated meaningful competition in …
AxonVieVuSafariland GroupNYPDMiami-Dade Police+1 moreaxonvievubody-camerasmonopolysurveillance+2 more
CVS Health announced its $69 billion acquisition of health insurer Aetna (with debt, $77 billion total), marking the largest healthcare merger in U.S. history and accelerating vertical integration in pharmacy benefit management. Under the deal, Aetna shareholders would receive $145 in cash plus …
CVS HealthAetnaLarry MerloMark BertoliniDepartment of Justicehealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustregulatory-capture+2 more
The Federal Trade Commission approved Amazon’s $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market on August 23, 2017, without an in-depth investigation. This decision demonstrated regulatory challenges in addressing 21st-century tech monopolies, as the FTC did not find substantial anticompetitive …
On June 27, 2017, the European Commission imposed a record-breaking €2.42 billion ($2.7 billion) fine on Google for abusing its dominance in general internet search by systematically favoring its own comparison shopping service over those of competitors. The decision concluded a 7-year investigation …
GoogleEuropean CommissionMargrethe VestagerSundar PichaiComparison shopping competitorsgoogleantitrusteugoogle-shoppingsearch-manipulation+3 more
In January 2017, diabetes patients filed a federal antitrust class action lawsuit alleging that the three pharmaceutical manufacturers controlling 99% of the U.S. insulin market—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—conspired to raise insulin prices in near-lockstep coordination, increasing prices by …
Eli LillyNovo NordiskSanofiCVS CaremarkExpress Scripts+1 morehealthcarepharmaceutical-price-gougingantitrustcorporate-crimeregulatory-capture
Anheuser-Busch InBev completed its $107 billion acquisition of SABMiller, the largest-ever deal in the beer industry, after receiving antitrust approval requiring divestiture of SABMiller’s U.S. business (MillerCoors stake) to Molson Coors. The merger consolidated the global beer industry into …
Anheuser-Busch InBevSABMillerMolson CoorsDepartment of JusticeAntitrust Divisionantitrustconsolidationmergerbeer-industryduopoly+2 more
Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19 billion, the largest tech acquisition to date, eliminating its primary competitor in mobile messaging and consolidating monopoly control over personal communications platforms. The FTC approves the acquisition without structural separation requirements despite …
FacebookMark ZuckerbergWhatsAppJan KoumBrian Acton+1 morefacebookwhatsappantitrustmergermonopolization+4 more
The Department of Justice approved American Airlines’ merger with US Airways after initially suing to block the deal, completing a five-year consolidation wave that reduced major U.S. airlines from seven to four dominant carriers controlling three-quarters of the commercial air travel market. …
American AirlinesUS AirwaysDepartment of JusticeAntitrust Divisionantitrustconsolidationmergeroligopolyregulatory-capture+2 more
The Supreme Court ruled 5-3 in FTC v. Actavis that the Federal Trade Commission could bring antitrust challenges against “pay-for-delay” agreements where brand-name drug manufacturers pay generic competitors to delay bringing cheaper alternatives to market. The decision reversed lower …
Supreme Court of the United StatesFederal Trade CommissionSolvay PharmaceuticalsActavisWatson Pharmaceuticals+1 morepharmaceutical-industrypatent-abuseregulatory-captureantitrustsupreme-court+2 more
The Federal Trade Commission closed its 19-month antitrust investigation of Google without bringing charges, despite internal staff recommendations for legal action. With 230 White House meetings in 2012-2013, Google demonstrated unprecedented political access, ultimately avoiding significant …
Federal Trade CommissionGoogle Inc.Larry PageEric SchmidtFTC Staff Attorneys+2 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustgoogleftc+2 more
Facebook acquired photo-sharing app Instagram for billion, implementing what the FTC would later characterize as a ‘buy or bury’ strategy to eliminate competitive threats. Internal emails revealed CEO Mark Zuckerberg explicitly stated the acquisition was motivated by a desire to …
Facebook Inc.Mark ZuckerbergInstagram Inc.Kevin SystromMike Krieger+1 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustfacebookmeta+1 more
The Department of Justice approved Delta Air Lines’ $2.6 billion stock-swap merger with Northwest Airlines, creating the world’s largest airline and triggering a decade-long consolidation wave that would reduce major U.S. carriers from ten to four dominant players controlling …
Delta Air LinesNorthwest AirlinesDepartment of JusticeAntitrust Divisionantitrustconsolidationmergeroligopolyregulatory-capture+2 more