DOJ will soon conclude a criminal case against companies using search algorithms to effectuate price fixing, creating an anticompetitive effect, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim told lawmakers Wednesday. Calling the case “the first of its kind,” he declined to name the companies involved, during a hearing on tech platform antitrust concerns. “We actually have a case, a criminal case, that’s going to be coming to a conclusion in the next two weeks,” he told the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee. Delrahim answered questions about various investigations of Google throughout the discussion.
DOJ can appear during oral argument in Apple’s appeal of a class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging it monopolized distribution of App Store applications (see 1806180053), the Supreme Court decided Monday in Apple v. Robert Pepper, et al., docket 17-204. The solicitor general in May asked the court to grant Apple's petition, arguing the 9th Circuit misapplied Illinois Brick preventing indirect purchasers from seeking certain antitrust damages passed on by third parties (see 1805090051). States have “allowed indirect purchasers to sue under state antitrust law, leading to decades of experience that contradict the predictions and policy judgments underlying Illinois Brick,” 31 states argued in favor of Pepper. Computer & Communications Industry Association argued in favor of Apple, saying pass-through harm leads to duplicative damages claims in conflict with the high court’s precedents. Illinois Brick “preserves standing for a direct purchaser to recover damages for overcharges, whether or not those charges are passed along to downstream customers,” BSA|The Software Alliance argued. Open Markets Institute argued “Apple falsely implies its app store is a neutral and open marketplace. … Through contractual and technical restrictions, the company compels owners of iPhones and developers of iPhone apps to conduct business solely on its App Store and on its terms.”
The House Commerce Committee is in contact with Facebook about a potential briefing with members this week on the recent breach (see 1810010032), a committee aide said Tuesday. A Senate Commerce Committee aide said his committee also expects a briefing with Facebook but declined to specify timing. Additionally, the House Judiciary Committee requested a bipartisan briefing from Facebook, an aide said Tuesday. The company didn’t comment.
FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and former Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen agreed Tuesday the agency needs more data security authority, though they largely offered competing views. At an Atlantic magazine event, Slaughter spoke of the agency’s inability to deter bad actors because of its lack of civil penalty and rulemaking authority.
DOJ can appear during oral argument in Apple’s appeal of a class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging it monopolized distribution of App Store applications (see 1806180053), the Supreme Court decided Monday in Apple v. Robert Pepper, et al., docket 17-204. The solicitor general in May asked the court to grant Apple's petition, arguing the 9th Circuit misapplied Illinois Brick preventing indirect purchasers from seeking certain antitrust damages passed on by third parties (see 1805090051). States have “allowed indirect purchasers to sue under state antitrust law, leading to decades of experience that contradict the predictions and policy judgments underlying Illinois Brick,” 31 states argued in favor of Pepper. Computer & Communications Industry Association argued in favor of Apple, saying pass-through harm leads to duplicative damages claims in conflict with the high court’s precedents. Illinois Brick “preserves standing for a direct purchaser to recover damages for overcharges, whether or not those charges are passed along to downstream customers,” BSA|The Software Alliance argued. Open Markets Institute argued “Apple falsely implies its app store is a neutral and open marketplace. … Through contractual and technical restrictions, the company compels owners of iPhones and developers of iPhone apps to conduct business solely on its App Store and on its terms.”
FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and former Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen agreed Tuesday the agency needs more data security authority, though they largely offered competing views. At an Atlantic magazine event, Slaughter spoke of the agency’s inability to deter bad actors because of its lack of civil penalty and rulemaking authority.
The House Commerce Committee is in contact with Facebook about a potential briefing with members this week on the recent breach (see 1810010032), a committee aide said Tuesday. A Senate Commerce Committee aide said his committee also expects a briefing with Facebook but declined to specify timing. Additionally, the House Judiciary Committee requested a bipartisan briefing from Facebook, an aide said Tuesday. The company didn’t comment.
DOJ can appear during oral argument in Apple’s appeal of a class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging it monopolized distribution of App Store applications (see 1806180053), the Supreme Court decided Monday in Apple v. Robert Pepper, et al., docket 17-204. The solicitor general in May asked the court to grant Apple's petition, arguing the 9th Circuit misapplied Illinois Brick preventing indirect purchasers from seeking certain antitrust damages passed on by third parties (see 1805090051). States have “allowed indirect purchasers to sue under state antitrust law, leading to decades of experience that contradict the predictions and policy judgments underlying Illinois Brick,” 31 states argued in favor of Pepper. Computer & Communications Industry Association argued in favor of Apple, saying pass-through harm leads to duplicative damages claims in conflict with the high court’s precedents. Illinois Brick “preserves standing for a direct purchaser to recover damages for overcharges, whether or not those charges are passed along to downstream customers,” BSA|The Software Alliance argued. Open Markets Institute argued “Apple falsely implies its app store is a neutral and open marketplace. … Through contractual and technical restrictions, the company compels owners of iPhones and developers of iPhone apps to conduct business solely on its App Store and on its terms.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee this fall. That came after meeting House Republicans Friday led by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. (see 1809270044).
Google CEO Sundar Pichai agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee this fall. That came after meeting House Republicans Friday led by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. (see 1809270044).