Articles Posted in Civil Non-Merger Highlights

On January 16, 2008 the European Commission (the “Commission”) announced that it launched an inquiry into the pharmaceuticals sector under Article 17 of Regulation (EC) 1/2003. The Commission is concerned that competition within the pharmaceuticals sector may be restricted or distorted. In particular, the Commission highlighted the decline of innovation. In its announcement, the Commission…

Opera, a Norwegian developer of web-browsers, filed a complaint against Microsoft with the European Commission (the “Commission”) claiming Microsoft is abusing its dominant position by tying its browser, Internet Explorer, to the Windows operating system and by hindering interoperability by not following accepted Web standards. The developer asked the Commission to require Microsoft to unbundle…

The Federal Trade Commission stopped a father, his two sons, and their network of companies from deceptively selling a healthcare business opportunity with false promises of earning up to a million dollars in profits. In addition, the FTC halted their sale of an herbal tea product, marketed with claims that it could prevent, treat, or…

On September 21, 2007, Federal Trade Commission advised the Greater Rochester Independent Practice Association, Inc. (GRIPA), that it had no present intention to challenge the organization’s planned conversion to a non-exclusive physician network joint venture. GRIPA requested a staff advisory opinion regarding its proposal to combine and coordinate the provision of medical services to patients.…

On July, 25 President Bush signed a bill that will reinforce the review process of foreign acquisitions in the United States, and secure an open environment for foreign investment that is critical to the U.S. economy. The final law does not alter the review period of the first and second stages of the process, and…

On May 23, Bureau of Economics Director Michael A. Salinger described the FTC’s initiatives to protect competitive markets in the production, distribution, and sale of gasoline through the agency’s comprehensive merger program on behalf of the FTC before the U.S. Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. Although the FTC does not regulate energy market sectors, the agency…

On May 22, Commissioner William E. Kovacic detailed the FTC’s varied initiatives to protect competitive markets in the production, distribution, and sale of gasoline and other petroleum products before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The petroleum industry plays a crucial role in our…

On May 8, the DOJ reached a settlement with Allied Waste Industries Inc., the second largest non-hazardous solid waste management company in the United States, with annual revenues of $6 billion. Allied agreed to pay $125,000 for its alleged violations of a 2000 consent decree entered in connection with Allied’s acquisition of Browning-Ferris Industries Inc.…

On May 8, the DOJ and the FTC issued a joint report, “Competition in the Real Estate Brokerage Industry,” to inform consumers and others involved in the industry about important competition issues involving residential real estate, including the impact of the Internet, the competitive structure of the real estate brokerage industry, and obstacles to a…