antitrust

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Chinese Law Muddles Microsoft Bid for Yahoo

New anti-trust regs could require review

(Newser) - A new anti-monopoly law in China could interfere with Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo, the New York Times reports. Because Yahoo owns 40% of Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce business, Beijing could demand approval of the deal along with the US and the EU. “I don’t think anyone...

Intel Testifies in EU Antitrust Hearings

CEO jets in to defend practices in Brussells

(Newser) - Intel officials testified before an EU antitrust commission yesterday in Brussels; the chipmaker is suspected of unfairly dominating the European market. Competitor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and consumer groups are testifying today, reports the Wall Street Journal. The commission will consider whether rebates Intel offered to retailers that didn’t...

Apple's iPhone Rules Restrict Competition

Banning of VoIP, browser bundling echoes antitrust cases

(Newser) - Apple’s iPhone software development kit is facing criticism from net neutrality and antitrust critics, Computerworld reports. Apple has indicated that voice-over-IP programs like Skype will not be allowed on the iPhone’s AT&T network, as its a direct competitor for AT&T’s voice service. Comcast, Computerworld points...

Microsoft Tries to Appease EU With Blueprints

But skeptical regulators say it's deja vu from US software giant

(Newser) - Microsoft plans to share the secrets of its most popular products, the company announced today, in an effort to satisfy EU regulators who want the software giant to improve its interoperability. The European Commission did cautiously applaud the move, but noted that Microsoft has already made at least four similar...

Microsoft Under More EU Fire
Microsoft Under More EU Fire

Microsoft Under More EU Fire

Company's push for Office approval in spotlight

(Newser) - Shortly after the EU announced two new antitrust probes focusing on Microsoft, investigators are scrutinizing the company again. In question this time is whether Microsoft broke antitrust laws during a push last year to get its Office software file format approved as an international standard, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Labels Want to Beat iTunes but Feds Say, Slow Down

Justice Department begins inquiry into 'Total Music' plan

(Newser) - The latest music industry initiative to beat iTunes, Universal’s Total Music plan, is facing a Justice Department inquiry before it’s even out of the concept stage. Universal and Sony have gotten DOJ letters of inquiry, reports the Wall Street Journal. It’s uncertain what aspect of Total Music...

2 Airline Mega Mergers Prepare for Takeoff

Delta-Northwest marriage looms; United eyes Continental

(Newser) - The airline industry is bracing for what would be a mammoth double wedding, as merger talks between Delta and Northwest airlines shift into second gear, and Continental and United Airlines begin their courtship. Currently on the Delta-Northwest plate is a market price stock-for-stock transaction, with no premium for either company,...

Google to Microsoft: Not So Fast
Google to Microsoft:
Not So Fast

Google to Microsoft: Not So Fast

Web giant steps in, offers to help Yahoo rebuff rival's advances

(Newser) - Google is offering to help Yahoo thwart Microsoft’s attempts at a hostile takeover, the Wall Street Journal reports. After Microsoft announced its $44.6-billion bid, Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt called Yahoo’s Jerry Yang on Friday to bolster talk of an ad search alliance, support Yahoo’s efforts...

EU Goes After Microsoft (Yes, Again)

New investigation comes just months after court victory over company

(Newser) - The European Commission today again took aim at Microsoft, launching its first new antitrust investigations since the 1990s. Two probes will expand the principles of the last EU court victory over Microsoft—which a court upheld 4 months ago—to Office, Microsoft’s email tools, and Internet Explorer, reports the...

New York Latest to Investigate Intel Practices

Chip-maker's effort to squeeze competition is focus of probes

(Newser) - With proceedings already underway against Intel Corp. in Europe and Asia, New York's attorney general today began formally investigating whether the world's largest computer chip-maker has broken state and federal antitrust laws, Reuters reports. “Our investigation is focused on determining whether Intel has improperly used monopoly power to exclude...

Intel Answers Antitrust Charges
Intel Answers Antitrust Charges

Intel Answers Antitrust Charges

Chip maker requests hearing

(Newser) - Intel has filed a response to the European Union antitrust objections, reports Ars Technica. While the contents have been kept under wraps, Intel did confirm that it is seeking a hearing before the European Commission. Intel has been under investigation since 2005 for practices including offering heavy discounts to retailers...

Chocolate Makers Face Sticky Probe
Chocolate Makers Face Sticky Probe

Chocolate Makers Face Sticky Probe

US and Canada investigate possible price-fixing

(Newser) - Following a similar investigation in Canada last month, the Justice Department has launched a probe into possible price-fixing in the US chocolate industry. The suspects form a rich, creamy lineup: M&M maker Mars acknowledged it has been contacted by the DOJ, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nestle, too, says...

Europe Blocks DoubleClick Deal
Europe Blocks DoubleClick Deal

Europe Blocks DoubleClick Deal

DoubleClick acquisition held up for review

(Newser) - European antitrust regulators have put up a roadblock to Google’s $3.1 billion bid for internet ad giant DoubleClick, ruling that it needs to be reviewed before approval. The US has yet to approve the deal, though Brazilian and Australian regulators signed off on it. Google already controls 70%...

Microsoft Caves on EU Antitrust Suit
Microsoft Caves on EU Antitrust Suit

Microsoft Caves on EU Antitrust Suit

Must allow even open-source software developers access to Windows

(Newser) - Microsoft is conceding its 9-year antitrust battle with the EU after striking a deal that will force the software giant to license its software secrets to anyone who asks at drastically reduced rates. In exchange, the EU has stopped the daily variable fines of up to 3 million euro that...

Microsoft Rips Google Over Ad Service Bid

Tech titans have different spins on DoubleClick deal

(Newser) - A Senate antitrust panel heard testimony today on Google's proposed takeover of internet ad broker DoubleClick, the Wall Street Journal reports, including a not-so-friendly broadside from Microsoft, a snubbed DoubleClick suitor. Google's chief legal officer said the $3.1 billion deal wouldn't create an internet advertising monolith, as the companies...

Microsoft Ruling in Europe Major Blow to Tech Giants

Court upholds record fine and order to share codes

(Newser) - A European Union appeals court yesterday upheld an anti-trust decision against Microsoft, leaving intact a record $689 million fine and and a challenge to how it does business in Europe, the New York Times reports. The decision has huge repercussions for other tech giants as the European Union seeks to...

EU Court Upholds Record Microsoft Fine

Rejects appeal on $613M antitrust fine

(Newser) - A European Union court today rejected Microsoft's appeal of  the $613-million anti-trust fine handed down in 2004--the largest fine ever imposed by EU regulators. Microsoft will also have to share communication code with rivals and start selling copies of Windows without its Media Player program. Microsoft is expected to appeal...

Microsoft, EU Await Landmark Antitrust Decree

Verdict could change firm's business model, or embarrass EU

(Newser) - Microsoft execs will be waiting to hear if they won an antitrust appeal against the EU tomorrow, the BBC reports. A 2004 probe declared the tech giant guilty of abusing its industry status and fined it $690 million. If Microsoft pulls off a victory, analysts say, the EU commission will...

Airlines Plead Guilty of Price Fixing

British Airways and Korean Air socked with $300M fines in ongoing investigation

(Newser) - British Airways and Korean Air have agreed to plead guilty and pay $300 million each in criminal fines for engaging in massive conspiracies to fix the prices of passenger and cargo flights for the past six years, the US Justice Department said yesterday. BA will pony up another $247million fine...

Google Complaint Spurs Vista Revision

Microsoft responds to antitrust action with change to desktop search feature

(Newser) - Microsoft has caved in to Google's antitrust complaints and agreed to alter the search tools in its new Vista operating system by the end of the year. The move is a victory for Google, which complained to antitrust regulators that Vista's hard-drive indexing was difficult to switch off and made...

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