In July 2023, near the peak of animosity between scribes and studios during the writers strike, a picket outside ABC’s The View in New York welcomed an ally: Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan. Behind closed doors, the writers union had been sharing concerns of a wave of mergers that it said left just a handful of studios like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon as the lone arbiters of which movies and TV shows are made, what consumers watch and how they can watch it. Flanked by protest signs name-checking Wbd boss David Zaslav to “just give up one yacht” and chants embracing themes of “exploitation,” “concentrated power” and “corporate giants,” Khan delivered a fiery speech that also effectively served as a signal to moguls seeking more mergers and acquisitions.
Since that time, feverish speculation has centered on Shari Redstone relinquishing control of Paramount Global in a megadeal or Warner Bros.
Since that time, feverish speculation has centered on Shari Redstone relinquishing control of Paramount Global in a megadeal or Warner Bros.
- 3/14/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
San Francisco, July 26 (Ians) The Lina Khan-led Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US is reportedly finalising a massive antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, a move that could break up parts of the e-commerce giant.
According to a report in Politico, citing people close to the matter, the “wide-ranging lawsuit is expected as soon as August, and will likely challenge a host of Amazon’s business practices”.
The lawsuit might lead to a court-ordered “restructuring of the $1.3 trillion empire”, the report noted.
The FTC has been investigating Amazon for a long time. Among the potential claims are allegations similar to existing cases like Amazon’s rules requiring third-party retailers to offer their lowest prices on its platform.
“The complaint is likely to focus on challenges to Amazon Prime, Amazon rules that the FTC says block lower prices on competing websites, and policies the FTC believes force merchants to use Amazon’s logistics and advertising services,...
According to a report in Politico, citing people close to the matter, the “wide-ranging lawsuit is expected as soon as August, and will likely challenge a host of Amazon’s business practices”.
The lawsuit might lead to a court-ordered “restructuring of the $1.3 trillion empire”, the report noted.
The FTC has been investigating Amazon for a long time. Among the potential claims are allegations similar to existing cases like Amazon’s rules requiring third-party retailers to offer their lowest prices on its platform.
“The complaint is likely to focus on challenges to Amazon Prime, Amazon rules that the FTC says block lower prices on competing websites, and policies the FTC believes force merchants to use Amazon’s logistics and advertising services,...
- 7/26/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The Joe Biden-era Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department have a mixed record in the courts when it comes to fighting mergers, but proposed new guidelines signal a continued effort to slow or block corporate consolidation.
FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan and DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter are expected to be at the White House on Wednesday as President Joe Biden unveiled the proposals as part of a series of steps to boost competition.
The draft guidelines are not new laws, but are policies for how the FTC and the DOJ evaluate proposed mergers. A senior administration official said that they were updating “our framework to match market realities,” noting that “we’ve seen all too often blind spots that led to missed opportunities” and led to greater corporate concentration.
Included in the 13 proposed guidelines unveiled on Wednesday was one aimed at tech platforms: “When a merger involved a multi-sided platform,...
FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan and DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter are expected to be at the White House on Wednesday as President Joe Biden unveiled the proposals as part of a series of steps to boost competition.
The draft guidelines are not new laws, but are policies for how the FTC and the DOJ evaluate proposed mergers. A senior administration official said that they were updating “our framework to match market realities,” noting that “we’ve seen all too often blind spots that led to missed opportunities” and led to greater corporate concentration.
Included in the 13 proposed guidelines unveiled on Wednesday was one aimed at tech platforms: “When a merger involved a multi-sided platform,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Washington, July 15 (Ians) Republicans came to defend Twitter owner Elon Musk during a hearing in an investigation by Lina Khan-led Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into Twitter over alleged user privacy failures and terminating a settlement the platform entered into with the FTC last year.
The House Judiciary Committee hearing came after Musk asked a federal court to end the FTC’s investigation into Twitter, reports The Verge.
“Why are you harassing Twitter?” Republican Jim Jordan (R-Oh) and committee chair asked Khan during the hearing.
“This wasn’t harassment. It was a shakedown,” he said.
Khan responded, saying the FTC imposed the privacy restrictions Musk cursed more than a decade ago.
“Twitter has a history of lax security and privacy policies,” she was quoted as saying.
Jordan called Khan’s leadership a “disaster” and suggested that the FTC’s Twitter probe was politically motivated.
Republicans also criticised FTC’s...
The House Judiciary Committee hearing came after Musk asked a federal court to end the FTC’s investigation into Twitter, reports The Verge.
“Why are you harassing Twitter?” Republican Jim Jordan (R-Oh) and committee chair asked Khan during the hearing.
“This wasn’t harassment. It was a shakedown,” he said.
Khan responded, saying the FTC imposed the privacy restrictions Musk cursed more than a decade ago.
“Twitter has a history of lax security and privacy policies,” she was quoted as saying.
Jordan called Khan’s leadership a “disaster” and suggested that the FTC’s Twitter probe was politically motivated.
Republicans also criticised FTC’s...
- 7/15/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating OpenAI’s ChatGPT over whether the artificial intelligence platform that’s been dominating headlines can harm people by publishing false information about them. It’s the latest pushback against fast-moving, still-evolving AI technology that’s disrupting copyright and privacy law and business practices across industries, including Hollywood as SAG-AFTRA prepares to join the WGA on the picket lines.
The Washington Post first reported the probe, publishing the text of a 20-page letter it said the agency had sent to the company demanding records of how it handles risk related to its AI models. ChatGPT is one of the fastest growing consumer apps ever and tech giants are locking horns as they roll out competing chatbots and AI platforms.
The FTC has warned in various forums that it will be watching closely to see how chatbots comply with existing consumer protection laws, and made it...
The Washington Post first reported the probe, publishing the text of a 20-page letter it said the agency had sent to the company demanding records of how it handles risk related to its AI models. ChatGPT is one of the fastest growing consumer apps ever and tech giants are locking horns as they roll out competing chatbots and AI platforms.
The FTC has warned in various forums that it will be watching closely to see how chatbots comply with existing consumer protection laws, and made it...
- 7/13/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Update: The Federal Trade Commission is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that clears the way for Microsoft to complete its $69 billion merger with Activision.
The FTC filed a notice of appeal in the federal court on Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley largely rejected the government’s arguments against the Microsoft-Activision deal, including that it would lead to the combined company withholding popular titles like Call of Duty from rivals.
The deal still faces opposition from UK regulators, but Microsoft and Activision are looking at modifying the terms of their combination to appease concerns.
The merger proposal has a July 18 termination date.
The ruling was a setback to FTC chairwoman Lina Khan, who has tried to take a harder line against corporate consolidation in tech and other industries. She is scheduled to testify on Thursday at an oversight hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
Previously, July 11:...
The FTC filed a notice of appeal in the federal court on Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley largely rejected the government’s arguments against the Microsoft-Activision deal, including that it would lead to the combined company withholding popular titles like Call of Duty from rivals.
The deal still faces opposition from UK regulators, but Microsoft and Activision are looking at modifying the terms of their combination to appease concerns.
The merger proposal has a July 18 termination date.
The ruling was a setback to FTC chairwoman Lina Khan, who has tried to take a harder line against corporate consolidation in tech and other industries. She is scheduled to testify on Thursday at an oversight hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
Previously, July 11:...
- 7/12/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
San Francisco, June 30 (Ians) Lina Khan-run US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly set to file a major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, focused on the e-commerce giant’s core online marketplace and how it uses its power to favour merchants that use its logistics services.
The FTC is preparing the lawsuit, accusing Amazon of “leveraging its power to reward online merchants that use its logistics services and punish those who don’t,” reports Bloomberg.
The report described the upcoming lawsuit as “the big one,” following several earlier lawsuits filed by the FTC under Chairman Khan. The complaint against Amazon could be filed in the coming weeks.
The lawsuit is likely to allege that Amazon systematically disadvantages merchants who don’t use certain “optional” services like “Fulfilled by Amazon.”
Khan may try to force Amazon to “restructure” its business. “Based on her public comments, Khan is unlikely to accept compromises...
The FTC is preparing the lawsuit, accusing Amazon of “leveraging its power to reward online merchants that use its logistics services and punish those who don’t,” reports Bloomberg.
The report described the upcoming lawsuit as “the big one,” following several earlier lawsuits filed by the FTC under Chairman Khan. The complaint against Amazon could be filed in the coming weeks.
The lawsuit is likely to allege that Amazon systematically disadvantages merchants who don’t use certain “optional” services like “Fulfilled by Amazon.”
Khan may try to force Amazon to “restructure” its business. “Based on her public comments, Khan is unlikely to accept compromises...
- 6/30/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Meta Won Approval to Buy a Virtual Reality App, But FTC Laid Groundwork to Halt Big Tech’s Next Deal
The Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit to block Facebook parent company Meta’s acquisition of virtual reality app developer Within presented the court with a legal question that used to exist on the periphery of antitrust law and is now critical to the government’s efforts to rein in big tech: How to assess proposed deals by dominant firms in nascent markets.
During the seven-day trial in December where the FTC challenged the deal because it allegedly put Meta in prime position to monopolize VR fitness apps, the company questioned how the acquisition of one app in a developing market could harm competition. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila approved the deal in a blow to the agency’s bid to dismantle the tech giant but advanced one of its key legal theories arguing that the purchase of competitors in budding markets can hurt competition. Additionally, he agreed with the...
During the seven-day trial in December where the FTC challenged the deal because it allegedly put Meta in prime position to monopolize VR fitness apps, the company questioned how the acquisition of one app in a developing market could harm competition. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila approved the deal in a blow to the agency’s bid to dismantle the tech giant but advanced one of its key legal theories arguing that the purchase of competitors in budding markets can hurt competition. Additionally, he agreed with the...
- 2/7/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new Federal Trade Commission rule that would ban noncompetes nationwide could complicate Hollywood hiring, even though California already prohibits the clauses in most contracts.
On Jan. 5, the FTC released a proposed rule that would bar employers from making workers agree to noncompetes, which generally prevent them from taking jobs with competitors for a certain period of time after they leave the company. The agency says the clauses are a form of unfair competition in the labor market, lowering wages and stifling innovation, among other issues. The rule, as written, would apply to independent contractors and unpaid interns as well as employees, and it would make companies rescind noncompetes they’ve already secured.
“An overused term is actually appropriate here — it would be truly a sweeping sea change,” says Molly Lens, co-head of O’Melveny’s entertainment, sports and media group. “Less so for California, which already prohibits the use...
On Jan. 5, the FTC released a proposed rule that would bar employers from making workers agree to noncompetes, which generally prevent them from taking jobs with competitors for a certain period of time after they leave the company. The agency says the clauses are a form of unfair competition in the labor market, lowering wages and stifling innovation, among other issues. The rule, as written, would apply to independent contractors and unpaid interns as well as employees, and it would make companies rescind noncompetes they’ve already secured.
“An overused term is actually appropriate here — it would be truly a sweeping sea change,” says Molly Lens, co-head of O’Melveny’s entertainment, sports and media group. “Less so for California, which already prohibits the use...
- 1/12/2023
- by Ashley Cullins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Washington, Dec 21 (Ians) Lina Khan-led US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) grilled Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a hearing about the company’s acquisition of virtual reality (VR) company called Within that owns the popular fitness app ‘Supernatural’.
Zuckerberg told FTC authorities during the hearing that fitness is not his priority in the VR space and he would rather focus on social, gaming and productivity use cases, reports TechCrunch.
In July, the FTC had sued Meta in an attempt to block the deal, saying it was an anti-competitive move.
Meta is currently losing billions of dollars per quarter on its VR projects.
“Instead of competing on the merits, Meta is trying to buy its way to the top,” according to John Newman, Deputy Director, FTC Bureau of Competition.
“Meta already owns a best-selling virtual reality fitness app, and it had the capabilities to compete even more closely with Within’s popular Supernatural app.
Zuckerberg told FTC authorities during the hearing that fitness is not his priority in the VR space and he would rather focus on social, gaming and productivity use cases, reports TechCrunch.
In July, the FTC had sued Meta in an attempt to block the deal, saying it was an anti-competitive move.
Meta is currently losing billions of dollars per quarter on its VR projects.
“Instead of competing on the merits, Meta is trying to buy its way to the top,” according to John Newman, Deputy Director, FTC Bureau of Competition.
“Meta already owns a best-selling virtual reality fitness app, and it had the capabilities to compete even more closely with Within’s popular Supernatural app.
- 12/21/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick both said they’re confident their 69 billion merger will close, despite news that the antitrust-buster FTC plans to challenge it in court.
“This sounds alarming, so I want to reinforce my confidence that this deal will close,” Kotick said in a memo to employees. “The allegation that this deal is anti-competitive doesn’t align with the facts, and we believe we’ll win this challenge.”
Smith said Microsoft has “been committed since Day One to addressing competitive concerns, including by offering earlier this week proposed concessions to the FTC. While we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court.”
Kotick’s memo:
Team,
I wanted to provide a brief update on our pending merger with Microsoft. This week the U.S.
“This sounds alarming, so I want to reinforce my confidence that this deal will close,” Kotick said in a memo to employees. “The allegation that this deal is anti-competitive doesn’t align with the facts, and we believe we’ll win this challenge.”
Smith said Microsoft has “been committed since Day One to addressing competitive concerns, including by offering earlier this week proposed concessions to the FTC. While we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court.”
Kotick’s memo:
Team,
I wanted to provide a brief update on our pending merger with Microsoft. This week the U.S.
- 12/8/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
San Francisco, July 7 (Ians) Top US Senators have called on Lina Khan, Chairperson of Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to investigate short-video making app TikTok over its alleged data sharing practices with China-based workers. In a letter to Khan, Senators Mark Warner (D-va) and Marco Rubio (R-fl), Senate Intelligence Committee leaders, said that individuals in […]...
- 7/7/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Mindy Kaling, Simu Liu, HoYeon Jung, Blackpink, Olivia Rodrigo and more are among those honored on Gold House’s 2022 most impactful Asians A100 list.
The A100 List honors trailblazers who are at the forefront of what the organization calls the “new gold age.” The honorees are selected across industry categories, and for the first time ever, Gold House will celebrate these honorees in-person and announce several new initiatives at the inaugural Gold Gala on May 21 in downtown Los Angeles.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said in a statement, “Our differences are our greatest strengths, and recognizing representation in entertainment and amplifying the voices and contributions of our Aapi community is of the highest importance. I could not be more proud of my Black and Samoan heritage, and one of my greatest passions in life is enriching my daughters’ lives with our people’s history so they also understand the importance of...
The A100 List honors trailblazers who are at the forefront of what the organization calls the “new gold age.” The honorees are selected across industry categories, and for the first time ever, Gold House will celebrate these honorees in-person and announce several new initiatives at the inaugural Gold Gala on May 21 in downtown Los Angeles.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said in a statement, “Our differences are our greatest strengths, and recognizing representation in entertainment and amplifying the voices and contributions of our Aapi community is of the highest importance. I could not be more proud of my Black and Samoan heritage, and one of my greatest passions in life is enriching my daughters’ lives with our people’s history so they also understand the importance of...
- 5/2/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: Amazon on Thursday morning announced that it closed its $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM. But the deal may not be out of the regulatory woods yet.
The Federal Trade Commission, asked about its review of Amazon’s MGM acquisition, noted that the agency has the latitude to file a legal challenge even after the parties have closed a transaction. “The FTC does not comment on any particular matters. However, we reiterate that the Commission does not approve transactions and may challenge a deal at any time if [the agency] determines that it violates the law,” FTC spokesperson Betsy Lordan said in a statement to Variety.
Later Thursday, Politico reported that the FTC won’t challenge Amazon’s MGM deal after the agency’s current four commissioners were split on bringing a suit. FTC Chair Lina Khan, who has been an outspoken critic of big tech companies including Amazon, “never called for an...
The Federal Trade Commission, asked about its review of Amazon’s MGM acquisition, noted that the agency has the latitude to file a legal challenge even after the parties have closed a transaction. “The FTC does not comment on any particular matters. However, we reiterate that the Commission does not approve transactions and may challenge a deal at any time if [the agency] determines that it violates the law,” FTC spokesperson Betsy Lordan said in a statement to Variety.
Later Thursday, Politico reported that the FTC won’t challenge Amazon’s MGM deal after the agency’s current four commissioners were split on bringing a suit. FTC Chair Lina Khan, who has been an outspoken critic of big tech companies including Amazon, “never called for an...
- 3/17/2022
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon has won unconditional EU antitrust approval for its $8.5 billion acquisition of storied U.S. movie studio MGM, the European Commission said Tuesday.
It said the deal would not pose competition concerns in Europe.
That’s a big hurdle passed for the merger, announced last May. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission must still weigh in and is reportedly on the cusp of a deadline to contest the deal or not to – the latter amounting to a tacit greenlight.
“We’re pleased with the Commission’s decision and, with MGM, look forward to providing more choice of quality entertainment for viewers,” an Amazon spokesperson said.
The e-commerce giant with its massive market cap of $1.4 trillion is buying the century-old studio behind the James Bond and Rocky franchises from investors led by Anchorage Capital, whose founder Kevin Ulrich is chairman of MGM. The deal is the first in what had been...
It said the deal would not pose competition concerns in Europe.
That’s a big hurdle passed for the merger, announced last May. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission must still weigh in and is reportedly on the cusp of a deadline to contest the deal or not to – the latter amounting to a tacit greenlight.
“We’re pleased with the Commission’s decision and, with MGM, look forward to providing more choice of quality entertainment for viewers,” an Amazon spokesperson said.
The e-commerce giant with its massive market cap of $1.4 trillion is buying the century-old studio behind the James Bond and Rocky franchises from investors led by Anchorage Capital, whose founder Kevin Ulrich is chairman of MGM. The deal is the first in what had been...
- 3/15/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
A federal judge will allow an antitrust lawsuit brought by the federal government against Facebook to move forward, concluding that the Federal Trade Commission met the threshold for putting forward a valid claim of the platform’s anticompetitive conduct.
The ruling (read it here) by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg was a bit of a surprise, as last summer he tossed out the FTC’s lawsuit, calling it “legally insufficient.” But the FTC filed an amended lawsuit in August, and Boasberg wrote that it “has now cleared the pleading bar and may proceed to discovery.”
The lawsuit is one of a number of actions facing Facebook and other major tech platforms, as federal agencies and lawmakers vow to try to rein in their power. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote later this month on bipartisan antitrust legislation aimed at preventing tech giants from giving preference to their...
The ruling (read it here) by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg was a bit of a surprise, as last summer he tossed out the FTC’s lawsuit, calling it “legally insufficient.” But the FTC filed an amended lawsuit in August, and Boasberg wrote that it “has now cleared the pleading bar and may proceed to discovery.”
The lawsuit is one of a number of actions facing Facebook and other major tech platforms, as federal agencies and lawmakers vow to try to rein in their power. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote later this month on bipartisan antitrust legislation aimed at preventing tech giants from giving preference to their...
- 1/11/2022
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
The Strategic Organizing Center (Soc), a federation of labor unions repping close to 4 million workers, Wednesday called on the Federal Trade Commission to reject Amazon’s proposed $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM as a newly vigilant FTC is in the process of scrutinizing the deal that was announced in May.
In a letter sent to the acting director of the FTC’s Competition Bureau, Holly Vedova, Soc Executive Director Michael Zucker claims that Amazon has already employed anti-competitive practices in the streaming video-on-demand market and the proposed deal would let it further leverage its power to the detriment of consumers, competitors and the film industry. Soc (formerly Change to Win) includes the Teamsters, Communications Workers of American (Cwa), United Farmworkers of America and Service Employees International Union.
“Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM would further bolster Amazon’s ability to leverage power across multiple lines of business related to the SVOD...
In a letter sent to the acting director of the FTC’s Competition Bureau, Holly Vedova, Soc Executive Director Michael Zucker claims that Amazon has already employed anti-competitive practices in the streaming video-on-demand market and the proposed deal would let it further leverage its power to the detriment of consumers, competitors and the film industry. Soc (formerly Change to Win) includes the Teamsters, Communications Workers of American (Cwa), United Farmworkers of America and Service Employees International Union.
“Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM would further bolster Amazon’s ability to leverage power across multiple lines of business related to the SVOD...
- 8/11/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
A group of four major labor unions representing almost 4 million workers is urging the Federal Trade Commission to block Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM.
In a 12-page letter sent Wednesday to the FTC, the unions’ Strategic Organizing Center (Soc) argued Amazon’s $8.45 billion takeover of MGM should be blocked to prevent Amazon from amassing more power in the entertainment industry and exploiting that through anticompetitive business practices.
“Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM would further bolster Amazon’s ability to leverage power across multiple lines of business related to the SVOD market and create further harmful vertical integration in the film industry at large,” Soc executive director Michael Zucker wrote in the letter.
The Soc represents four affiliated unions: the Service Employees International Union (Seiu), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Communications Workers of America (Cwa) and the United Farmworkers.
The labor coalition alleges that Amazon currently engages in...
In a 12-page letter sent Wednesday to the FTC, the unions’ Strategic Organizing Center (Soc) argued Amazon’s $8.45 billion takeover of MGM should be blocked to prevent Amazon from amassing more power in the entertainment industry and exploiting that through anticompetitive business practices.
“Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM would further bolster Amazon’s ability to leverage power across multiple lines of business related to the SVOD market and create further harmful vertical integration in the film industry at large,” Soc executive director Michael Zucker wrote in the letter.
The Soc represents four affiliated unions: the Service Employees International Union (Seiu), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Communications Workers of America (Cwa) and the United Farmworkers.
The labor coalition alleges that Amazon currently engages in...
- 8/11/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
As the Federal Trade Commission examines Amazon’s proposed $8.45 billion buy of MGM, pressure from unions and progressive politicians is mounting on the regulator to take action, either by blocking the deal or requiring the company to abide by conditions such as decoupling Amazon Prime Video from the rest of Prime to secure approval.
The latest salvo comes from the Strategic Organizing Center, a federation of labor unions that includes the Communications Workers of America and the Teamsters. In a letter to be sent to FTC chair Lina Khan on Aug. 11, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Soc executive director Michael Zucker ...
The latest salvo comes from the Strategic Organizing Center, a federation of labor unions that includes the Communications Workers of America and the Teamsters. In a letter to be sent to FTC chair Lina Khan on Aug. 11, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Soc executive director Michael Zucker ...
- 8/11/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
As the Federal Trade Commission examines Amazon’s proposed $8.45 billion buy of MGM, pressure from unions and progressive politicians is mounting on the regulator to take action, either by blocking the deal or requiring the company to abide by conditions such as decoupling Amazon Prime Video from the rest of Prime to secure approval.
The latest salvo comes from the Strategic Organizing Center, a federation of labor unions that includes the Communications Workers of America and the Teamsters. In a letter to be sent to FTC chair Lina Khan on Aug. 11, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Soc executive director Michael Zucker ...
The latest salvo comes from the Strategic Organizing Center, a federation of labor unions that includes the Communications Workers of America and the Teamsters. In a letter to be sent to FTC chair Lina Khan on Aug. 11, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Soc executive director Michael Zucker ...
- 8/11/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Second Update, 2:34 Pm Pt: The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission will review merger guidelines in the wake of President Joe Biden’s executive order, promising “a hard look to determine whether they are overly permissive,” in the words of a joint statement.
That has obvious potential implications for some pending media mergers, including Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM, and Discovery’s combination with WarnerMedia.
Much depends on just what any new guidelines are, but it’s pretty clear that the political environment, at least, is far different that it was ten years ago, when Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal was approved, and perhaps even from a few years ago, when The Walt Disney Co. got the greenlight to acquire many of the Fox assets.
Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute, noted that the DOJ and FTC will be looking at both horizontal and vertical merger guidelines.
That has obvious potential implications for some pending media mergers, including Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM, and Discovery’s combination with WarnerMedia.
Much depends on just what any new guidelines are, but it’s pretty clear that the political environment, at least, is far different that it was ten years ago, when Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal was approved, and perhaps even from a few years ago, when The Walt Disney Co. got the greenlight to acquire many of the Fox assets.
Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute, noted that the DOJ and FTC will be looking at both horizontal and vertical merger guidelines.
- 7/9/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon formally asked the Federal Trade Commission to block recently appointed agency chair Lina Khan — an outspoken critic of Amazon and other tech giants — from participating in antitrust reviews involving the company because she has shown a demonstrable bias against Amazon.
Amazon on Wednesday filed a motion requesting Khan’s recusal with the FTC on Wednesday, as first reported by Bloomberg News. In the filing, the ecommerce company noted that Khan has made public comments about Amazon and its conduct, including that the company is “guilty of antitrust violations and should be broken up.”
In a statement to CNBC, an Amazon rep said, “While we have the utmost respect for FTC Chair Khan, her work for the Open Markets Institute (a longtime Amazon critic), law journal articles, and role as a chief author of the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Subcommittee report [released in October 2020] all reflect preconceived views about the company that she...
Amazon on Wednesday filed a motion requesting Khan’s recusal with the FTC on Wednesday, as first reported by Bloomberg News. In the filing, the ecommerce company noted that Khan has made public comments about Amazon and its conduct, including that the company is “guilty of antitrust violations and should be broken up.”
In a statement to CNBC, an Amazon rep said, “While we have the utmost respect for FTC Chair Khan, her work for the Open Markets Institute (a longtime Amazon critic), law journal articles, and role as a chief author of the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Subcommittee report [released in October 2020] all reflect preconceived views about the company that she...
- 6/30/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon is demanding that Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan recuse herself from the agency’s review of the tech giant’s purchase of MGM Studios because of her previous public statements against the company.
“Given her long track record of detailed pronouncements about Amazon, and her repeated proclamations that Amazon has violated the antitrust laws, a reasonable observer would conclude that she no longer can consider the company’s antitrust defenses with an open mind,” Amazon wrote in a filing with the FTC on Wednesday.
A representative for the FTC did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
An Amazon spokesperson expanded on the company’s recusal request in a statement provided to TheWrap:
“While we have the utmost respect for FTC Chair Khan, her work for the Open Markets Institute (a longtime Amazon critic), law journal articles, and role as a chief author of the...
“Given her long track record of detailed pronouncements about Amazon, and her repeated proclamations that Amazon has violated the antitrust laws, a reasonable observer would conclude that she no longer can consider the company’s antitrust defenses with an open mind,” Amazon wrote in a filing with the FTC on Wednesday.
A representative for the FTC did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
An Amazon spokesperson expanded on the company’s recusal request in a statement provided to TheWrap:
“While we have the utmost respect for FTC Chair Khan, her work for the Open Markets Institute (a longtime Amazon critic), law journal articles, and role as a chief author of the...
- 6/30/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-ma) added her name to the chorus of lawmakers calling on government regulators to carefully scrutinize Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM, as she is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to take an “all-encompassing” approach to its review.
In a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan, first published by The Verge, Warren wrote that the FTC has taken a “narrow view” of such vertical transactions, “primarily focusing on price effects in the relevant product or service markets.” That is line with how other government entities have reviewed mergers, and a reason why Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods pretty much sailed through in 2017.
But Warren thinks that the FTC should take a broader view of the impact of the merger. She argued in her letter that Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 prohibits any acquisition whose effect “may be substantially to lessen competition, or to...
In a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan, first published by The Verge, Warren wrote that the FTC has taken a “narrow view” of such vertical transactions, “primarily focusing on price effects in the relevant product or service markets.” That is line with how other government entities have reviewed mergers, and a reason why Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods pretty much sailed through in 2017.
But Warren thinks that the FTC should take a broader view of the impact of the merger. She argued in her letter that Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 prohibits any acquisition whose effect “may be substantially to lessen competition, or to...
- 6/30/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan late Tuesday, asking the regulator to conduct a “broad and meticulous” review of Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM Studios. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Amazon demanded that Khan recuse herself from any matters relating to the company.
The FTC has been tasked with reviewing the $8.45 billion deal and will decide whether to approve it, fight it in court, or ask for other remedies.
“Amazon is a large and powerful acquirer with expansive operations; an investigation into the ramifications of this deal should include both its direct impacts on streaming services ...
The FTC has been tasked with reviewing the $8.45 billion deal and will decide whether to approve it, fight it in court, or ask for other remedies.
“Amazon is a large and powerful acquirer with expansive operations; an investigation into the ramifications of this deal should include both its direct impacts on streaming services ...
- 6/30/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan late Tuesday, asking the regulator to conduct a “broad and meticulous” review of Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM Studios. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Amazon demanded that Khan recuse herself from any matters relating to the company.
The FTC has been tasked with reviewing the $8.45 billion deal and will decide whether to approve it, fight it in court, or ask for other remedies.
“Amazon is a large and powerful acquirer with expansive operations; an investigation into the ramifications of this deal should include both its direct impacts on streaming services ...
The FTC has been tasked with reviewing the $8.45 billion deal and will decide whether to approve it, fight it in court, or ask for other remedies.
“Amazon is a large and powerful acquirer with expansive operations; an investigation into the ramifications of this deal should include both its direct impacts on streaming services ...
- 6/30/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Federal Trade Commission will review Amazon’s planned $8.45 billion deal with MGM, just as the agency has a new chairwoman who has called for reining in the power of the tech giant and other online platforms.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the FTC would review the transaction.
The FTC and the Justice Department have authority over antitrust issues, and have traditionally split up with entity will review major transactions.
A spokesperson for the FTC said that they “do not confirm the existence of investigations, and we have no further comment on this.” An Amazon spokesperson had no comment.
While antitrust experts have raised doubts about the government’s ability to block the merger, Amazon’s announcement that it planned to buy MGM drew criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill and calls for regulators to closely review the deal.
Amazon’s acquisition of MGM stunned the industry when it was announced last month.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the FTC would review the transaction.
The FTC and the Justice Department have authority over antitrust issues, and have traditionally split up with entity will review major transactions.
A spokesperson for the FTC said that they “do not confirm the existence of investigations, and we have no further comment on this.” An Amazon spokesperson had no comment.
While antitrust experts have raised doubts about the government’s ability to block the merger, Amazon’s announcement that it planned to buy MGM drew criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill and calls for regulators to closely review the deal.
Amazon’s acquisition of MGM stunned the industry when it was announced last month.
- 6/22/2021
- by Ted Johnson and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon’s $8.5 billion deal to acquire MGM will be subject to an antitrust review by the Federal Trade Commission, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources.
Last month, Amazon announced a definitive agreement to acquire MGM and its well-stocked library of 4,000 movies and 17,000 TV shows, including the storied James Bond film franchise.
The FTC and the Justice Department share oversight of reviewing the antitrust implications of significant proposed mergers and acquisitions. The FTC recently got the green light after a recent interagency meeting with the DOJ to review the Amazon-mgm deal, given that the FTC currently is leading a broader antitrust probe into Amazon’s business practices, per the WSJ report.
Amazon declined to comment on the Journal report. An FTC spokeswoman said the agency “does not confirm the existence of investigations, and we have no further comment on this.”
Word that the FTC will be heading up the...
Last month, Amazon announced a definitive agreement to acquire MGM and its well-stocked library of 4,000 movies and 17,000 TV shows, including the storied James Bond film franchise.
The FTC and the Justice Department share oversight of reviewing the antitrust implications of significant proposed mergers and acquisitions. The FTC recently got the green light after a recent interagency meeting with the DOJ to review the Amazon-mgm deal, given that the FTC currently is leading a broader antitrust probe into Amazon’s business practices, per the WSJ report.
Amazon declined to comment on the Journal report. An FTC spokeswoman said the agency “does not confirm the existence of investigations, and we have no further comment on this.”
Word that the FTC will be heading up the...
- 6/22/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
President Joe Biden on Tuesday named Lina Khan as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, just hours after she won Senate confirmation for a vacancy on the commission.
Khan is a major and outspoken critic of big tech conglomerates, and her confirmation in a 69-28 vote earlier in the day was a reflection of the bipartisanship when it comes to concerns that Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple have become too large.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-mn) announced the appointment of Khan to lead the FTC at a Senate hearing, and a source confirmed the choice to Deadline.
Khan, 32, an associate professor of law at Columbia Law School, wrote Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox for the Yale Law Journal, in which she argued that the current antitrust framework, rooted in the consumer welfare standard, has been unable to curb the competitive harms from online platforms, in areas such as predatory pricing...
Khan is a major and outspoken critic of big tech conglomerates, and her confirmation in a 69-28 vote earlier in the day was a reflection of the bipartisanship when it comes to concerns that Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple have become too large.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-mn) announced the appointment of Khan to lead the FTC at a Senate hearing, and a source confirmed the choice to Deadline.
Khan, 32, an associate professor of law at Columbia Law School, wrote Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox for the Yale Law Journal, in which she argued that the current antitrust framework, rooted in the consumer welfare standard, has been unable to curb the competitive harms from online platforms, in areas such as predatory pricing...
- 6/15/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Turns out bipartisanship isn’t dead, it’s just rare. Unfortunately, for tech titans Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Apple, members of both parties seem to have agreed that it’s past time to crack down on the anti-competitive practices that have flourished in the industry. Exhibit A: Last week, Democrats unveiled five bills, each with a Republican co-sponsor, designed to reign in tech power. Trustbuster Lina Khan’s Senate confirmation to the Federal Trade Commission Tuesday is Exhibit B.
Khan, championed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-ma) as “the leading intellectual...
Khan, championed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-ma) as “the leading intellectual...
- 6/15/2021
- by Tessa Stuart
- Rollingstone.com
Washington, March 23 (Ians) US President Joe Biden has announced to nominate leading tech anti-trust activist Lina Khan for the commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
If confirmed, Khan, 32, from Columbia Law School would be one of three FTC Democratic commissioners (and the youngest ever) overseeing privacy, data security and antitrust.
That could include a decision on whether to bring an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, which the FTC has been investigating.
In 2017, Khan authored an article for the Yale Law Journal titled "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox," that went viral.
Khan has also served as an aide to the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on antitrust throughout its years-long investigation into anticompetitive behaviour in the tech industry, reports The Verge.
The nomination of Khan as new FTC chief comes at a time when regulators and lawmakers are scrutinising Big Tech.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will grill Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Alphabet...
If confirmed, Khan, 32, from Columbia Law School would be one of three FTC Democratic commissioners (and the youngest ever) overseeing privacy, data security and antitrust.
That could include a decision on whether to bring an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, which the FTC has been investigating.
In 2017, Khan authored an article for the Yale Law Journal titled "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox," that went viral.
Khan has also served as an aide to the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on antitrust throughout its years-long investigation into anticompetitive behaviour in the tech industry, reports The Verge.
The nomination of Khan as new FTC chief comes at a time when regulators and lawmakers are scrutinising Big Tech.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will grill Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Alphabet...
- 3/23/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Lina Khan, who had a key role in a House subcommittee antitrust investigation of major tech giants, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve on the Federal Trade Commission.
Biden’s selection of Khan is a further indication that his administration will take an aggressive approach to scrutinizing antitrust issues. Khan was the author of the influential Yale Law Journal study, Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox. She then helped lead the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee investigation of competition in digital markets, culminating in a conclusion that “the antitrust agencies failed, at key occasions, to stop monopolists from rolling up their competitors and failed to protect the American people from abuses of monopoly power. Forceful agency action is critical.” The FTC and a group of states sued Facebook last year, claiming antitrust violations.
Khan previously was a legal adviser to FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra and legal director at the Open Markets Institute.
Biden’s selection of Khan is a further indication that his administration will take an aggressive approach to scrutinizing antitrust issues. Khan was the author of the influential Yale Law Journal study, Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox. She then helped lead the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee investigation of competition in digital markets, culminating in a conclusion that “the antitrust agencies failed, at key occasions, to stop monopolists from rolling up their competitors and failed to protect the American people from abuses of monopoly power. Forceful agency action is critical.” The FTC and a group of states sued Facebook last year, claiming antitrust violations.
Khan previously was a legal adviser to FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra and legal director at the Open Markets Institute.
- 3/22/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
By Nikhila Natarajan
New York, March 12 (Ians) If we're smart about the accounting, Facebook should be paying all of us - is one of the ways Timothy Wu thinks about technology. Wu, until recently a Professor at Columbia University's law school and the man who coined the term 'net neutrality', is wading into a new role as the Joe Biden administration's linchpin on technology and competition policy. His scholarly work so far signals a bare knuckle regulatory agenda against big tech platforms.
There's also Lina Khan, from Columbia Law, who Biden has reportedly tapped for a role in the Federal Trade Commission. If nominated, and that seems to be the plan, Khan will have to survive Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Khan, 32, would be one of three FTC Democratic commissioners (and the youngest ever) overseeing privacy, data security and antitrust.
Together, Wu and Khan embody an intellectual construct that has...
New York, March 12 (Ians) If we're smart about the accounting, Facebook should be paying all of us - is one of the ways Timothy Wu thinks about technology. Wu, until recently a Professor at Columbia University's law school and the man who coined the term 'net neutrality', is wading into a new role as the Joe Biden administration's linchpin on technology and competition policy. His scholarly work so far signals a bare knuckle regulatory agenda against big tech platforms.
There's also Lina Khan, from Columbia Law, who Biden has reportedly tapped for a role in the Federal Trade Commission. If nominated, and that seems to be the plan, Khan will have to survive Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Khan, 32, would be one of three FTC Democratic commissioners (and the youngest ever) overseeing privacy, data security and antitrust.
Together, Wu and Khan embody an intellectual construct that has...
- 3/12/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
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