Inside Competition

Key takeaways

• Litigation Updates – Courts are scrutinizing alleged price-fixing and monopolization schemes, with recent rulings allowing claims against mortgage lenders and sugar producers while adopting DOJ findings against Google’s ad tech practices.
• Criminal Enforcement – The DOJ secured the nation’s first wage-fixing conviction and California significantly increased Cartwright Act penalties to deter antitrust violations.
• Regulatory Actions – State attorneys general are targeting coordinated recycling practices and alleged non-compete agreements, while the FTC faces limits on its investigative authority.
• Merger Oversight – A US Chamber of Commerce survey reports that the new HSR filing requirements substantially increase time and costs without improving review efficiency.
• State-Level Scrutiny – California and New York enacted laws banning the use of pricing algorithms in ways that facilitate collusion, signaling heightened legislative focus on algorithm-driven antitrust risks.

Key takeaways

• Litigation Updates – Courts dismissed antitrust claims involving Hermès Birkin bags, private university pricing, and hotel benchmarking data.
• Criminal Enforcement – Wage-fixing and price-fixing prosecutions continue, with new DOJ leniency rules and whistleblower incentives.
• Regulatory Actions – FTC targets noncompete agreements and deceptive practices in sectors like healthcare, pet cremation, and ticketing.
• Merger Oversight – FTC/DOJ report steady Second Request activity and a rise in billion-dollar deal filings.
• State-Level Scrutiny – Connecticut AG investigates WNBA franchise sale; Google faces mandated data-sharing remedies.

Key takeaways

• Litigation Updates – Courts are actively addressing antitrust claims, with rulings on price-fixing allegations and monopolization cases shaping litigation strategies.
• Criminal Enforcement – The DOJ continues to prioritize labor-market antitrust enforcement, securing convictions and pushing for tougher penalties.
• Regulatory Actions – State attorneys general are challenging agreements and practices that allegedly restrict competition, including partnerships and industry standards.
• Merger Oversight – New Hart–Scott–Rodino filing requirements significantly increase preparation time and costs without improving review efficiency.
• State-Level Scrutiny – California and New York passed laws banning pricing algorithms that facilitate collusion, signaling growing legislative scrutiny of algorithm-driven practices.

Key takeaways

• Litigation Updates – New archery price-fixing suit filed; hotel pricing conspiracy dismissed; Live Nation case narrowed to primary ticketing; NCAA tennis players granted class certification.
• Criminal Enforcement – DOJ launches Whistleblower Rewards Program offering up to 30% of fines for reporting antitrust violations affecting USPS.
• Regulatory Actions – FTC settles with NextMed over deceptive pricing and fake reviews; “click-to-cancel” rule vacated; noncompete rule appeal paused.
• Merger Oversight – DOJ drops challenge to AmexGBT–CWT merger, clearing path for consolidation in corporate travel services.
• International Developments – Mexico replaces COFECE with new National Antitrust Commission, expanding enforcement powers and lowering merger thresholds.