Tag Archives: Antitrust

Take a Bite Out of This

Apple is once again in the news for yet another lawsuit involving possible antitrust infringement. In this most recent case, filed at the beginning of this month, Apple has been accused of engaging in the practice of “tying,” which involves the stipulation that a consumer must use one product to use another. Specifically, users of iPads and iPhones are tied to the iCloud service for storage. According to the lawsuit, given Apple’s position in the market as a monopoly, certain rules apply to the company that make it allegedly illegal for the company to tie these products together.

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Amazon is the Prime Option

Antitrust arguments

To receive fast, convenient access to countless products and digital streaming, consumers may consider Amazon as the prime option. The benefits offered by Amazon extend beyond the consumer-driven perks, and also include opportunities for retailers and suppliers to sell their products on the platform. Despite these incentives, the DC Attorney General has recently filed a lawsuit against the e-commerce company, citing antitrust claims. According to the filing, Amazon has developed into a monopoly that manipulates pricing options for consumers. The company has achieved this position by entering contractual agreements with its third-party sellers. Specifically, the contracts dictate that in order to participate on the platform, the sellers are forbidden from offering lower prices or improved purchase terms on any other websites, including their own personal sites. Continue reading →

Cablevision Sues Viacom in Fee Faux Pas

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Some TV packages just don’t deliver

Two months after reaching an agreement, it looks like there’s already trouble in paradise. Cablevision and Viacom are going to court over a packaging of low rated networks. The issue here is obtaining access to juggernauts ratings such as Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central. Cablevision must also support up to a dozen lesser-watched channels which hurt their overall brand. The antitrust lawsuit could be a landmark decision going forward to monitor the way cable providers reach terms for packaged channels. The case was filed in New York, stemming from a mutual contract agreed to over the winter.