Antitrust

Federal Judge Halts Major Media Joint Venture Over Antitrust Concerns, Threatening Sports Streamer Fubo’s Survival

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New York — A federal judge on Friday temporarily halted a major collaborative effort by The Walt Disney Co., Fox Corp., and Warner Bros. Discovery aimed at pooling their sports broadcasting rights. The halted project was set to establish a new streaming platform called Venu, targeting a market entry later this year. The decision came after Fubo, a competing sports streaming service, challenged the joint venture’s legality, arguing that it would significantly reduce competition within the industry. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett cited concerns that the launch of Venu could precipitate a mass migration of … Read more

Class-Action Lawsuit Challenges NCAA’s Ban on CHL Hockey Players, Alleging Antitrust Violations

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — A legal battle is brewing as the NCAA faces a proposed class-action lawsuit over its policy that blocks hockey players who have competed in the Canadian Hockey League from joining NCAA teams. The lawsuit, filed August 12 in the U.S. District Court of Western New York, accuses the NCAA of violating antitrust laws, proposing it unfairly suppresses player compensation and limits league competition. The lead plaintiff, Rylan Masterson, claims his brief participation in two games with the Windsor Spitfires of the CHL at age 16 has nullified his opportunities to compete in … Read more

Judge Sides with NFL, Overturns ‘Sunday Ticket’ Antitrust Verdict

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Los Angeles — A recent ruling from a California judge has dismissed a significant lawsuit concerning the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” package, a decision that supports the league against allegations of antitrust violations. The plaintiff’s assertion that the NFL’s exclusive agreement with DirecTV, which mandates out-of-market fans to buy the package to watch their favorite teams, was unjustly monopolizing live broadcasts and hiking consumer prices. The judge’s decision concluded that the arrangement between the NFL and DirecTV indeed benefits customers by providing broader access to games that otherwise might not be available to them. This ruling … Read more

Judicial Milestone: 19th-Century Antitrust Laws Effectively Restrict Big Tech’s Power, Case Against Google Reveals

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Washington — A recent federal court ruling against Google has underscored the enduring potency of 19th-century antitrust laws in challenging and regulating the sprawling influence of today’s tech giants. In a groundbreaking decision, the court found Google guilty of maintaining illegal monopolies in search and search advertising markets, highlighting the applicability of older statutes like the Sherman Antitrust Act to modern digital behemoths. Judge Amit Mehta’s detailed opinion, running over 200 pages, points to Google’s strategic control over search distribution channels as a primary factor in stifling competition. The tech company’s agreements with phone manufacturers, … Read more