Antitrust

Judge Dismisses Newsmax’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fox, Opens Door for Refiling

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A New York judge has dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed by Newsmax against Fox News but has allowed the media company to amend and refile its complaint. Judge William H. Pauley III made the decision in U.S. District Court, stating that Newsmax’s initial legal arguments were insufficient to support its claims. The lawsuit, initiated by Newsmax in August, accused Fox News of using its market power to stifle competition, claiming that the network attempted to suppress Newsmax’s growth by pressuring cable providers. Newsmax contended that Fox’s actions were harmful to competition and violated antitrust laws. … Read more

Federal Jury Slaps American Express with $12.5 Million Verdict for Unfair Practices Amid Antitrust Claims Dismissal

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NEW YORK — A federal jury has ordered American Express Co. to pay $12.5 million in damages after finding the company engaged in unfair practices under Illinois law, although it was cleared of various antitrust allegations that had also been brought against it. The verdict, delivered on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, stemmed from a protracted legal battle initiated by state consumers. Those consumers challenged certain nondiscrimination clauses present in American Express’s agreements with merchants who accept its credit cards. These provisions specifically prohibit steering practices, which … Read more

Tech Titans in Legal Crosshairs: X Corp and X.AI Sue Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged Antitrust Violations

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Dallas, Texas — A federal lawsuit filed on Monday by X Corp. and X.AI LLC is challenging what they describe as an anticompetitive partnership between Apple and OpenAI concerning the exclusive integration of ChatGPT. The plaintiffs allege that this collaboration infringes upon federal competition regulations and fortifies monopolistic practices in both companies’ markets. The lawsuit identifies Apple and OpenAI as maintaining substantial market shares — Apple commands about 65 percent of the U.S. smartphone market, while OpenAI holds nearly 80 percent in the generative AI chatbot sector. By leveraging their dominance, the plaintiffs argue that … Read more

HCA Healthcare Reaches Settlement in Antitrust Case, Pledges Community Support for Asheville’s Mission Health

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — HCA Healthcare has reached a settlement in an antitrust lawsuit that has affected the Mission Health system for the past three years. This lawsuit was initiated by four local governments in Western North Carolina, who argued that HCA’s practices led to increased healthcare costs and reduced quality in the region. The governments involved in the lawsuit—Brevard, Asheville, Buncombe County, and Madison County—raised concerns about HCA’s monopolistic behavior following its acquisition of Mission Health in 2019, which included the only hospital in Asheville and several rural facilities. The plaintiffs alleged that this consolidation … Read more