Hacker News with Generative AI: Antitrust

Apple barred from Google antitrust trial, putting $20B search deal on the line (arstechnica.com)
Apple has suffered a blow in its efforts to salvage its lucrative search placement deal with Google. A new ruling from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals affirms that Apple cannot participate in Google's upcoming antitrust hearing, which could leave a multibillion-dollar hole in Apple's balance sheet. The judges in the case say Apple simply waited too long to get involved.
Google found non-compliant with DMA (europa.eu)
EU to charge Google under DMA and order Apple to open iOS to accessories (ft.com)
Brussels takes action against Google and Apple despite Trump threat
Apple Loses Top Court Fight Over German Antitrust Crackdown (bloomberg.com)
Apple Inc. lost its fight at Germany’s top civil court to overturn a regulator’s decision to put it under tighter antitrust scrutiny alongside other US tech giants.
Google Being Forced to Sell Chrome Is Not Good for the Web (chriscoyier.net)
UK investigation says Apple and Google are 'holding back' mobile browsers (theverge.com)
The United Kingdom’s mobile browser market is “not working well for consumers and businesses” according to a final report from Britain’s competition watchdog, which says that Apple and Google are largely to blame.
FTC Moves Ahead with Broad Microsoft Antitrust Probe (bloomberg.com)
The US Federal Trade Commission is moving ahead with a sprawling antitrust probe of Microsoft Corp. that was opened in the waning days of the Biden Administration, signaling that Donald Trump’s new FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is going to prioritize scrutiny of tech giants.
Trump FTC Moves Ahead with Broad Microsoft Antitrust Probe (yahoo.com)
The US Federal Trade Commission is moving ahead with a sprawling antitrust probe of Microsoft Corp. that was opened in the waning days of the Biden Administration, signaling that Donald Trump’s new FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is going to prioritize scrutiny of tech giants.
FTC Asks to Delay Trial Against Amazon Because of Lack of Money and Personnel (moomoo.com)
Mozilla's response to proposed remedies in U.S. vs. Google (mozilla.org)
Last week the Department of Justice and some state attorneys general filed revised proposed remedies in the U.S. v. Google LLC search case. If the proposed remedies barring all search payments to browser developers are adopted by the court, these misguided plans would be a direct hit to small and independent browsers—the very forces that keep the web open, innovative and free.
DOJ: Google must sell Chrome, Android could be next (arstechnica.com)
Google has gotten its first taste of remedies that Donald Trump’s Department of Justice plans to pursue to break up the tech giant’s monopoly in search.
Google will still have to break up its business, the Justice Department said (engadget.com)
Google will have to break up its business, the Justice Department said in a filing, upholding the previous administration's proposal after a federal judge ruled last year that the company illegally abused a monopoly over the search industry.
The DOJ still wants Google to sell off Chrome (wired.com)
The US Department of Justice wants Google to sell off its Chrome browser as part of its final remedy proposal in a landmark antitrust case.
DOJ asks for judgement requiring Google to divest Chrome [pdf] (courtlistener.com)
DOJ Reinforces Demand to Break Up Google's Search Monopoly (nytimes.com)
In a sign that President Trump is following the Biden administration’s lead in reining in Google, the Justice Department on Friday reiterated its demand that a court break up the search giant.
Brazilian court gives Apple 90 days to allow sideloading on iOS (9to5mac.com)
After the EU forced Apple to implement major changes to how iOS and the App Store work for European users, other countries have also conducted their own antitrust investigations against the company. Now the Brazilian court has ruled that Apple has 90 days to allow sideloading on iOS for iPhone users in Brazil.
Does iOS have sideloading yet? (doesioshavesideloadingyet.com)
The Digital Markets Act is a recent EU antitrust law with the stated goal of making digital markets "fairer and more contestable".
Trump Enforcers Affirm Lina Khan's Approach to Antitrust (thebignewsletter.com)
Some big news today on the political antitrust front. The most consequential antitrust power struggle you’ve never heard of has been won… by the good guys. The short story is the Trump administration just said they will enforce antitrust law to stop harmful mergers using the guidelines that Lina Khan and Jonathan Kanter helped create in 2023.
Microsoft Hit by French Antitrust Probe over Rivals' Bing Access (bloomberg.com)
Microsoft Corp. is under investigation from the French antitrust authority amid concerns the US tech giant is degrading the quality of results when smaller rivals pay to use Bing technology in their own search-engine products.
China responds to tariffs with antitrust investigations of Google, Nvidia (arstechnica.com)
China has revived antitrust investigations into Google and Nvidia, while considering a new probe against Intel, as Beijing looks for leverage in talks with US President Donald Trump.
Apple denied appeal in Google trial (theverge.com)
Apple won’t get to say how a Google monopoly breakup could affect its business dealings.
Apple files emergency motion to become defendant in US vs. Google [pdf] (courtlistener.com)
Justice Department Sues to Block HPE's $14B Acquisition of Juniper Networks (justice.gov)
The Justice Department today sued to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s (HPE) proposed $14 billion acquisition of rival wireless local area network (WLAN) technology provider Juniper Networks Inc. (Juniper).
Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies (politico.eu)
The U.S. government under incoming President Donald Trump should intervene to stop the EU from fining American tech companies for breaching antitrust rules and committing other violations, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said late Friday.
FTC, States Sue Deere and Company to Protect Farmers (ftc.gov)
FTC Sues John Deere over Its Repair Monopoly (404media.co)
The Biden administration and the states of Illinois and Minnesota sued tractor and agricultural manufacturer John Deere Wednesday, arguing that the company’s anti consumer repair practices have driven up prices for farmers and have made it difficult for them to get repairs during critical planting and harvesting seasons.
Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies (politico.eu)
The U.S. government under incoming President Donald Trump should intervene to stop the EU from fining American tech companies for breaching antitrust rules and committing other violations, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said late Friday.
US sues six of the biggest landlords over "algorithmic pricing schemes" (arstechnica.com)
The US Justice Department today announced it filed an antitrust lawsuit against "six of the nation's largest landlords for participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters."
DOJ Sues Six Large Landlords for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme That Harms Millions (justice.gov)
The Justice Department, together with its state co-plaintiffs, filed an amended complaint today in its antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, to sue six of the nation’s largest landlords for participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters.
The Rise of the French Fry Cartel (jacobin.com)
After decades of consolidation, just four firms now control at least 97 percent of the $68 billion frozen potato market, the antitrust cases reveal. These four companies participate in the same trade associations and use a third-party data analytics platform — PotatoTrac — to share confidential business information. The lawsuits allege the firms’ collusion has driven french fries and hash browns to record-high prices.