Holyoak, Ferguson could change FTC dynamics but face steep learning curve
If Republican nominees Melissa Holyoak of Utah and Andrew Ferguson of Virginia are confirmed, as expected, to join the Federal Trade Commission this month, they could change the dynamics of an agency that’s been under single-party control for half...
Insulin cases need a sharper focus
Hard cases are notorious for making bad law. But sometimes the easy and obvious cases can make bad law, too. Something like this seems to be going on with insulin pricing.
Current Issue: 846
Patent assertion entities have the government’s full attention
In the past month, efforts to rein in abusive patent litigation have multiplied across the country, with new voices of support and new legislation coming from the states, the White House and inside...
Comcast, Time Warner flex lobbying muscle
If money is, as former California Treasurer Jesse Unruh said, “the mother’s milk of politics,’’ then Comcast and Time Warner Cable have done all they can to ensure that key political players don’t...
Senate hearing features debate over wireless competition
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joked at a recent antitrust hearing that she knew that Ben Affleck was testifying elsewhere on Capitol Hill, but the big crowd that had gathered for her discussion had...
FTC gets cheers (and jeers) for Apple app settlement
There’s been a lot of sharp reaction to the FTC’s recent $32.5 million settlement with Apple Inc. to resolve complaints that the technology firm charged families for their children’s inadvertent...
Tracking consumers in retail stores raises privacy concerns
Before a recent FTC conference exploring privacy and other issues which arise when retailers track their customers’ movements, the Commission’s chief technologist showed how easy it is, from a...
Commissioner Ohlhausen: FTC should use all its tools
FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen has emerged as one of the more influential people at the agency, and her talks are being viewed as good predictors of where the agency may go next.