FTCWatch
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March 18, 2025
Miller shook up FTC under Reagan
This is the sixth in a series of articles marking the 110th anniversary of the Federal Trade Commission’s founding.
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March 18, 2025
Wright drops defamation suit against accusers
Former Federal Trade Commissioner Joshua Wright has withdrawn his $108 million defamation lawsuit against two women who alleged he engaged in sexual misconduct.
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March 18, 2025
GTCR-Surmodics deal challenged by FTC
The Federal Trade Commission sued to block GTCR’s proposed acquisition of medical device company Surmodics, alleging that the deal is anticompetitive.
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March 18, 2025
Consumer losses to fraud jumped to $12.5 billion in 2024
Newly released Federal Trade Commission figures show that consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, which represents a 25 percent increase over the prior year.
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March 18, 2025
Major takeaways from National Consumer Protection Week
At the historic Washington Hilton, a Federal Trade Commission staffer manned the agency’s table filled with resources on avoiding frauds and scams as county officials from across the country filed through the Federal Agency Expo.
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March 18, 2025
After tech support scam, consumers get more than $25.5 million
The Federal Trade Commission is sending $25.5 million in payments to consumers who were tricked into signing up for computer repair services through the deceptive marketing tactics of two tech support companies.
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March 18, 2025
FTC continues stance on COPAs
The Federal Trade Commission hasn’t altered its longstanding policy on Certificates of Public Advantage in hospital mergers, according to a letter from an agency official to a state senator.
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March 18, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: A plain-vanilla theory of exclusive dealing
When professionals think about the core function of antitrust law, they generally have in mind merger enforcement. But in the new post-consolidation economy, equal attention now has to be paid to single-firm conduct by companies that already have market power. High on that list of questionable conduct is the use of exclusive dealing contracts by a monopolist.
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March 18, 2025
On the Shelf: Gates shows softer side in memoir
Bill Gates is known as a visionary entrepreneur and influential philanthropist, but his abrupt personality and minimal social graces have notoriously rubbed others the wrong way. They’ve even used a four-letter word to describe him: jerk.
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February 25, 2025
State antitrust collaboration with federal officials expected to continue
State enforcers expect to continue cooperating with federal officials in their antitrust investigations as they stress the important role of a harmonious approach to antitrust law.
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February 25, 2025
Ferguson shakes up FTC culture as staff brace for firings
A series of all-staff memos sent by new Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson over the last month offers a glimpse into the shifting culture at an agency facing demands for change from the White House alongside real risks of budget cuts, major layoffs and a potential restructuring of the agency.
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February 25, 2025
Wright defamation trial set to begin March 10
Former Federal Trade Commissioner Joshua Wright’s defamation case against two former students and colleagues who accused him of sexual harassment will begin on March 10 in a Virginia state court.
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February 25, 2025
Calendar
April 2-4 — The American Bar Association’s 2025 Antitrust Spring Meeting will be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, DC. For more information, go to: https://events.americanbar.org/event/D8799C1F-0CB0-4D81-81B0-5E031F555BDC/summary.
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February 25, 2025
On the Shelf: Diving into Musk’s purchase of Twitter
Billionaire Elon Musk is shaking up the federal government through his work with the Department of Government Efficiency. He took a similar approach when he bought Twitter in 2022 and massively restructured it.
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February 25, 2025
Deputy directors appointed to FTC’s competition, consumer protection bureaus
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson has appointed David Shaw as principal deputy director and Kelse Moen as deputy director of the agency’s Bureau of Competition. He also named Douglas C. Geho as deputy director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection.
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February 25, 2025
FTC faces threats to independence from White House, courts
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson wants it to be easier for the president to fire him and other commissioners. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has asserted more control over the regulatory agenda of the FTC and other independent agencies.
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February 25, 2025
Feds launch info portal for global fugitives in antitrust cases
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the FBI have launched a new online portal for information on international fugitives who have been charged with antitrust offenses and other crimes affecting the competitive process.
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February 25, 2025
Weiser, an antitrust stalwart, gears up for Colorado governor’s race
Phil Weiser, Colorado’s attorney general, is seeking higher office, with a bid for governor of his state for the 2026 election.
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February 25, 2025
Legislators mull ‘right to repair’ as more state AGs join FTC’s suit
In recent weeks, the Federal Trade Commission has brought the issue of the “right to repair” agricultural equipment into the courtroom, challenging manufacturer Deere & Co. over its practices. Now, “right to repair” bills have come before legislators in several state capitals.
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February 25, 2025
DOJ antitrust nominee open to M&A settlements, criticizes Big Tech abuses
Gail Slater, who is President Donald Trump’s pick to be the next antitrust chief of the Department of Justice, told lawmakers noncompete clauses, consolidation in food and pharmaceuticals, and Big Tech’s entrenched dominance are a concern, while signaling openness to accepting settlement offers in problematic mergers.
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February 25, 2025
People — Antitrust lawyer Smith jumps to Axinn
Monica Smith has joined the antitrust boutique law firm of Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider as a counsel.
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February 25, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: Lessons from the Tempur Sealy-Mattress Firm case
Ouch, the value of experience! On Jan. 31, the Federal Trade Commission lost its bid for an injunction against mattress-maker Tempur Sealy’s buyout of the retail chain Mattress Firm. That hurt since the case had represented the agency’s best chance to get a litigated win against an important vertical merger. But all parties can still find some useful lessons in it.
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February 11, 2025
Calendar
Feb. 20 — Federal Trade Commission member Melissa Holyoak is participating in a fireside chat at WilmerHale’s Washington, DC, office. The event also has a virtual option. For more information, go to: https://www.wilmerhale.com.
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February 11, 2025
Getty, Shutterstock have overlap in non-exclusive portion of stock businesses
The antitrust review of Getty Images’ acquisition of rival Shutterstock is expected to focus on the companies’ overlapping businesses in non-exclusive visual images, the advantage they will have on search engines and the power it will give them over freelancers.
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February 11, 2025
DOJ sues to block HPE’s $14 billion deal with Juniper Networks
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in California federal court to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s proposed $14 billion buyout of smaller rival Juniper Networks.