# antitrust
Latest news and articles about antitrust
Total: 13 articles found
Warner Bros. Discovery Weighs Reopening Talks After Paramount’s Sharpened Hostile Bid
Paramount, with Skydance, has submitted a revised hostile offer to Warner Bros. Discovery offering to pay a $2.8 billion breakup fee, backstop debt refinancing and compensate shareholders if the deal misses a December 31 close. Warner Bros. Discovery’s board is debating whether those concessions create a viable route to a superior transaction despite an existing binding agreement with Netflix, raising the prospect of a renewed bidding war and fresh regulatory scrutiny.
China Pulls the Brakes on the Spring Festival ‘Red Envelope’ Arms Race
China’s market regulator summoned seven major internet platforms and released new anti‑monopoly compliance guidelines after a wave of large Spring Festival cash‑giveaway campaigns. Regulators warned against below‑cost subsidies, exclusive dealing and algorithmic collusion, signalling tighter scrutiny of promotional tactics and AI‑driven user acquisition.
China’s Market Watchdog Summons Seven Tech Giants to Curb ‘Involution’ in Platform Promotions
China’s market regulator summoned seven leading platforms to demand stricter compliance with competition, pricing and consumer protection laws and to curb “involution” — cutthroat promotional tactics that distort markets. The meeting signals intensified oversight of everyday platform marketing as Beijing seeks to stabilise the platform economy while preserving innovation.
Beijing Issues Antitrust Playbook for Platforms — ‘Choose‑One’ Exclusivity and Algorithmic Coordination Flagged as Key Risks
China’s market regulator has released a comprehensive antitrust compliance guide for internet platforms, targeting exclusivity (‘choose‑one’) practices, algorithmic coordination and other forms of dominance abuse. The non‑binding but detailed document presses platforms to institute robust risk assessment, algorithm audits and governance measures, signalling steadier and more technical antitrust enforcement ahead.
US FTC Intensifies Probe into Microsoft’s Cloud and AI Licensing, Raising Antitrust Stakes for Big Tech
The US Federal Trade Commission has escalated an investigation into Microsoft, issuing civil investigative demands to at least six rivals to examine whether licensing and product-bundling practices have impeded competition in cloud computing and AI. The probe targets licensing changes from 2019, questions about bundling AI, security and identity services, and seeks detailed data on AI training costs and data-centre operations.
Chinese Cities Move to Curb ‘Involution’ in Food-Delivery Price Wars Ahead of Spring Festival
Several Chinese municipal market regulators have ordered food-delivery platforms to halt low-price, subsidy-driven “involution” ahead of the Spring Festival, banning predatory subsidies, ‘‘choose-one’’ exclusivity, data-based price discrimination and coercive promotional tactics. The measures aim to protect small merchants, restore market order during a high-demand period, and push platforms to shift from capital-driven growth to value creation.
Paramount Turns Up the Heat on Warner Bros. Discovery with Quarterly 'Timing' Payments and a Netflix Breakup- Fee Offer
Paramount has amended its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery by adding a quarterly "timing fee" and offering to pay the $2.8 billion breakup fee if WBD’s deal with Netflix collapses, while keeping its $30 per‑share headline bid intact. The package is intended to provide cash certainty and a clearer regulatory route, but analysts caution it may not be enough to convince shareholders to abandon the larger Netflix proposal.
Meituan’s $717m Bet on Instant Grocery and Alibaba’s Qwen Rebrand Signal a New Phase of Consolidation and Commercialisation in China’s Tech Sector
Meituan has agreed to buy Dingdong Maicai’s China business for roughly $717 million, underscoring consolidation in the instant grocery market now that some players report improving profitability. Alibaba has unified its large-model family under the 千问/Qwen brand to clarify its AI offering and accelerate commercial deployment, reflecting a broader shift from technology race to ecosystem competition.
Amazon Eyes Big Stake in OpenAI as It Seeks Dedicated Models and Talent
Amazon is discussing a multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI alongside a commercial deal that could require OpenAI to assign staff to build custom models for Amazon’s AI products. The move would intensify rivalry with Microsoft, risk fragmenting the AI ecosystem, and raise questions about OpenAI’s independence and regulatory scrutiny.
Turkey Opens New Antitrust Front Against Google over Android Defaults and Anti‑Fork Rules
Turkey’s Competition Authority has opened a new probe into Google, alleging that financial incentives and contractual clauses tied to Android effectively preserve Google’s pre‑installation and default positions for search and browsers. The inquiry examines anti‑forking provisions and developer verification rules to assess whether Google’s revised contracts perpetuate anti‑competitive effects despite earlier enforcement actions.
Turkey Opens Fresh Antitrust Probe into Google’s Android Deals, Targeting ‘Optional’ Contracts and Anti‑Fork Rules
Turkey’s competition authority has launched an investigation into Google’s mobile contracts, alleging the company uses financial incentives and contractual clauses to maintain the default status of its search and browser apps. The probe will assess whether new contract structures and anti‑fork provisions let Google evade prior remedies and harm competition in the mobile ecosystem.
China Opens Antitrust Case Against Ctrip as Hoteliers Say Platforms Have Become Their Employers
China’s antitrust regulator has opened a probe into Ctrip for alleged abuse of market dominance after hoteliers complained of hidden fees, forced channel exclusivity and unfair algorithmic practices. The investigation could lead to fines, behavioural remedies and reshape how online travel platforms manage supply and traffic allocation.