Dr Emerson, please tear down this supermarket duopoly Nov 11, 2009
He is one of Australia's most respected commentators on competition issues and drafted the Birdsville Amendment, a law that outlawed predatory pricing by businesses holding substantial market share. Join the conversation. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Grisham: Printed books are endangered species Nov 4, 2009
In response to the discounting, the American Booksellers Association wrote a letter to the Department of Justice on Oct. 22, asking that it investigate the companies practices, calling them illegal predatory pricing. But Grisham, who was a practicing attorney before becoming a writer, says that theres not much that can be done to fight the discount pricing in court even though he calls the practice short-sighted. (MSNBC -- Lifestyle)
Casualties in the "Book War" Nov 1, 2009
Independent Booksellers Worry They Can't Compete, Say Major Retailers Use "Predatory Pricing" ... The American Booksellers Association is accusing three giant retailers of "predatory pricing." As Hari Sreenivasan reports, the group fears these book wars could close many independent bookstores ... But the American Booksellers Association is not, accusing three giant retailers of "predatory pricing." They've asked the Justice Department to investigate. (CBS News)
Read the story Nov 1, 2009
Independent Booksellers Worry They Can't Compete, Say Major Retailers Use "Predatory Pricing" ... The American Booksellers Association is accusing three giant retailers of "predatory pricing." As Hari Sreenivasan reports, the group fears these book wars could close many independent bookstores ... But the American Booksellers Association is not, accusing three giant retailers of "predatory pricing." They've asked the Justice Department to investigate. (CBS News -- Evening News)
Latest battle in book price wars Oct 28, 2009
Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Target, the association claims in its letter to the Justice Department, are using these predatory pricing practices to attempt to win control of the market for hardcover bestsellers. Evidence. (Boston Globe)
The End for nation's independent bookstores? Oct 27, 2009
In fact, the American Booksellers Association, which represents independent booksellers, has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate what it termed "predatory pricing." It claims selling hardcover books such as Mr. King's "Under the Dome," for roughly nine bucks -- a savings of $26 off list price -- "is damaging to the book industry and harmful to consumers.". In a game of silly one-upmanship, big stores have been dropping by a penny here, a penny there, from the pre-order price of... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Booksellers seek price-war probe Oct 23, 2009
Recent price cuts "constitute illegal predatory pricing that is damaging to the book industry and harmful to consumers," the trade organization's board wrote in letter sent to the DOJ. ... Recent price cuts "constitute illegal predatory pricing that is damaging to the book industry and harmful to consumers," the trade organization's board wrote in letter sent to the DOJ.. (New York Post -- Business)
Booksellers Seek Probe on `Predatory' Amazon.com, Walmart, Target Prices Oct 23, 2009
com, and that we believe constitute illegal predatory pricing that is damaging to the book industry and harmful to consumers, nine ABA board members wrote in a letter addressed to , the assistant attorney general for the antitrust division. The letter, dated Oct. 22, was posted on the Web site of the , which represents independently owned U.S. bookstores. (Bloomberg)
Amazon.com Shares Set to Break Dot-Com Record as Earnings Beat Estimates Oct 23, 2009
com Set to Break Dot-Com Record as Profit Tops Estimates - Bloomberg. Updated: New York, Oct 23 04:22 London, Oct 23 09:22 Tokyo, Oct 23 17:22. (Bloomberg -- US)
How to get lower grocery prices in Perth Oct 13, 2009
He is one of Australia's most respected commentators on competition issues and drafted the Birdsville Amendment, a law that outlawed predatory pricing by businesses holding substantial market share ... And why would you set up alongside Woolworths or Coles when the regulators have failed to control predatory pricing. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Comment: Second Thoughts Oct 12, 2009
Does a per second offering by incumbents constitute predatory pricing for new entrants ... Finally, the issue of predatory pricing is significant. (India Times, India)
Trais per-second tariff irks telcos Oct 7, 2009
"Bharti Airtel with 100,000 cellsites is already one of the lowest producers of mobile airtime in the world at a cost of 42 or 43 paise/minute. By engaging in predatory pricing and targeting the subscribers of other telcos, Tata Docomo is trying to get big operators to bleed by selling below cost. This is bad for the country as a whole because it will create bankruptcy in the telecom sector," another leading operator said on condition of anonymity. "Trai needs to examine if this is a sustainable... (India Times, India -- Intl Business)
Public option only way to solve health care mess Sep 19, 2009
Dave wrote on Sep 18, 2009 11:00 AM:" JA,The government might be a good option for catastrophic care, but that's it. The government has shown time and time again that they can't be trusted. And they don't know how to run a business, even if it is non-profit. A public option would eventually eliminate the private option for all but the rich, unless that's outlawed. The government has a blank check they can write and put our kids, their kids and their kids into a debt we can't afford. The... (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
ELIZABETH KNIGHT Sep 17, 2009
Taking any organisation to task for breaching Section 46 of the Trade Practices Act for predatory pricing is particularly difficult - indeed, near-impossible - for a competition regulator. You are essentially accusing a business of engaging in an offence for discounting to consumers. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Judge extends deadline to debate Google book deal Sep 5, 2009
Those worries prompted the U.S. Justice Department to open an inquiry over whether Google's book deal would violate U.S. laws set up to prevent predatory pricing and promote competition. The Justice Department already has received a waiver giving the agency until Sept. 18 to file its brief with Chin. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
Amazon makes case against Google book deal Sep 3, 2009
That filing may provide a better indication whether Justice believes Google's deal with authors and publishers would violate U.S. laws set up to prevent predatory pricing and promote competition. The stuff of antitrust nightmaresAmazon left little doubt where it stands. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Big Business Goes Big for Health-Care Reform Aug 13, 2009
As for the insurance companies, they worry -- legitimately -- that a government insurance company -- the so-called public option" -- would drive them out of business. This isn't alarmism. It's economics. The public option would have no bottom line to worry about and therefore could engage in "predatory pricing" against the private insurers. But despite these differences, the biggest companies in these two industries are on board with "reform. " It illustrates economist Steven Horwitz's First Law... (Human Events Online)
Big Business Goes Big for Health Care Reform Aug 12, 2009
Columns, funnies in your inbox. Townhall Daily Alert Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. (Townhall.com)
ACCC locked in battle of the discount bowser Jul 24, 2009
Taking any organisation to task for breaching Section 46 of the Trade Practices Act for predatory pricing is particularly difficult - indeed, near-impossible - for a competition regulator ... Under the trade practices legislation there are several hurdles that need to be proved before the regulator could mount a case for predatory pricing ... Apart from the public relations aspects, the need to pass all the relevant tests contained in the legislation is the reason why prosecuting predatory... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Aldi splashes out for prime-time TV blitz Jul 15, 2009
However, on the surface, the three-day campaigns do not appear to flout any predatory pricing or other anti-competitive laws. Aldi's spokeswoman said the company was confident consumers would see through the hype and realise the money they were saving on petrol could just as easily be saved by shopping at Aldi, where prices are between 25 and 40 per cent lower than in Woolworths and Coles. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Delays on appeals keep state’s minimum markup law in effect Jul 10, 2009
Opponents of the law say it hurts consumers by keeping gas prices high, while supporters say it protects family-owned gas stations from predatory pricing by larger competitors. The law s uncertain status apparently hasn t generated a flurry of price slashing. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Watchdog loath to take on predators Jun 23, 2009
NOT a single prosecution has been launched under the so-called "Birdsville Amendment" to predatory pricing laws, with the competition watchdog admitting it is reluctant to put out guidelines on the two-year-old law for risk of getting it wrong ... The amendment changed the threshold test that applies to determine whether a business can be prosecuted for predatory pricing. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
BRIC plotters stage a farce Jun 20, 2009
Amit Mitra, the FICCI's secretary-general, said Indian industries were being hurt by "typical Chinese predatory pricing" intended to drive rivals out of business so that Chinese companies could capture the market - and then raise prices to more normal levels. The bite was felt by companies in a range of sectors, including processed food, light engineering, building materials and heavy engineering, chemicals and textiles, FICCI said. (Asia Times Online)
Google: We're Actually Really Small Jun 5, 2009
An outstanding private lawsuit alleges that Google tried to kill a business-to-business search engine with predatory pricing. And during the waning months of the Bush administration, soon-to-be Obama antitrust chief Christine Varney that Google "has acquired a monopoly in Internet online advertising." Last month that the Bush administration had been too lax in combating monopolistic behavior and that the Obama Justice Department would no longer "stand on the sidelines.". (Slate)
Next justice will interpret the law May 28, 2009
Consider some of the laws that courts are called upon to decipher (all of these terms are in actual laws): prohibitions of unfair methods of competition, of predatory pricing, predatory lending, and of a hostile or offensive work environment ; requirements that manufacturers of certain products provide an appropriate fair balance of information about those products; the FCC s ban on indecency on the airwaves in service to the public interest (which portions of the public. and which of their... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
The Chips Are Down: Intel's $1.45 Billion Fine May 14, 2009
E.U. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said Intel's predatory pricing practices were specifically designed to muscle out AMD, whose current market share is a relatively meager 12. "Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years," she said. (Time.com)
Consumer groups: Review hire purchase act, rules added burden May 8, 2009
We should be looking at enacting competitive laws so that unfair trade practices, including predatory pricing and non market-based price-fixing practices as exemplified by the current situation can be curbed. We need more consumer activism and education on the one hand, and regulations that promote fair trade practices and market competition on the other hand, he said. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Mesa's bid to license Aloha name delayed Apr 29, 2009
Aloha previously sued Mesa for predatory pricing designed to run Aloha out of business and for misusing Aloha's confidential information obtained as a potential investor in 2005 during Aloha's first bankruptcy ... Aloha previously sued Mesa for predatory pricing designed to run Aloha out of business and for misusing Aloha's confidential information obtained as a potential investor in 2005 during Aloha's first bankruptcy. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Hardie reviews cost of $US13.4m court loss Apr 28, 2009
The court action was brought against the former Hardie subsidiary, Fibrocementos Volcan Limitada, in 2003 by a market rival, Industria Cementa Limitada, alleging that Volcan had engaged in predatory pricing, by selling products below cost when it entered the Chilean market. Another fibre cement manufacturer in Chile, Quimel Sociedad Anonima, also has an action pending against FC Volcan with similar allegations. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Markup no more Mar 12, 2009
Approved more than 70 years ago as a protectionist measure to save mom and pop gas stations from being forced out of business by the predatory pricing of large corporations. Cue the Jaws theme and Wal-Mart bouncing smiley face. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Competition Commission Mar 7, 2009
All these call for intervention by CCI. Oversight by a competition body would allow Indias still nascent organised retail industry to grow without drawing the charge of predatory pricing from traditional retail. Licensing policies might be a necessary evil in sectors like telecom and mining but the CCI cannot be faulted if it decides to scrutinise these policies which prima facie amount to creation of entry barriers. (India Times)
Small servos' bad deal: Xenophon Mar 5, 2009
"Once you get rid of independents, the price of petrol will go up for all consumers,'' he said. "It's all about the whole issue of predatory pricing. Small retailers should be able to have access to a product at the same price as the big operators. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Judge invalidates Yucaipa purchase of Aloha name Mar 4, 2009
Aloha had claimed in its lawsuit against Mesa that the Phoenix-based carrier used predatory pricing and proprietary information in an attempt to drive Aloha out of the Hawaii market ... Aloha had claimed in its lawsuit against Mesa that the Phoenix-based carrier used predatory pricing and proprietary information in an attempt to drive Aloha out of the Hawaii market. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
State extends price gouging statutes Mar 3, 2009
Due to the extent of storm damage and massive cleanup efforts statewide, today s extension will ensure Kentuckians are protected from predatory pricing as we continue to recover from the greatest natural disaster in Kentucky history, Beshear said in a news release. The state has received 540 complaints of alleged illegal inflation of the price of items such as generators, kerosene, gasoline and hotel rooms, according to the release. (Louisville Business First, KY)
