Applied Antitrust Law

Dale Collins
NYU School of Law
Georgetown University Law Center

NB: "±" indicates that the hyperlink will take you to another site.

 

Home page
Topical index
Case studies index

24. Price discrimination

 

26. Extraterritoriality

 

 

25. Joint Ventures

 

Reading and class notes
Significant precedents
Texaco/Shell
Polk Brothers
The "Three Tenors" Joint Venture
Reference materials
Case studies

 
Primary Materials
Supplemental Materials

Reading and class notes

Reading and class notes

 

 

Significant Precedents

 

United States v. Topco Assocs., 405 U.S. 596 (1972)

 
 

United States v. Penn-Olin Chem. Co., 378 U.S. 158 (1964) (± Oyez)

 
 

± Rothery Storage & Van Co. v. Atlas Van Lines, Inc., 792 F.2d 210 (D.C. Cir. 1986)

 

Guidelines
 

Fed. Trade Comm'n & U.S. Dep't of Justice, Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors (Apr. 2000).

Texaco/Shell

 

Texaco Inc. v. Dagher, 547 U.S. 1 (Feb. 28, 2006) (No. 04–805) (± Oyez)

See here for more cases materials

Polk Brothers

 

± Polk Bros., Inc. v. Forest City Enters., Inc., 776 F.2d 185 (7th Cir. 1985)

rev'g No. 83 C 895, 1985 WL 25741 ( N.D .Ill. Feb. 22, 1985)

The "Three Tenors" Joint Venture

 

Polygram Holding, Inc. v. FTC, No. 03-1293 (D.C. Cir. July 22, 2005) (reported as 416 F.3d 29)

See here for case materials

Reference Materials

NCRPA

± National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. §§ 4301-06

± U.S. Dep't of Justice, Filing a Notification Under the NCRPA (web site)

Commentary

± John T. Scott, The National Cooperative Research and Production Act, in 2 Issues In Competition Law and Policy 1297 (ABA Section of Antitrust Law 2008)

R&D joint ventures

Commentary

± Tomaso Duso, Lars-Hendrik Röller & Jo Seldeslachts, Collusion through Joint R&D: An Empirical Assessment (Dec. 2012), final version at __ Rev. Econ. & Stat. ___ (____).

± Michelle Sovinsky & Eric Helland, Do Research Joint Ventures Serve a Collusive Function? (Sept. 2012).

± James D. Adams & Albert N. Link, The Performance of U.S. Research Joint Ventures: Reference Points, Moral Hazard, and Uncertainty (Nov. 30, 2012).

± Suzanne E. Majewski, How Do Consortia Organize Collaborative R&D? Evidence from the National Cooperative Research Act (May 2008).

Production joint ventures

Commentary

Carl Shapiro & Robert D. Willig, On the Antitrust Treatment of Production Joint Ventures, 4 J. Econ. Perspectives 113 (1990).

Purchasing joint ventures
 
Standard setting joint ventures
 
Restrictions on members

Realcomp II, Ltd. v. FTC, 635 F.3d 815 (6th Cir. 2011)

Case studies

± Lloyd Constantine, Priceless: The Case that Brought Down the Visa/MasterCard Bank Cartel (2009).

± John E. Kwoka, Jr., International Joint Venture: General Motors and Toyota (1983), in The Antitrust Revolution 46 (John E. Kwoka, Jr. & Lawrence J. White eds., 2d ed. 1994).

Janusz A. Ordover & Carl Shapiro, The General Motors-Toyota Joint Venture: An Economic Assessment, 31 Wayne L. Rev. 1167 (1984).

Commentary

± Thomas A. Piraino, Jr., The Antitrust Analysis of Joint Ventures after the Supreme Court’s Dagher Decision, 57 Emory L.J. 735 (2008).

± Howard H. Chang, David S. Evans & Richard Schmalensee, Some Economic Principles for Guiding Antitrust Policy Towards Joint Ventures (July 31, 1997).

Case Studies

NFL broadcast limitations (private 2015)
Realcomp II (FTC 2006)
Polygram ("Three Tenors") (FTC 2005)
Visa/MasterCard (DOJ 2001)
Texaco/Shell (FTC 1988)

NFL live broadcast limitations
(private 2015)

Complaint, Trilogy Holding LLC v. NFL, No. 15-cv-8188 (S.D.N.Y. filed Oct. 16, 2015) (challenging NFL, NFL teams, and TV networks for conspiring to limit the number of games available for broadcast)

Realcomp II
(FTC 2006)

FTC

Complaint, In re Realcomp II, Ltd., Dkt. No. 9320 (F.T.C. filed Oct. 12, 2006) (± FTC news release)

± FTC web page

ALJ proceeding

Realcomp II Ltd.'s Answer to Complaint (Nov. 20, 2006)

Scheduling Order (Dec. 4, 2006)

Protective Order Governing Discovery Material (Dec. 8, 2006)

First Joint Status Report (Feb. 12, 2007)

First Revised Scheduling Order (Mar. 20, 2007)

Respondent Realcomp II, Ltd.'s Motion and Points of Authority for Dismissal (Apr. 24, 2007)

Complaint Counsel's Opposition to Respondent Realcomp II Ltd.'s Motion for Dismissal (May 11, 2007)

Order Denying Respondent's Motion for Summary Decision (May 21, 2007)

Second Joint Status Report (May 7, 2007)

Second Revised Scheduling Order (May 11, 2007)

Respondent Realcomp II Ltd.'s Pretrial Brief (May 30, 2013)

Joint Stipulations of Law and Fact (June 14, 2007)

Post -Trial Brief of Respondent (July 31, 2007)

Respondent Realcomp II Ltd.'s Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (July 31, 2007)

Complaint Counsel's Response to Respondent Realcomp II Ltd.'s Proposed Findings of Fact (Aug. 20, 2007)

Complaint Counsel's Post-Trial Brief (Aug. 3, 2007)

Complaint Counsel's Amended Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order (Aug. 6, 2007)

Respondent's Reply to Complaint Counsel's Proposed Findings of Fact (Aug. 20, 2007)

Initial Decision (Dec. 13, 2007) (± FTC news release)

Notice of Appeal (Dec. 19, 2007)

Appeal to the full Commission

Appeal Brief of Counsel Supporting the Complaint (Jan. 25, 2008)

Respondent Realcomp II Ltd.'s Answering Brief (Feb. 29, 2008)

Reply Brief of Counsel Supporting the Complaint (Mar. 11, 2008)

Transcript of Oral Argument (Apr. 1, 2008)

Decision (Nov. 2, 2009) (reversing the Initial Decision and entering a cease and desist order)

Final Order (Nov. 2, 2009)

Motion of Respondent Realcomp II, Ltd. for Partial Stay of Order Pending Appeal (Dec. 8, 2009)

Complaint Counsel's Opposition to Respondent's Motion for Partial Stay of Order Pending Appeal (Dec. 16, 2009)

Reply of Respondent Realcomp II, Ltd. to Complaint Counsel's Opposition to Motion for Partial Stay of Order Pending Appeal (Dec. 22, 2009)

Order Denying Respondent’s Motion for Partial Stay of Final Order Pending Appeal (Jan. 7, 2010)

Sixth Circuit

Docket sheet (downloaded Oct. 20, 2013)

Petition for Review (Dec. 30, 2009)

Petitioner's Motion for Partial Stay of Order Pending Appeal (Jan. 28, 2010)

Federal Trade Commission’S Opposition To Petitioner’S Motion For Stay Pending Appeal (Feb. 5, 2010)

Order (Feb. 9, 2010) (denying motion to stay)

Brief of Petitioner (Feb. 9, 2010)

Brief of Respondent Federal Trade Commission (Apr. 5, 2010)

Reply Brief of Petitioner (May 20, 2010)

Opinion, Realcomp II, Ltd. v. FTC, No. 09-4596 (6th Cir. Apr. 6, 2011) (denying petition for review)

Mandate (June 7, 2011)

Supreme Court

± Docket page

Petition for a writ of certiorari (June 28, 2011)

Brief of Respondent in Opposition (Aug. 30, 2011)

Petition denied (Oct. 11, 2011)

Commentary

± David L. Meyer, The Sixth Circuit’s Application of the Rule of Reason in Realcomp II—Less About the Rule’s Reasonableness than the Reason for the Rule, Antitrust Source, Aug. 2011.

Polygram
("Three Tenors")
(FTC 2001)

FTC

Administrative complaint, In re Polygram Holding, Inc., Dkt. No. 9298 (July 31, 2001) (FTC news release)

Initial Decision (June 28, 2002) (FTC news release)

Respondents' Opening Brief on Appeal From Initial Decision and Order (Aug. 9, 2002)

Answering Brief of Counsel Supporting the Complaint in Support of the Initial Decision (Sept. 11, 2002)

Respondents’ Corrected Reply Brief on Appeal from Initial Decision and Order (Oct. 3, 2002)

Final Decision (July 28, 2003) (FTC news release)

Final Order (July 7, 2003)

Seventh Circuit

Docket sheet (downloaded Oct. 25, 2009)

Polygram Holding, Inc. v. FTC, No. 03-1293 (D.C. Cir. July 22, 2005) (reported at 416 F.3d 29)

Commentary

± David L. Meyer & Derek Ludwin, Three Tenors and the Section 1 Analytical Framework: A Continuum Drawn with Bright Lines, Antitrust, Fall 2005, at 63.

± William Kolasky & Richard Elliot, The Federal Trade Commission’s Three Tenors Decision: “Qual due fiori a un solo stello”, Antitrust, Spring 2004, at 50.

Visa/MasterCard
(DOJ 1998)

Complaint, United States v. Visa Int'l, Inc., No. 98-civ.7076 (S.D.N.Y/ filed Oct. 7, 1998) (DOJ news release)

Docket sheet (downloaded Oct. 20, 2013)

± DOJ web site

Stipulated Scheduling Order (Oct. 16, 1998)

Interim Stipulated Protective Order (Oct. 16, 1998)

Stipulated Protective Order (Nov. 18, 1998)

Amended Stipulated Protective Order (Dec. 11, 1998)

Joint Pretrial Order (May 16, 2000)

Bench trial held beginning Aug. 4, 2000

Plaintiff's Memorandum in Support of Its Proposed Relief (Aug. 11, 2000)

[Proposed] Final Judgment (Aug. 11, 2000)

Memorandum of Law by Mastercard Int'l. re: in response to pltff's Proposed Final Judgment (Sept. 11, 2000)

Response by Visa International Re: response to the Government's Proposed Relief (Sept. 22, 2000)

Comments and Objection(s) by Mastercard Int'l. to proposed final judgment (Oct. 17, 2001)

Visa U.S.A.'s Comments and proposals for modification of the proposed final judgment (Oct. 17, 2001)

Comments of deft Visa International Service Association on the proposed final judgment (Oct. 17, 2001)

Government's Comments on the proposed final judgment (Oct. 17, 2001)

Decision (Oct. 9, 2001)

Final Judgment (Nov. 28, 2001; entered Dec. 3, 2001)

Notice of Motion by Visa U.S.A. Inc., Mastercard Int'l.; for an Order pursuant to Rule 59(e) of the F.R.C.P. and Local Rule 6.3 altering or amending the Final Judgment (Dec. 10, 2001)

Memorandum of Law by Visa U.S.A. Inc., Mastercard Int'l. in support of motion for an Order pursuant to Rule 59(e) of the F.R.C.P. and Local Rule 6.3 altering or amending the Final Judgment (Dec. 10, 2001)

Government's Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Alter or Amend the Final Judgment (Dec. 20, 2001)

Reply Memorandum by Visa U.S.A. Inc., Mastercard Int'l. in support of [217-1] motion for an Order pursuant to Rule 59(e) of the F.R.C.P. and Local Rule 6.3 altering or amending the Final Judgment (Jan. 2, 2002)

Notice of Motion by Visa U.S.A. Inc. for an order to Rule 62(c) of the FRCP granting a stay of all provisions of the final judgement entered on 12/3/01, pending final resolution of defendant Visa's appeal of that judgement (Dec. 17, 2001).

Government's Consolidated Memorandum of Law in Response to Defendants' Motions for Stay Pending Appeal (Jan. 18, 2002)

Notice fo Motion by U.S.A. for an Order striking portions of the declarations submitted in support of defendants' motions to stay pending appeal (Jan. 14, 2002)

Memorandum in Support of the Government's Motion to Strike Portions of Declarations Submitted in Support of Defendants VISA U.S.A. Inc.'s and MasterCard International, Inc.'s Motion to Stay Pending Appeal (Jan. 18, 2002)

Notice of Appeal (Apr. 10, 2002) (Visa International)
Notice of Appeal (Apr. 10, 2002) (Visa U.S.A.)
Notice of Appeal (Apr. 10, 2002) (MasterCard International)

 

Second Circuit

Docket sheet (downloaded Oct. 20, 2013)

Brief for the United States (Aug. 30, 2002)

Opinion (Sept. 17, 2003) (errata filed Oct. 17, 2003) (affirming district court's judgment)


Petition for Writ of Certiorari

Petition for Writ of Certiorari

Brief for the United States in Opposition (Aug. 13, 2004)

 

Commentary

David S. Evans & Richard L Schmalensee, Joint Venture Membership: Visa and Discover Card (1993), in The Antitrust Revolution 286 (John E. Kwoka, Jr. & Lawrence J. White eds., 3d ed. 1999).

Texaco/Shell
(FTC 1988)

On formation of the Texaco/Shell joint venture:

Complaint, In re Shell Oil Co., 125 F.T.C. 769 (1998) (FTC news release)

Decision and Order, In re Shell Oil Co., 125 F.T.C. 769 (1998) (FTC consent decree requiring curative divestitures)

Separate Statement of Commissioner Azcuenaga, Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part

On operation:

District court

Complaint, Dagher v. Saudi Refining Inc., No. 2:99-cv-06114-GHK-JWJ (C.D. Cal. filed June 15, 1999)

Docket sheet--downloaded January 23, 2009

Second Amended Complaint (filed Jan. 25, 2000)

Memorandum and Order re: Joint Briefings on Motions for Summary Judgment (Part One: Re: Plaintiffs' Standing Against SRI) (May 21, 2002)

Memorandum and Order re: Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment (Part Two: Re: § 1 Per Se & Quick-Look Liability) (Aug. 13, 2002)

Judgment against plaintiffs--Aug. 13, 2002

Ninth Circuit

Dagher v. Saudi Refining, Inc., No. 02-56509 (9th Cir. docketed Sept. 6, 2002) (reported at 369 F.3d 1108)

Docket sheet (downloaded June 6, 2014)

Supreme Court

Favoring cert and reversal

Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae ( May 2005)

Merits

Brief for Petitioner Texaco Inc.
Petitioner Shell's Opening Brief
Brief for Respondents
Reply Brief for Petitioner Shell Oil Company

Texaco Inc. v. Dagher, 547 U.S. 1 (2006)

Ninth Circuit on remand

Dagher v. Saudi Refining Inc., No. 02-56509 (9th Cir. 2006) (reported at 466 F.3d 1120)

Judgment of the Ninth Circuit affirming grant of summary judgment for defendants--Nov. 15, 2006

 

24. Price discrimination

26. Extraterritoriality