What’s at Stake in the Google Antitrust Case? Billions of Dollars (and the Way We Use the Internet) (Micro News for May 4, 2024 – May 10, 2024)

The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against Google's search engine dominance is coming closer to a resolution. The trial has wrapped up and Judge Amit Mehta will issue his opinion later this year. The lawsuit hinges on whether Google's payments to Apple to become the default search engine violated antitrust law.

JetBlue and Spirit Appeal Court Decision Blocking Their Merger (Micro News for January 20, 2024 – January 26, 2024)

A federal court ruled that the proposed merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines would inhibit competition. However, the two airlines announced their intention to appeal the ruling stating that combining the two airlines would allow them to lower costs and therefore reduce airfares. The two airlines also indicated that the merger would enhance "our ability to compete with the dominant U.S. carriers."

Teva, Glenmark Fined $255 Million by DOJ to Resolve Price Fixing Charges (Micro News for September 2, 2023 – September 8, 2023)

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed to defer prosecution of criminal trials and punishment of Teva Pharmaceuticals and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals if the firms comply with an agreement that will settle charges of price fixing. Teva will pay $225 million in fines over the next five years and also donate $50 million of generic drugs that will be distributed to Americans in need. Teva will also sell its generic cholesterol drug pravastatin. Glenmark will pay $30 million in fines and also sell its version of the same drug. Teva's fine is the largest fine for any U.S. antitrust case to date.

JetBlue Won the Battle for Spirit. Now It Has to Win Over Biden’s Justice Department (Micro News for July 30, 2022 – August 5, 2022)

JetBlue Airways won the bidding war for Spirit Airlines. The $3.8 billion all-cash offer beat out rival Frontier Airlines’ cash-and-stock offer that had yet to gain shareholder support. However, the acquisition must be approved by antitrust regulators. JetBlue announced that it anticipates the approval will be granted by the end of 2023 or early 2024.