Author: Paul Moore
On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1776, the Competition and Opportunity in Markets for a Prosperous, Equitable and Transparent Economy (COMPETE) Act. Effective January 1, 2027, the law extends California’s Cartwright Act to single-firm
The Antitrust Attorney Blog
The Antitrust Attorney Blog, published by Bona Law PC, focuses on issues related to antitrust and competition law in the United States and internationally. The blog covers topics such as antitrust litigation, algorithmic pricing, federal and state antitrust immunity doctrines, mergers and acquisitions, investigations, compliance counseling, and regulatory advocacy. It discusses recent court decisions, legislative developments, and enforcement actions affecting competition law, including matters like class actions, sectoral bargaining, and the application of the Sherman Act. The blog also addresses industry-specific antitrust challenges and provides insights into multi-district litigation and appellate issues.
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Latest from The Antitrust Attorney Blog
Which Software Developers Should Consider a Direct Action Against Google Following the $700 Million Google Play Settlement?
Author: Luis Blanquez
The class chapters of the Google Play fight are closing. A federal court gave final approval in 2026 to the $700 million settlement resolving the claims of consumers and a coalition of state attorneys general. Small…
Can You Sue Over a Paid Influencer’s Posts? False Advertising on Social Media
Author: Luke Hasskamp
Your competitor’s product is suddenly everywhere on social media. Influencers you have never heard of call it cheaper and better than yours. Some of the posts are tagged as sponsored, and some are not. It looks like…
When Two Foreign Companies Merge, Do They Have to File in the United States? A Practical Guide to the HSR Foreign-to-Foreign Exemptions
Authors: Steve Cernak, Luis Blanquez and Kristen Harris
Two companies in Germany agree to a deal. One buys the other. Both are incorporated in Germany, run from Germany, selling mostly to European customers. No one in the boardroom is…
The Reach of Ariix v. NutriSearch: When Rigged “Independent” Reviews Can Become Actionable Under the Lanham Act for False Advertising
Author: Luke Hasskamp
Many modern buyers are skeptical of conventional advertising, so they look for something that seems more independent. They read reviews, check star ratings, and search for the guide, ranking, or “best of” list that promises an assessment…
Google Play Antitrust US Settlement vs. the EU’s €4.1 Billion Fine: Litigation or Regulation—Which Actually Stops a Monopoly?
Author: Luis Blanquez
Google just paid $700 million in the US to close the domestic front of a war it has already lost twice. This month, the court gave final approval to the settlement resolving the antitrust claims brought by…
A $12 Million Lesson in HSR Rule 801.90: Purpose is the Whole Ballgame
Authors: Steve Cernak, Luis Blanquez, and Kristen Harris
The largest penalty in the history of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act did not come from a botched filing. It came from a deal the parties chose not to file for at…
The Tether Class Certification Is a Warning Label for Crypto Defendants in Antitrust Cases
Author: Luis Blanquez
A federal judge in New York recently certified two classes of cryptocurrency buyers against Tether and Bitfinex. If you issue a stablecoin, run an exchange, or make markets in digital assets, that sentence should get your attention…
Antitrust HSR Update: What the 55 Comments Tell Us About the Next Form
Authors: Steve Cernak, Luis Blanquez, and Kristen Harris
The comment period on the FTC and DOJ’s request for information on the HSR premerger notification form closed May 26, 2026, with 55 comments on the docket (FTC-2026-0298).…
How to Run the Antitrust HSR Process When Your CEO is Impatient
Author: Steven Cernak
Say you are the in-house lawyer at a big company — call it Grand Motors — and you are responsible for making sure Hart-Scott-Rodino filings are made. With some variations, this hypothetical also works if you are…