Antitrust Practices and Market Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Antitrust Practices and Market Power - Essay Example The antitrust investigation against Google by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) followed complaints from competing search engines. They claimed that Google had monopolized the search business and online advertising, making it difficult for them to compete. Other search engine claimed that Google had made it hard for new entrants to find their way into the markets and industries that Google had already established operations. The Federal Trade Commission, which prohibits unfair methods of competition and deceptive practices (Areeda & Hovenkamp, 2011), came in to investigate Google’s antitrust behavior. Although FTC finally closed the investigation against Google without filling any lawsuits, antitrust behavior comes at a cost to the company. Google had to prove its case that it was not engaging in antitrust practices. This drew company resources into the investigation, resources that could have been directed to other company developments. Most importantly, unfair and illegal business activities often taint company image and consumer loyalty. This could eventually mark a devastating turning point for the company. Investigation into Google’s antitrust behavior was undertaken within the relevant legal framework. The applicable legal provisions included the Sherman Act (1890), Clayton Act (1914), and Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) (Posner, 2001). Under the Sherman Act, Google was investigated for the monopolization claims by other search engines. In the light of Clayton Act, the company’s exclusive dealings were put on the spot. Finally, the FTC Act encompasses unfair and anticompetitive practices for which Google was being investigated. Perfect competition, monopoly, and oligopoly market structures influence competition differently (Federico, 2009). These market structures determine whether or not there are barriers to entry into any given market

First Amendment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

First Amendment - Essay Example By the same provision, people can join and associate with groups and organizations without government intervention (Cohen, 2008). This law grants people the right to appeal to the government in support or against policies affecting them or those that arouse strong feelings amongst the people. People can therefore exploit this provision to gather signatures in support of a cause, or lobby legislative bodies to support or oppose legislation. The Supreme Court has the legal mandate to interpret the extent of protection afforded to these rights. The establishment clause prohibits the government, by way of legislation, from coming up with a religion that is well known or recognizing one religion over others. However, some government activity serving religious entities have been allowed by the Supreme Court, for example, provision of bus transportation using government resources for parochial school students (Cohen, 2008). The Supreme Court strongly demands for justification of government interference of free speech but allows for speech prohibition where there is risk of breach of peace or violence. The government may prohibit association or prevent formation of groups that promote or engage in illegal activities. While the right to association prohibits the government from requiring groups to register or disclose their members or government denying people benefits based on membership of a particular group, there are instances where courts feel that the benefits of registration or disclosure far outweigh interference with first amendment rights (Anastaplo, 2010). The protection of the right to speech and assembly for speakers vary with the speaker’s forum. As the Supreme Court breaks them down; there are traditional public forums, nonpublic forums and designated forums, some public property are not classified. The traditional public forums consist of all the areas traditionally open to political speech and debate such as side walks and public