Antitrust | featured news

Federal investigators are asking questions about Apple's business practices involving digital music and whether Apple used its market dominance to suppress competition from its iTunes rivals, sources say.

An Adobe complaint is the main cause behind reported federal interest in antitrust charges against Apple, according to Bloomberg sources. Apple recently changed the rules for developers, forbidding the use of third-party tools in the creation of iPhone and iPad apps.

Apple is attempting to avoid an antitrust probe into its trade practices by revising some of the terms of its developer agreement. It's not clear which parts would be revised, but government regulators are interested in provisions in Apple's iAd advertising program, and Apple's decision to reject apps built with cross-platform applications.

Officials are looking into the gaps between what farmers earn and what shoppers pay at the grocery store. The Justice Department and the USDA pledge an examination of alleged monopolistic practices.

U.S. Atty. Gen.

President Barack Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to strip health insurers of their decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws — hardening his stand against the industry as he tries to revive his stalled health care overhaul.

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Intel Corp., accusing the world's biggest chip maker of using its size to snuff out competition....

The European Union said today that it is dropping antitrust charges against Microsoft Corp. after the company agreed to give users a choice of up to 12 web browsers besides Internet Explorer.

By agreeing to the payment and a set of business practice provisions, Intel resolved antitrust and patent disputes with Advanced Micro Devices.

New York's attorney general has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Intel, claiming the company used "illegal threats and collusion" to dominate the microprocessor market.

Pfizer Inc.'s $68 billion purchase of Wyeth will close Thursday after antitrust regulators in the U.S. and Canada cleared the deal, which will make Pfizer the world's largest drugmaker by revenue.