The Antitrust Week In Review

Here are some of the developments in antitrust news this past week that we found interesting and are following.

EU may investigate online content providers over cross-border trade.  European antitrust regulators are poised to investigate allegations that two out of three online content providers may be blocking consumers in another EU country from buying their products or services.  The findings by the European Commission came after a year-long investigation into barriers to cross-border trade in electronics, clothing, shoes and digital content in the 28-country bloc during which it surveyed more than 1,400 companies on their business practices.  The EU competition authority said 68 percent of providers of digital content, such as TV shows, films, music and sports, block consumers located in other EU countries, a practice known as geoblocking.

Freedom picks Digital First Media to buy O.C. Register, Tribune Publishing’s bid rejected.  Freedom Communications has chosen Digital First Media to buy its two newspapers because it no longer believes Tribune Publishing can close the deal, according to an attorney for the bankrupt company.  The Los Angeles Times owner had been the top bidder, but its $56-million cash offer to buy the Orange County Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise hit a roadblock late Friday when a U.S. District Court judge approved a temporary restraining order to stop the sale.   The U.S. Department of Justice sought a restraining order just hours after Tribune was named the top choice, citing antitrust concerns that the sale would harm competition and allow Tribune, which also owns the San Diego Union-Tribune, to raise prices to advertisers and subscribers in Orange and Riverside counties.

EU regulators say antitrust exemption for insurers not needed.  A six-year scheme which exempts insurers from antitrust rules under certain conditions is no longer necessary, European Union regulators said on Thursday, following a two-year review.  Adopted in April 2010, the insurance block exemption regulation sets out the conditions under which insurers can exchange information on specific risks without running foul of the EU’s strict competition rules.  The European Commission said the system may not be required any more as a study showed fewer than 50 institutionalized pools may be covered by the exemption.