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Court Allows Antitrust Case Against Live Nation

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A U.S. federal judge has rejected Live Nation Entertainment’s request to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the company of attempting to dominate the live concert market.

The decision allows the antitrust case, brought by the Department of Justice along with multiple states, to move toward trial. Jury selection is expected to begin in early March.

Authorities allege that Live Nation has used its influence across ticketing, venues and promotions to limit competition and potentially harm both performers and audiences. The lawsuit follows long-standing concerns about the company’s market position, particularly after its 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster.

The judge ruled that there is sufficient dispute over whether Live Nation leveraged its market power in ways that restricted competition, allowing key claims to proceed.

However, some allegations related to concert promotion and booking services were dismissed.

Live Nation has denied any misuse of market dominance and maintains that its practices did not negatively affect consumers.

The case marks a significant step in ongoing scrutiny of competition within the live entertainment sector.

FTC Appeals Ruling in Meta Antitrust Case Over Instagram, WhatsApp Deals

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has appealed a court ruling that dismissed its antitrust case against Meta Platforms, seeking to revive claims that the company illegally built monopoly power by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC said its position remains unchanged despite last year’s dismissal.

The agency argues that Meta’s purchases of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 harmed competition by eliminating emerging rivals. It has asked the courts to reconsider forcing a potential breakup or divestment of the platforms. Meta was sued in 2020, years after regulators initially approved the deals.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled in November that Meta does not currently hold a monopoly, citing strong competition from platforms such as TikTok. Meta said the decision correctly reflects the competitive landscape and said it will continue investing and innovating in the United States.

Brazil Antitrust Authority Opens Probe Into WhatsApp Business AI Restrictions

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CADE, Brazil’s antitrust regulator, said on Monday it has opened an investigation into the updated terms of Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp Business tool, citing concerns over potential anti-competitive practices. As part of the probe, CADE has ordered the suspension of the new terms in Brazil while the case is under review.

According to the regulator, the investigation focuses on whether the revised terms restrict access by artificial intelligence tool providers to WhatsApp users in a way that harms competition. CADE said such limitations could affect how AI chatbot providers offer services through the messaging platform.

The probe follows complaints filed by AI chatbot companies after Meta introduced new terms in October that banned them from using the WhatsApp Business Solution. Regulatory documents indicate that rivals argue the policy effectively blocks third-party AI services, potentially favoring Meta’s own AI offerings within the WhatsApp ecosystem.

A WhatsApp spokesperson rejected the accusations, saying the claims are “fundamentally wrong.” The company said the rapid growth of AI chatbots on the WhatsApp Business Platform has strained its infrastructure, which was not originally designed to support such services.

Brazil’s move adds to mounting regulatory scrutiny of Meta’s AI and messaging practices worldwide, as competition authorities increasingly examine how large platforms manage access to their ecosystems amid the rise of generative AI tools.