[Random-bits] John Wilke on EU opposition to Time-Warner/AOL merger

[James Love]

A while ago Jeff Chester, Ed Mierzwinski and I meet with the EU
competition authorities about the AOL/Time Warner merger.  We were
pleased to read today's story in the WSJ by John Wilke.  Jamie

http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB967687873210096017.htm

Time Warner, AOL Are Criticized
                 By European Antitrust Enforcers

                 By JOHN R. WILKE 
                 Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

WASHINGTON -- European antitrust enforcers are taking a hard line on
America Online Inc.'s acquisition of Time Warner Inc., concerned that
AOL's online service could become a "walled garden" dominating Internet
access in Europe.

In a confidential statement of objections given to the parties in the
antitrust review, European regulators were sharply critical of the
transaction, warning that the combined companies could dominate digital
delivery of music and theemerging markets for online delivery of film,
sports and entertainment programming.

The 45-page document details the commission's objections, which reach
further than previously known and set the stage for a confrontation
between European officials and senior executives of AOL and Time Warner
next week in a closed session in Brussels.


  [snip]


-- 
James Love  mailto:love@cptech.org http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
voice 1.202.387.8030  fax  1.202.234.5176