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The Elusive Antitrust Standard on Bundling in Europe and in the United States at the Aftermath of the Microsoft Cases
Nicholas Economides, New York University
Ioannis Lianos, Faculty of Laws, University College London
ABSTRACT:
We analyze and contrast the US and EU antitrust standards on mixed bundling and tying. We apply our analysis to the US and EU cases against Microsoft on the issue of tying new products (Internet Explorer in the US, and Windows Media Player in the EU) with Windows as well as to cases brought in Europe and in the United States on bundling discounts. We conclude that there are differences between the EC and US antitrust law on the choice of the relevant analogy for bundled rebates (predatory price standard or foreclosure standard) and the implementation of the distinct product and coercion test for tying practices. The second important difference between the two jurisdictions concerns the interpretation of the requirement of anticompetitive foreclosure. It seems to us that in Europe, consumer detriment is found easily and it is not always a requirement for the application of Article 82, or at least that the standard of proof of a consumer detriment for tying cases is lower than in the US.
SUGGESTED CITATION:
Nicholas Economides and Ioannis Lianos,
"The Elusive Antitrust Standard on Bundling in Europe and in the United States at the Aftermath of the Microsoft Cases"
(December 31, 2007).
New York University School of Law.
New York University Law and Economics Working Papers.
Paper 115.
http://lsr.nellco.org/nyu/lewp/papers/115
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