Tag - ftc

 
 

FTC

When Microsoft took a non-voting, observer position on OpenAI's board in November, it triggered unease among antitrust watchdogs in the European Union, Britain and the United States over how much control it exerts over the artificial intelligence startup.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 11, 2024
Microsoft ditches OpenAI board observer seat to avert antitrust scrutiny
The move comes amid concerns among British and U.S. antitrust watchdogs over Microsoft's influence over OpenAI and the latter's independence.
Toyota Customizing & Development, a Toyota subsidiary, broke the subcontract payment law, the Fair Trade Commission said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 5, 2024
Toyota unit violated subcontractor protection law: regulator
Yokohama-based Toyota Customizing & Development broke the law by having dozens of suppliers store metal die casts and other items without paying any storage fees.
Toyota Customizing & Development, founded in April 2018 and 90.5% owned by Toyota, develops vehicles on behalf of the parent firm.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 30, 2024
Toyota unit violates subcontract law
The Fair Trade Commission will shortly recommend that TCD take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar misconduct, sources said.
The Fair Trade Commission in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 12, 2024
Hashimoto Sogyo inspected over nonpayment of overtime
The antimonopoly law prohibits the abuse of a shipper's dominant position over an operator.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit seeking to break up the social networking giant Meta.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 5, 2024
Meta withheld information on Instagram and WhatsApp deals, FTC says
The company formerly known as Facebook bought photo-sharing app Instagram in 2012 and the messaging app WhatsApp in 2014.
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said that the automaker will continue to communicate with its suppliers to see whether unfair practices persist and set up a new team directly under him to accelerate reforms on its relations with its subcontractors.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 1, 2024
Nissan challenges TV Tokyo report on subcontractors
The automaker denied allegations that it continued to pressure its suppliers into slashing prices even after receiving a warning from the fair trade regulator.
A bid-rigging case represents the first time the Japan Fair Trade Commission has issued a cease-and-desist order order over a project related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BUSINESS
May 30, 2024
FTC issues cease-and-desist orders to JTB and other travel agencies
It is the first time the antitrust watchdog has issued such an order over a project related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masanori Katayama, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said the association will work with the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association to address the problem of subcontractor bullying.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 24, 2024
Japan’s automakers vow to stop squeezing their suppliers
Member companies of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association have agreed to treat subcontractors more fairly when the latter pass on cost increases.
The Fair Trade Commission took an administrative action against Google for using tactics that limited Yahoo Japan’s ability to compete in targeted search ads.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 22, 2024
Japan watchdog says Google hurt local rival’s ability to compete
From 2015 to 2022, Google blocked Yahoo Japan from technology needed to receive targeted ad revenue from searches on mobile devices, the FTC said.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission may take administrative action against Google over its digital advertising business.
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2024
Japan FTC may take administrative action against Google
The FTC suspects that Google is unfairly restricting transactions on Yahoo Japan and messaging app Line, in violation of Japan's antimonopoly law.
A Costco store in Illinois
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 13, 2024
Costco’s Japan unit warned by FTC after cutting subcontractor payments
Bakery and food suppliers saw their compensation reduced by ¥33.5 million from 2021 to 2023, the agency has said.
The Fair Trade Commission will demand Nissan take measures to prevent a recurrence of unfair reductions in payments to subcontracting auto parts makers.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 4, 2024
Japan FTC to warn Nissan over payments to parts suppliers
The reductions are estimated to total about ¥3 billion for more than 30 suppliers over the past several years.
An office of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance in Tokyo in 2016.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 19, 2023
FTC inspects nonlife insurers over alleged joint contract cartel
The on-site probes follow reports the firms prearranged premiums for joint insurance contracts with corporate and public entities.
An Apple Store in Shanghai in September
BUSINESS / Tech / FOCUS
Nov 19, 2023
Asian regulators turn focus to Big Tech
Across the region, there are indications that Big Tech may soon have to comply with standards that could become international benchmarks.
The Fair Trade Commission has begun a probe on allegations of potential antitrust violations by Google.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 23, 2023
Japan begins probe into Google for alleged antitrust violations
Japan’s antitrust watchdog has begun an investigation into whether Alphabet’s Google abuses its market position to block rival services.
Yahoo News is currently the most popular news portal site in Japan, with the highest number of partnerships with news providers.
BUSINESS / Tech
Sep 26, 2023
Yahoo News considers reviewing contracts with news providers
The announcement follows a report by the JFTC last week that warned that the platform's operator, Yahoo Japan, may be in a superior bargaining position.
The Fair Trade Commission urged online platforms such as Yahoo Japan and Google to transparently disclose their criteria for compensating news content usage.
JAPAN
Sep 22, 2023
Japan warns IT giants over low pay to media for news distribution
The warning comes amid growing global concerns that these platforms are generating substantial revenue from the distribution of news.
Bigmotor, embroiled in a scandal over excessive repair fees and auto insurance fraud, may have forced its subcontractors to lower prices and have their company vehicles undergo periodic inspections at its workshops, according to sources.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 2, 2023
Japan fair trade body probes scandal-hit Bigmotor over subcontracts
The company may have forced its subcontractors to lower prices and have their company vehicles undergo periodic inspections at its workshops.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2023
Four Japanese utilities and sales units slapped with business improvement orders
The industry ministry monitoring committee on gas and electricity businesses concluded that their actions hinder liberalization of the electricity market and the development of the sector.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 13, 2023
Mizuho warned over setting low IPO prices in blow to issuers
The warning suggests the government is getting more serious about removing what it sees as obstacles to its plan to turbocharge Japan’s startup ecosystem.

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'