Assignment: Law, Ethics, And Corporate Governance
1. In today's economy, there are a wide number of powerful companies who in all appearances control massive segments of different markets. Using the Internet, identify one example of a large company that has (or might be) engaged in anti-competitive behavior. Next, suggest three ways that this behavior could be viewed as either a horizontal or vertical restraint of trade. Provide support for your response.
2. In a separate paragraph, take a contrary view and discuss why you believe the behavior identified with google (below) could be deemed as not being a restraint of trade. Justify your response.
Google showed anti-competitive behavior when the company tried to maintain the dominance of its search engine. Three ways that suggest this behavior could be viewed as a horizontal restraint of trade is through monopolization, price-fixing, and refusal to deal/group boycotts. To support this response the reasons are listed as follows: Google improved its search results by copying contents from websites such as Amazon and then threatened to remove Amazon from its website if they objected. Google also forbid companies from bolstering advertising campaigns on other websites using data they gathered from advertising on Goggle's ad platform; as well as restricting websites from displaying search results from both Google and one of its competitors. Finally, Google admitted they were at fault to the FTC by knowingly placing inferior content in front of customers so it could promote Google +.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.