Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 16 NOVEMBER 2023

Does The NBA Have An Antitrust Problem? A Rival Basketball League May Think So.

Bona Law PC
Explore more from Bona Law PC

NBA action is FAN-TASTIC! Unless, of course, the action is one brought by the Department of Justice in a different kind of court. But that may be exactly where the NBA finds itself...

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Luke Hasskamp
Luke Hasskamp
Molly Donovan
Molly Donovan

NBA action is FAN-TASTIC! Unless, of course, the action is one brought by the Department of Justice in a different kind of court. But that may be exactly where the NBA finds itself: the DOJ is reportedly investigating the professional basketball association for alleged antitrust violations. The NBA's alleged anticompetitive conduct targeted Big3, a competitive basketball league founded by Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz (with Clyde Drexler serving as commissioner!). That conduct included allegedly pressuring team owners, current NBA players, and advertisers and partner television networks not to do business with Big3.

Big3 is an aptly named 12-team, 3-on-3 league mostly comprised of retired NBA players. Teams play an eight-week season, followed by a two-week, four-team playoff, all during the NBA's off-season. In 2023, the Big3's regular season was held once a week in Chicago, Dallas, Brooklyn, Memphis, Miami, Boston, Charlotte, and Detroit,

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Booking Holdings v. Commission: General Court Clears The Way For Reverse Leveraging

The General Court of the European Union has upheld the European Commission's prohibition of Booking Holdings' acquisition of eTraveli Group, endorsing for the first time a 'reverse leveraging' theory of harm in conglomerate mergers. This landmark judgment establishes that dominant companies can be blocked from acquiring complementary businesses even when the target operates in a market where the acquirer lacks dominance, fundamentally reshaping merger control enforcement in digital and ecosystem-driven mark
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Article

KKR Agrees To Historic $250 Million Penalty For Alleged Violations Of HSR...

The Department of Justice announced a landmark $250 million settlement with KKR & Co. for allegedly submitting deficient Hart-Scott-Rodino Act notification forms across at least 16 transactions. This unprecedented penalty, the largest ever for HSR violations, raises critical questions about merger notification compliance obligations and the consequences of systemic noncompliance with federal antitrust review requirements.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

Recent Significant Federal Merger Enforcement Developments

The Justice Department has resumed targeted Second Request investigations to expedite merger reviews, while major entertainment industry consolidation faces legal challenges and the FTC secures record penalties for Hart-Scott-Rodino Act violations. These developments signal a shifting landscape in federal merger enforcement, balancing efficiency with rigorous antitrust scrutiny across multiple industries.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Wiggin and Dana LLP
Wiggin and Dana LLP
Article

DOJ Merger Investigation Closure Credits AI Competition And Highlights Targeted Second Request Reviews

The U.S. Department of Justice recently closed its investigation into a merger between two leading sales enablement software providers, citing AI competition as a key protective factor against potential competitive harm. This decision offers important insights into how antitrust agencies are evaluating AI-native companies as competitive constraints and implementing more efficient, targeted merger review processes in technology sector transactions.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman
Article

The Tether Class Certification Is A Warning Label For Crypto Defendants In Antitrust Cases

A federal judge in New York certified two classes of cryptocurrency buyers against Tether and Bitfinex in a landmark case alleging market manipulation through unbacked stablecoin issuance. The certification order narrowed the plaintiff classes while preserving key causation defenses for summary judgment, fundamentally reshaping how crypto companies should approach class action litigation risk.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Bona Law PC
Bona Law PC
Article

Comparing Antitrust Review Of The Paramount-Warner Brothers Transaction By The US And The UK

The proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. transaction reveals a fundamental shift in global merger review dynamics, where U.K. regulators now wield unprecedented influence over American media deals. This analysis explores how the Competition and Markets Authority's expanding jurisdictional reach and distinct antitrust standards create new strategic challenges for multinational companies.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Bona Law PC
Bona Law PC