Examining the American Innovation and Choice Online Act

Congress has been considering legislation that would mark the most significant change to antitrust law in a generation. At issue is whether the bills would increase competition in digital markets, and what impacts may be anticipated. A recent comment letter from the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section, the world’s largest professional organization for antitrust and competition law and consumer protection, discussed one of those bills, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S. 2992), at length in an effort to assist with ongoing consideration of the measure.

The International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) hosted a May 19 digital event (video is embedded above) with two experts to discuss recent proposed legislative changes to current antitrust law, and S. 2992 in particular. Will such bills increase competition in digital markets and what consequences might they have? ICLE Founder and President Geoffrey A. Manne moderated the virtual panel and we joined by guests Sean Sullivan, an associate professor of law at the University of Iowa and member of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, and Elyse Dorsey, visiting scholar at the University of Virginia and adjunct professor at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

As deliberations on the legislation continue, we also recommend reading the following ICLE resources:

And finally, we offer this Twitter thread from ICLE Senior Scholar Lazar Radic, summarizing some of the key points made by the panelists during the May 19 event.