Tag - ftc

 
 

FTC

Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2020
Japan FTC warns of possible illegal points programs
The Fair Trade Commission has said some actions taken by loyalty point program operators may constitute antitrust law violations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 6, 2020
Rakuten puts free delivery plan on hold after backlash from retailers
Rakuten's retailers have made it clear that they are not all on board with shouldering the shipping costs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 28, 2020
Rakuten's plan to force shipping costs on retailers draws ire of Japan's FTC
The Fair Trade Commission said Friday it has asked a court to halt Rakuten Inc.'s plan to make retailers on its online marketplace shoulder the cost of free shipping amid complaints about the policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 10, 2020
Japan's antitrust watchdog searches Rakuten office over its free shipping policy
The antitrust watchdog Monday searched Rakuten Inc.'s head office in Tokyo over the internet mall operator's plan to make marketplace tenants shoulder the cost of its proposed free shipping service, sources close to the matter said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 29, 2020
Antitrust watchdog launches probe into Rakuten's free delivery plan
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has started investigating online mall operator Rakuten Inc.'s plan to make marketplace merchants shoulder the costs of its proposed free shipping service, a source close to the matter said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 22, 2020
Online sellers petition for antitrust probe into Rakuten free shipping policy
A group of merchants on Rakuten Inc.'s online shopping mall on Wednesday submitted a petition with some 4,000 signatures to the Fair Trade Commission, asking it to investigate the e-commerce giant's planned free shipping policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2019
Manipulation of search results may violate antitrust law, says Japan's FTC
The Fair Trade Commission said in a survey report Thursday that the practice of online shopping site operators prioritizing products made by themselves or their affiliates in users' search results could be in violation of the anti-monopoly law.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 15, 2019
Walmart seen subsidizing vendors in online holiday price war with Amazon
Hold on to your smartphone — the holiday price wars between Walmart Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are heating up.
BUSINESS
Oct 10, 2019
Japan's Fair Trade Commission probes restaurant booking websites over alleged strong-arm tactics
The Fair Trade Commission has launched an investigation into whether the operators of major restaurant search and booking websites in the country have imposed unreasonable conditions on participant eateries.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 12, 2019
BMW Japan raided by FTC over allegations it set unfair sales quotas: sources
Japan's Fair Trade Commission raided BMW Japan Corp. on Wednesday for allegedly imposing unreasonable sales quotas on its distributors and making them buy vehicles when they missed the targets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 30, 2019
FTC compiles draft guidelines for tighter regulations on tech giants and use of customer data
The Fair Trade Commission said Thursday it has compiled draft guidelines for tighter regulation of technology giants in order to strengthen protection of customer data, and aims to introduce the first such rules as early as October.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 7, 2019
Japan's FTC demands action from four big contractors who keep cropping up in antitrust cases
The apparently unprecedented move by the FTC followed a spate of antitrust violations by companies linked to the four — Obayashi Corp., Kajima Corp., Taisei Corp. and Shimizu Corp.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 6, 2019
Japan's monopolies agency reportedly investigating Apple for hammering suppliers
The Fair Trade Commission is investigating Apple Inc. over its pressure on parts makers and whether it abused its power in violation of antimonopoly rules, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2019
FTC may announce $5 billion settlement with Facebook over Cambridge Analytica fiasco this week: sources
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is expected to announce a roughly $5 billion settlement with Facebook Inc. as early as this week of its investigation into the social media company's handling of user data, two sources briefed on the matter said on Monday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2019
Emails show Mark Zuckerberg knew of 'problematic' privacy practices at Facebook, WSJ reports
Facebook Inc. uncovered emails that seem to show Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg was aware of potentially problematic privacy practices at the company, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 12, 2019
Three contact lens makers raided in Japan over alleged violations of Antimonopoly Law
The Fair Trade Commission raided three contact lens makers Tuesday for allegedly forcing retailers not to list prices on their advertisements in violation of the Antimonopoly Law, it was learned Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 7, 2019
FCC votes to curb 'scourge' of robocalls, giving carriers OK to take blocking tactics
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to help shield you from those unwanted telemarketers and scammers who warn you about fake tax problems or offer too-good-to-be-true vacation packages.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2019
Silicon valley battered as Washington turns up antitrust heat
Technology giants are bracing for sweeping investigations into their business practices as top U.S. antitrust officials and lawmakers carved out a battle plan targeting Silicon Valley's best-known names — sending shares tumbling and raising the prospect of a drawn-out fight with the government.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 17, 2019
Japan's antitrust watchdog probes tech giants over concerns they may be abusing their dominant positions over smaller firms
Technology giants such as Google LLC, Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. came under pressure Wednesday as Japan's antitrust watchdog noted opaque practices that could disadvantage vendors on their e-commerce sites or smartphone app stores.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 28, 2019
Japan antitrust regulator launches survey to assess global IT giants' sway over vendors
Japan's antitrust watchdog launched Wednesday a survey of transactions involving information technology giants like Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Google LLC to investigate whether their market dominance may be hindering fair competition.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores