Sen. Warren Wants Broad & Meticulous FTC Review of Amazon’s Acquisition of MGM Studios

In full transparency, the following is a media release from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office. She was elected by voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve the state in Washington DC in the US Senate. She is a Democrat.

***

WASHINGTON DC – United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lisa Khan calling for a “broad” and “meticulous” review of Amazon’s acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) consistent with Section 7 of the Clayton Act, legislation that prohibits any acquisition whose effect “may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly” in “any line of commerce or in any activity affecting commerce.” Without thorough review, the deal has potential to harm consumers and workers, and reduce innovation by inhibiting competition in numerous markets. 

“I urge you to use the FTC’s broad authority under this law to assess the possible anticompetitive effects this deal will have on streaming services and entertainment products in addition to the broader impacts that this transaction may have on workers, small businesses, and competition overall as Amazon-which already dominates numerous markets-accelerates its aggressive monopolistic behavior,” Senator Warren wrote.

[broadstreet zone=”59945″]

Senator Warren calls into question the FTC’s typical approach when reviewing vertical transactions: a narrow assessment primarily focusing on price effects in the relevant product or service markets. However, because this deal will affect Amazon Prime, a service tied to a wide range of additional Amazon products and services that affect broad sectors of our economy, this transaction requires meticulous antitrust scrutiny. Senator Warren also raised concerns about the transaction’s broader effects on customers, sellers, and workers across all of Amazon’s retailing segments.

“Amazon is a large and powerful acquirer with expansive operations; an investigation into the ramifications of this deal should include both its direct impacts on streaming services and prices charged to consumers and its broader effects on small businesses, workers, and the economy as a whole,” Senator Warren wrote. “Dutifully scrutinizing this transaction is necessary to protect workers, small businesses, competition, and innovation.”

[broadstreet zone=”59948″]