The Google investigation inspired several blogs this month. We present different takes on whether Google should even be investigated, followed by a panel discussion with Christine Varney asking if the government is stifling innovation, and then look at a preliminary eulogy for her term. Going abroad, we consider fall-out from the News Corp. problems, evaluate the EU & industrial policy, and take a hard look at Brazil. Thom Lambert debates Einer Elhauge on bundling, and Josh Wright brings the issue full circle discussing antitrust remedies for search engine domination. We finish in a summertime zen mood contemplating Supreme Court decisions rewritten in haiku.

Assessing the FTC Investigation of Google: No Presumption of Guilt, But Certainly Worthy of Investigation
Claims of not being evil and of providing everything free to consumers not withstanding, Google is not Robin Hood.
Eric K. Clemons (Huffington Post)

What’s Really Motivating the Pursuit of Google?

When economic sense takes a back seat to political aggrandizement, we should worry about the effect on markets, innovation and the overall health of the economy.
Geoffrey Manne (Main Justice)

Does the Government Stifle Innovation?
Some harsh words for the government’s hand in business-and harsher realities dished back. Christine Varney: “You don’t like antitrust laws, repeal them.”
Leigh Gallagher (CNN Money)

Varney and Obama’s Antitrust Legacy
The next AAG needs to go beyond tinkering around the edges of anticompetitive conduct and take decisive action to stop it in its tracks.
Ed Black (The Hill’s Congress Blog)

Chaos Theory

The collapse of the News Corp/BSkyB merger is a story of chaos defeating the professionals.

Max Findlay (Kluwer Competition Law Blog)

Should EU Policy Tilt Towards Industrial Policy?
Their main point is industrial policy is not necessarily bad. If done properly it could be important for Europe in certain areas and help Europe become more competitive.“
Amol Agrawal (Mostly Economics)

Competition Policy In Brazil: Too Little, Too Late
It has been more interested in creating national champions than in fostering competition.
(The Economist)

The Efficiency of Metering Tie-Ins
Have you ever had to get on your hands and knees at Office Depot to find precisely the right printer cartridge?  It’s maddening, no?
Thom Lambert (Truth on the Market )

Tying Bundled Discounts, and the Death of the Single Monopoly Profit Theory

Even without a substantial foreclosure share, tying by a firm with market power generally increases monopoly profits and harms consumer and total welfare, absent offsetting efficiencies.
Einer Elhauge (Harvard Law Review)

Searching for Antitrust Remedies, Parts 1 & 2
Is there an appropriate antitrust remedy to alleged search engine bias?
Joshua Wright (Truth on the Market)

Supreme Court Decisions in Miniature Form
If you have trouble keeping track of the flurry of court decisions being made at the end of term, don’t download a PDF of the actual opinion. Just think haiku.
(Wall Street Journal Law Blog)