University of Michigan Legal Working Paper Series

Program in Law and Economics

 

Reflections on Section 5 of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Case against Intel

Daniel A. Crane, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Abstract

This paper explores the policy implications of the FTC's decision to file its enforcement action against Intel under Section 5 of the FTC Act and declare that it has the power to go further under Section 5's "unfair competition" prong than it could under Section 2 of the Sherman Act. It argues that Intel is an inappropriate case for the Commission to make a bid for Section 5 independence since none of the Commission's institutional advantages over Article III courts justifies a departure from ordinary Section 2 norms in this case. Indeed, the Intel case has the potential to set back the Commission's enforcement powers by prompting a reviewing court to chastise the Commission for overreaching and rejecting a broad view of Section 5.

Subject Area

Antitrust

Recommended Citation

Daniel A. Crane, "Reflections on Section 5 of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Case against Intel" (January 2010). University of Michigan Legal Working Paper Series. Program in Law and Economics. Working Paper 1.
http://law.bepress.com/umichlwps/empirical/art1

No readers' reactions have been posted for this article. To submit one, copy the URL for this article (http://law.bepress.com/umichlwps/empirical/art1) and click here.