Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr Antitrust Series
Antitrust and Competition Law Update: U.S. v. Visa: Government Wins Major Rule of Reason Case
Abstract
On September 17, 2003, the Second Circuit issued an important decision in U.S. v. Visa U.S.A., Inc., 2003 WL 22138519 (2d Cir. Sept. 17, 2003). The court affirmed a district court ruling invalidating Visa and Mastercard rules that prohibit member banks from issuing American Express or Discover.1 The district court had found that these ìexclusionary rulesî substantially harmed competition and failed scrutiny under a rule of reason analysis. Visa is noteworthy both because it is a (relatively rare) government win in a major rule of reason case ó with the Second Circuit affirming the trial courtís rigorous inquiry into the rulesí anticompetitive effects and proffered procompetive justification ó and because it may bring pressure for substantial structural changes in the card industry.
Subject Area
Antitrust
Recommended Citation
William Kolasky, Robert Bell, Lee Greenfield, Veronica Kayne, Jim Lowe, Doug Melamed, Thomas Mueller, and Ali Stoeppelwerth,
"Antitrust and Competition Law Update: U.S. v. Visa: Government Wins Major Rule of Reason Case"
(October 2006).
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr Antitrust Series.
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr Antitrust Series.
Working Paper 30.
http://law.bepress.com/wilmer/papers/art30
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