https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.39...
Parties include the following. The last 5 are advertisers.
- WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS;
- UNILEVER PLC
- UNILEVER UNITED STATES, INC.
- MARS, INCORPORATED
- CVS HEALTH CORPORATION
- ØRSTED A/S
docket: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69017972/x-corp-v-world...
Do you think the Sherman Act is an unreasonable limitation on the free market?
I make no claim as to the nature of claim, the appropriateness of the Sherman act, or if the claims will fail as a matter of law or fact (or neither). I am not a lawyer and am especially clueless on the topic of antitrust law.
I did however, incidentally, see this recently which may be of interest on the topic:
https://verdict.justia.com/2024/08/26/why-elon-musks-and-xs-...
And unless Musk has some extraordinary evidence it will be difficult to provide those advertisers colluded together to better themselves at the expense of other market participants. Especially when they aren't even in the same markets.
Also if you think this situation is akin to a cartel god knows what you think of IMDB or the Michelin guide.
Given Musk's personality, I would not be the tiniest bit surprised if he's suing without any actual evidence, just because he's angry and because he can.
I mean, remember, this is the guy who tried to get out of buying Twitter, and then refused to pay out contractually-obligated packages to many of the former management team he fired. (I'm not the biggest fan in the world of golden parachutes, but this was pretty egregious.)
As far as I am concerned, his contributions to the US, society, and the future via Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, etc., dwarf his various foibles.
P.S. if the pay packages were contractually obligated, then the courts would have forced him to pay them. Courts are generally pretty biased in favor of employees when they sue their employer.
P.P.S if his case has no merit, the advertisers are hardly unable to defend themselves, they are huge corporations. You don't need to feel sorry for them.