Targeting Tech: Is Antitrust The Answer?

Through contentious investigations and enforcement actions spanning state, federal, and international government, regulatory oversight is redefining the role of leading technology companies in our society. One question looms larger than all others: Should local and federal governments level the cannons of antitrust law against its most successful business sector, technology?

In partnership with Mozilla, Recount Media’s Shift event series will kick off with a special evening program focused on the question of antitrust action in the United States. Business leaders, technology executives, policy makers and press will gather to discuss the role of technology companies in shaping our society, and whether antitrust enforcement is an appropriate remedy to the tech industry’s power.

Hosted by Recount Media co-founders John Heilemann and John Battelle at the NASDAQ building, invited guests will be treated to a thought-provoking evening that tackles this very important issue which impacts us all.

Schedule:

7-8 p.m. - cocktails and hors d'oeuvres

8-9:30 p.m. - program

Featuring:

JEFFREY BLATTNER, Attorney and President of Legal Policy Solutions, PLLC

Blattner was deputy assistant attorney general and special counsel for information technology in the Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, where he supervised the United States v. Microsoft Corp.

BRAD BURNHAM, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures

He started working in information technology with AT&T in 1979. Brad spun Echo Logic out of Bell Laboratories in 1989 and joined AT&T Ventures in 1993.

Brad co-founded TACODA in 2001 before joining Fred Wilson to create Union Square Ventures in 2003.

JESSICA MELUGIN, Associate Director of the Center for Technology & Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute

Melugin's research focuses on technology issues including electronic commerce, Internet taxation, net neutrality regulation, and antitrust.