FTC Reopens Unocal Patent Antitrust Probe

[Snazzy]

FTC Reopens Unocal Patent Antitrust Probe

Jul 7, 6:16 PM (ET)


WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Trade Commission, overruling one of its law judges, reopened an antitrust case Wednesday against Unocal involving the oil company's patent on a formula for making cleaner burning gasoline.

The commission by a 5-0 vote directed the agency's staff to resume its investigation into the matter, which involves allegations that Unocal misled California state regulators by not telling them in the 1990s that the company was pursuing a patent for a gasoline blend needed to meet new clean air requirements.

The FTC complaint alleges that Unocal "induced" the California Air Resources Board to adopt clean gasoline standards that would require the Unocal technology. As a result, Unocal gained illegal monopoly power over the clean gas market in violation of antitrust laws, the complaint said.

State officials maintain that had the proprietary situation - Unocal's bid for a patent - been known to the state agency, it might have crafted different clean air requirements.

Thanks to the new rules, Unocal has reaped millions of dollars in royalties from other companies that used the protected formula to meet the clean gas standard, the complaint charges, resulting in higher gasoline prices for consumers in California and other places where the cleaner burning gasoline is required in summer months.

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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040707/D83M7CGO0.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Wow!

And this (the investigation) happening under the Shrub/Cheney watch, too!

Things are really, really, really looking bad for the Chimpy McCokeSpoon administration.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. FTC Reopens Unocal Patent Antitrust Probe

Thanks to the new rules, Unocal has reaped millions of dollars in royalties from other companies that used the protected formula to meet the clean gas standard, the complaint charges, resulting in higher gasoline prices for consumers in California and other places where the cleaner burning gasoline is required in summer months.<<

How much were they fined for trying to cut deals with a regime that supported terrorism?? Or has this just gone down the memory hole as well.....


http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MAD201A.html
>>According to Afghan, Iranian, and Turkish government sources, Hamid Karzai, the interim Prime Minister of Afghanistan, was a top adviser to the El Segundo, California-based UNOCAL Corporation which was negotiating with the Taliban to construct a Central Asia Gas (CentGas) pipeline from Turkmenistan through western Afghanistan to Pakistan.

Karzai, the leader of the southern Afghan Pashtun Durrani tribe, was a member of the mujaheddin that fought the Soviets during the 1980s. He was a top contact for the CIA and maintained close relations with CIA Director William Casey, Vice President George Bush, and their Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) Service interlocutors. Later, Karzai and a number of his brothers moved to the United States under the auspices of the CIA. Karzai continued to serve the agency's interests, as well as those of the Bush Family and their oil friends in negotiating the CentGas deal, according to Middle East and South Asian sources.<<

Reason?? Reason?? See above.