June 22, 2004

Not quite yet lawmakers to the world: to sighs of relief from the business community, the Supreme Court last week ruled 8-0 that federal antitrust law cannot be used to demand triple damages from foreign businesses over sins committed abroad against foreign consumers absent some more substantial domestic involvement in the case. It overturned the D.C Circuit's ruling to the contrary. "Stephen A. Bokat, senior vice president and general counsel of the United States Chamber of Commerce, said the decision was a 'very positive development' in its campaign against what it calls 'global forum shopping.'" (Linda Greenhouse, "The Reach of U.S. Antitrust Law Overseas Is Limited", New York Times, Jun. 15).