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US: Walgreens settles search add suit

By  |  September 19, 2019

Walgreens has agreed to settle a class-action antitrust lawsuit centered on search ad campaigns, according to Media Post.

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    The settlement will resolve allegations that Walgreens (along with Vision Direct, now owned by Walgreens) violated antitrust law by entering into agreements with 1-800 Contacts to restrict search advertising.

    Walgreens and 13 other contact lens retailers allegedly entered into the agreements between 2004 and 2013. The companies — some of which have since consolidated, did so in response to legal threats by 1-800 Contacts, which claimed its trademark was infringed when rivals used its brand name to trigger search ads.

    The Federal Trade Commission ruled 4-1 last year that the pacts to restrict search ads were illegal. Chairman Joe Simons said in a written opinion that the agreements may have deprived consumers of the ability to compare brands.

    Full Content: Media Post

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