Howard Shelanski, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics, discussed how antitrust agencies are dealing with the changing digital marketplace at the Bayard Wickliffe Heath Memorial Lecture Series Nov. 16 at UF Law. (Photo by Haley Stracher)

By Francie Weinberg
Student writer

Students, faculty and staff poured into the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center Courtroom Nov. 16 to hear Howard Shelanski speak about antitrust law in his presentation, “Information, Innovation, and Competition Policy for the Internet.”

Shelanski, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics, discussed how antitrust agencies are dealing with the changing digital marketplace. He examined the theory that under-enforcement of antitrust laws in the digital world results in lower-error costs than over-enforcement, and how competition policy can improve on assessing costs, benefits and risks in digital markets.

“I don’t think it is news to anybody that competition enforcement and antitrust enforcement in high-technology markets, particularly in what we call digital platform markets, has been a very major focus of antitrust agencies around the world,” he said. “This set of industries is very central to antitrust enforcement and for good reason: these are industries that are responsible for a tremendous amount of economic growth, a significant amount of investment and frankly, they affect our everyday lives in somewhat dramatic ways.”

Shelanski praised UF Law as possessing an incomparable antitrust program, unlike any other college in the nation. This includes Georgetown Law, where he is a professor.

“The University of Florida is quite remarkable in the percentage of the faculty that are leading antitrust scholars,” he said. “You all are very lucky to be here. Take advantage of these offerings and go forward in this fantastic field of ours.”

Though Shelanski works for the FTC, he noted that the views expressed in his lecture were his and did not reflect those in the Bureau of Economics. He also said that the references he made of any ongoing investigations did not actually portray the future outcomes but rather his personal thoughts on the matter. A webcast of the Heath Lecture is available here.

Shelanski is the fourth annual speaker brought to the University of Florida Levin College of Law for the Bayard Wickliffe Heath Memorial Lecture Series. He has co-written six books and contributed to myriad law reviews and scholarly journals. In 2004, he received Berkeley Law’s Rutter Award for Teaching Distinction. Shelanski’s teachings and research focus on antitrust, regulation and telecommunications policy.

The Heath Memorial Lecture Series is made possible by a gift from Inez Heath, Ph.D., widow of Bayard “Wick” Heath. Before his death in 2008, Heath was the senior competition consultant with Info Tech, a Gainesville firm specializing in statistical and econometric consulting, expert witness testimony and antitrust law. Previous lecturers include Herbert Hovenkamp, William Kovacic and Joseph Harrington.

Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics Howard Shelanski will discuss how antitrust agencies are dealing with the changing digital marketplace during the Bayard Wickliffe Heath Memorial Lecture Series at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. The lecture, “Information, Innovation, and Competition Policy for the Internet,” is on Friday at 10 a.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center courtroom. It is free and open to the public and is also available via webcast.

Shelanski will specifically examine the theory that under-enforcement of antitrust laws in the digital world results in much lower error costs than over-enforcement, and will look at how competition policy can improve on assessing costs, benefits and risks in digital markets.

Shelanski, who is also a professor at Georgetown Law, has co-written six books and contributed to myriad law reviews and scholarly journals. In 2004, he received Berkeley Law’s Rutter Award for Teaching Distinction. Shelanski’s teachings and research focus on antitrust, regulation and telecommunications policy.

The Heath Memorial Lecture Series is made possible by a gift from Inez Heath, Ph.D., widow of Bayard “Wick” Heath. Before his death in 2008, Heath was the senior competition consultant with Info Tech, a Gainesville firm specializing in statistical and econometric consulting, expert witness testimony and antitrust law. Previous lecturers include Herbert Hovenkamp, William Kovacic and Joseph Harrington.

Dean Robert Jerry will once again be performing at this year’s Gator Growl on Friday at 7 p.m. where his band, in crisis, will kick out the jams, playing rock hits from the ’50s through the ’80s. Jerry plays the electric piano and synthesizer in the group, which is also comprised of College of Design, Construction and Planning Dean Chris Silver, School of Architecture Director Martin Gold, School of Architecture Assistant Director John Maze, Architecture Adjunct Professor Mick Richmond and Computer Programmer-Analyst Andy Shivers. In crisis will be the opening act for comedians Josh Turner and Tracy Morgan. Last year, the band opened for the Goo Goo Dolls. Other homecoming weekend activities will include UF’s Homecoming and Alumni Barbecue, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 10, and last until kickoff. The barbecue features games, contests and more. Ticket information for the both events can be found at http://gatorgrowl.org/buy-tickets/.

JMBA hosts Town Hall meeting Nov. 13

JMBA will host a Town Hall meeting Tuesday, Nov. 13, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (HOL 180). Students can submit questions to jmba.townhall@gmail.com or at the JMBA table. (Note: This is not the Town Hall meeting hosted by the administration, which has been postponed to the spring semester).

Antitrust expert from Georgetown to speak at Heath Lecture

On Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. Georgetown Law Professor Howard Shelanski will present “Information, Innovation, and Competition Policy for the Internet” as this year’s Bayard Wickliffe Heath Memorial Lecture Series in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center courtroom. Shelanski has been on leave from Georgetown to serve as director of the Bureau of Economics at the Federal Trade Commission since July 2012. Read more about him here.

The Heath Memorial Lecture Series is made possible by a gift from Inez Heath, Ph.D., widow of Bayard “Wick” Heath. Before his death in 2008, Heath was the senior competition consultant with Info Tech, a Gainesville firm specializing in statistical and econometric consulting, expert witness testimony and antitrust law.

Annual Professor Auction goes live Wednesday

The annual Law Association for Women Professor Auction started Nov. 1 and will go live at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the courtyard. Silent bids are binding if not outbid during the live auction. Dozens of items have been donated, including lunch, dinner and desserts around Gainesville and activities such as mini-golf, yoga, biking, bowling and a beach weekend. Kaplan and BARBRI have also offered discounted Bar prep courses. All proceeds benefit PACE Center for girls, a Florida-based, nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides non-residential, prevention, intervention, and diversion services for at-risk girls and young women ages 12 to 17. Representatives from the organization will be in attendance. Bring cash or check to the live auction.

Ninth Annual Minority Law Student Picnic set for Saturday

The Ninth Annual Minority Law Student Picnic will be held Saturday in Hialeah, Fla. In the past, UF Law alumnus and U.S. District Judge Paul Huck (JD 65) has assisted with connecting Florida Law students with a mentor. If you are interested in having a mentor, complete the student application. Each year many UF law students attend this picnic by traveling themselves or on the bus provided by the law school. The trip to Hialeah will take approximately five hours, and the bus will depart from Gainesville at approximately 7 a.m. The bus will begin the return trip around 4:15 p.m.

LIC Notes: Welfare drug testing case heard before the 11th Circuit

Last year, Florida passed a controversial law (Laws of Florida 2011-81 (codified at Fla. Stat. § 414.0652)) providing for universal drug testing for applicants for Temporary Cash Assistance under Florida’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. On Nov. 1, 2012, oral arguments before the United States 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Lebron v. Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families, No. 11-15258, challenged the constitutionality of TANF’s universal drug testing requirement. To track this case or read the pleadings, Bloomberg Law provides free access to federal filings for UF Law faculty, staff and students. If you would like access, contact Jennifer Wondracek at wondracekj@law.ufl.edu. All others may use the PACER system to track the docket.