DOJ’s Win Against Publishing Giants Marks Victory for Writers, Readers & Free Speech

October 31, 2022 Press Release

Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to news that the Department of Justice Antitrust Division won its suit to block Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster’s proposed merger.

“This decision is a win for writers, readers, and free expression – and a major blow against concentrated corporate power,” said Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. “In blocking Penguin Random House from further extending its control over book publishing, the Antitrust Division has stopped corporate giants from stealing from authors and controlling what books Americans can read and write.”

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.