The Lessons of Covisint : Regulating B2Bs Under European and American Competition Laws

This article focuses on Covisint, describing how regulatory officials in the United States, Germany, and the European Community have chosen to exercise extraordinary flexibility in allowing Covisint (and other B2Bs) to form and undertake broad industry wide collaborations." Unquestionably, the dazzling efficiencies and procompetitive benefits envisioned as possible through industry wide technological cooperation argue in favor of creative economic experimentation. Nevertheless, based on Covisint's short history of operations since its approval, we argue that Covisint's promises of good behavior notwithstanding," the risks and temptations of harmful exclusionary and collusive behavior are formidable, especially when the B2B evolves from an E-business exchange to a "global solutions provider," as Covisint is doing