A railroad or steel company that engaged in anticompetitive conduct could do enormous economic damage.

This is not to say that high-technology companies are incapable of anticompetitive conduct, or that the antitrust laws should be scrapped.

"In our view," he said, "there is no antitrust issue and there is no anticompetitive conduct."

In antitrust doctrine, the damage to consumers from anticompetitive conduct is generally measured in higher prices and fewer choices of products.

For much of its 124-year history as the dominant force in diamonds, De Beers has been accused of price fixing and other anticompetitive conduct.

Wiretaps are now permitted when the possible anticompetitive conduct under investigation would violate mail or wire fraud statutes.

Time Warner claims that its actions are just business, but they may also be anticompetitive conduct.

If it gained its size through anticompetitive conduct, as opposed to superior business practices, it may be in violation of the law.

Paul S. Atkins, a new commissioner, raised the question of how the commission might monitor any instances of anticompetitive conduct.

She said Japan also promised to enact safeguards against anticompetitive conduct in the telecommunications services sector.