• by July 17, 2000

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York has dismissed a key part of an antitrust lawsuit brought by Information Resources, Inc. against the ACNielsen Corporation, The Dun and Bradstreet Corporation and IMS International.

ACNielsen and the other defendants moved for partial summary judgment on IRI's non-U.S. antitrust claims. The Court granted the motion and dismissed those claims, ruling that IRI could not assert claims based on defendants' alleged activities in foreign markets where IRI operates through subsidiaries, companies owned by joint ventures, or relationships with local companies.

IRI brought its lawsuit in 1996, alleging a variety of anticompetitive activities by The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, ACNielsen, and IMS International, Inc. abroad, as well as in the United States. IRI claimed worldwide antitrust damages.

ACNielsen, with 1999 revenue of $1.5 billion, is a leading market research firm, offering measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics, consumer attitudes and behavior, and new and traditional media in more than 100 countries. Clients include leading consumer product manufacturers, retailers and service firms, media and entertainment companies and the Internet community.