All posts tagged: Netflix Inc

South Korean government discriminated against Coupang, House report finds

South Korean government discriminated against Coupang, House report finds

Published by Sam Flores

The New York Stock Exchange welcomes executives and guests of Coupang on March 11, 2021, in celebration of the company’s initial public offering. NYSE The South Korean government has used its regulatory authority to discriminate against U.S. companies and has waged an unprecedented campaign against online retailer Coupang, according to a House Judiciary Committee report released Wednesday. The report is the result of an investigation opened by the committee in February. It highlights the treatment of Coupang, which is based in the U.S. but is known as the “Amazon of Asia,” and other U.S. companies going back decades. “South Korea’s conduct is part of a broader attempt by foreign governments to weaponize their laws and regulations in an effort to harm American companies and limit their ability to compete in the global economy,” the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, reported. Read more CNBC politics coverage The South Korean embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. The committee said in the report that Coupang has been the …

Senators tell ByteDance to ‘immediately shut down’ Seedance AI video app

Senators tell ByteDance to ‘immediately shut down’ Seedance AI video app

Published by Sam Flores

Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Peter Welch are calling for a halt to the new version of ByteDance’s artificial intelligence app, Seedance, which generates videos of real people and licensed characters, raising copyright and intellectual property concerns. Seedance 2.0 “is the most glaring example of copyright infringement from a ByteDance product to date, and you must immediately shut down Seedance and implement meaningful safeguards to prevent further infringing outputs,” Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Welch, D-Vt., wrote in a letter to ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo that was first obtained by CNBC. Their letter is a sign of growing concerns on Capitol Hill about how AI companies are developing and using their models and whether proper protections are in place for those who generate the materials the models train from. “Responsible global companies follow the law and respect core economic rights, including intellectual property and personal likeness protections,” Blackburn and Welch wrote. They cited examples of Seedance 2.0 creations, made after the platform went live Feb. 12, that included actors Tom Cruise and Brad …

Trump bought NFLX, WBD bonds during bidding war with Paramount

Trump bought NFLX, WBD bonds during bidding war with Paramount

Published by Sam Flores

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2026. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Donald Trump bought more than $1.1 million of Netflix bonds over the last three months as the streaming giant unsuccessfully fought Paramount Skydance to ​buy Warner Bros Discover, according to government disclosures. Trump bought more than $500,000 of Netflix’s bonds in two transactions on December ‌12 and December 16 and another more than $600,000 across two more trades on January 2 and 20, the disclosures show. The White House disclosed a range, rather than exact amounts, of between just over $1.1 million and $2.25 million. The purchases came as the Republican president and his regulatory officials talked Netflix down in the press, calling into ​question whether the deal would withstand antitrust scrutiny and pressuring Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice, a onetime aide to ​Democratic former President Barack Obama. It’s unclear whether he made or lost money on Netflix’s bonds, which paid an interest ⁠rate of 5.375% and are due in November 2029, since the filing doesn’t disclose if or when he sold …

Netflix CEO Sarandos visited White House before WBD offer pulled

Netflix CEO Sarandos visited White House before WBD offer pulled

Published by Sam Flores

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos arrives for meetings at the White House in Washington, Feb. 26, 2026. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos visited the White House Thursday afternoon for a meeting on his company’s effort to buy part of Warner Bros. Discovery — shortly before Netflix announced it would terminate the deal. Sarandos had not been expected to meet with President Donald Trump, who days ago demanded that Netflix boot former Obama administration official Susan Rice from its board of directors “or pay the consequences.” Trump’s threat had cited a call by right-wing influencer Laura Loomer to “kill the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger now.” Loomer had pointed to Rice’s comments predicting that institutions that appease Trump will be held “accountable” when Democrats regain power. “This meeting is not with POTUS,” a White House official told CNBC. “Netflix is meeting with staff members at the White House,” the official said. After Sarandos arrived at the White House, WBD issued a statement saying that Paramount Skydance‘s new bid to buy all of the company appeared …

Netflix CEO Sarandos to visit White House for WBD deal talks: Report

Netflix CEO Sarandos to visit White House for WBD deal talks: Report

Published by Sam Flores

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos speaks during comedian Ricky Gervais’s star unveiling ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, U.S., May 30, 2025. Mario Anzuoni | Reuters Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos will head to the White House on Thursday for meetings on his company’s efforts to acquire part of Warner Bros. Discovery as Paramount ratchets up its rival bid, Politico reported Wednesday. The reported visit is set to occur five days after President Donald Trump demanded that Netflix immediately fire former Obama administration official Susan Rice from its board, or else “pay the consequences.” It was not immediately clear if Sarandos would be meeting with Trump during the visit, a person familiar with the discussions told Politico. Netflix declined CNBC’s request for comment on the report. The White House, asked by CNBC to confirm the visit, said, “We do not discuss private meetings that may or may not be happening.” The acquisition fight over WBD, like numerous other business deals in over the past year, has been entangled with presidential politics. Trump had …

Trump demands Netflix fire Susan Rice as DOJ probes Warner deal

Trump demands Netflix fire Susan Rice as DOJ probes Warner deal

Published by Sam Flores

A drone view shows the Netflix logo on one of the company’s buildings in the Hollywood neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S., Jan. 20, 2026. Daniel Cole | Reuters President Donald Trump late Saturday called on Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice or “pay the consequences,” after she said Democrats would push for corporate accountability if they regain power in the November midterm elections. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump described Rice, who served as President Joe Biden’s domestic policy chief and held top foreign policy posts under President Barack Obama, as “purely a political hack” with “no talent or skills.” “HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK,” Trump wrote. Rice argued during a podcast last week that “it is not going to end well” for corporations, news organizations, and law firms that “bent the knee” to Trump, and that their deference is unpopular. “There is likely to be a swing in the other direction, and they are going to be caught with more than their pants down,” Rice told …

Trump to stay out of Netflix, Paramount fight over WBD

Trump to stay out of Netflix, Paramount fight over WBD

Published by Sam Flores

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing executive orders in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 30, 2026. Annabelle Gordon | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump said in a new interview on Wednesday did an about-face and said that he will not be involved in the fight between streaming giant Netflix and Paramount Skydance to buy some or all of Warner Bros. Discovery. “I haven’t been involved,” Trump told “NBC Nightly News.” “I’ve been called by both sides,” Trump said. “It’s the two sides, but I’ve decided I shouldn’t be involved. The Justice Department will handle it.” Trump’s latest comment is a pivot from what he said in early December after Netflix’s proposed acquisition of WBD was made public. Trump at that time said the deal “could be a problem” because of the size of the market share Netflix would end up with if the proposed purchase was approved by federal regulators. Read more CNBC politics coverage The president, at the same time, had said he would …