The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division have extended the public comment period on their joint inquiry into updated antitrust guidance for collaborations among competitors – an issue with significant implications for associations and their members.
Originally announced Feb. 23, 2026, the request for comment now has a new deadline of May 21, 2026, giving stakeholders additional time to provide substantive input.
The request for comments signals renewed attention on how organizations, including associations, navigate collaboration in areas such as benchmarking, research and data sharing. Comments are open via regulations.gov.
At the center of this effort is a key concern for associations: how to responsibly share industry data. For decades, many associations have relied on established antitrust “safety zones” to guide activities like statistical surveys and benchmarking programs. However, those longstanding guidelines were withdrawn in 2024, creating uncertainty around what constitutes permissible data sharing.
The outcome of this process could help shape how associations deliver one of their core member values: trusted, aggregated industry insights. Clearer guidance may help reduce legal ambiguity while enabling associations to continue providing data-driven resources that support decision-making and industry advancement.
This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.
FTC and DOJ Extend Comment Period on Antitrust Guidance
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division have extended the public comment period on their joint inquiry into updated antitrust guidance for collaborations among competitors – an issue with significant implications for associations and their members.
Originally announced Feb. 23, 2026, the request for comment now has a new deadline of May 21, 2026, giving stakeholders additional time to provide substantive input.
The request for comments signals renewed attention on how organizations, including associations, navigate collaboration in areas such as benchmarking, research and data sharing. Comments are open via regulations.gov.
At the center of this effort is a key concern for associations: how to responsibly share industry data. For decades, many associations have relied on established antitrust “safety zones” to guide activities like statistical surveys and benchmarking programs. However, those longstanding guidelines were withdrawn in 2024, creating uncertainty around what constitutes permissible data sharing.
The outcome of this process could help shape how associations deliver one of their core member values: trusted, aggregated industry insights. Clearer guidance may help reduce legal ambiguity while enabling associations to continue providing data-driven resources that support decision-making and industry advancement.
This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.
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