LinkedIn Fails to Toss Antitrust Suit Over Networking Monopoly

Microsoft Corp.'s LinkedIn Corp. must face claims accusing the company of monopolizing the market for professional social networking after a judge found the plaintiffs sufficiently alleged harm to competition.

Subscribers allege the company requires would-be rivals to refrain from competing with it in the professional social networking market in exchange for receiving valuable data about users.

Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said the plaintiffs provided enough facts to support their theory, and denied LinkedIn’s motion to dismiss monopolization claims.

“Whether this theory bears out factually is for a later ...