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Is Apple a threat to the rule of law?
Continue reading: Is Apple a threat to the rule of law?Over the past couple of years, app developers have engaged on multiple fronts to force Apple to open its App Store monopoly. They have supported legislative initiatives, such as the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) in the EU, the Open App Markets Act (“OAMA”) in the United States, and legislation in South Korea designed to bring…
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CMA market study into music streaming – What you need to know
Continue reading: CMA market study into music streaming – What you need to knowThe CMA has today launched a market study into music streaming. This is a step that could lead to a range of interventions: The CMA could issue guidance or recommendations; It could launch enforcement action under its antitrust powers (as happened after the electric vehicle charging market study); or It could make a market investigation…
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Apple’s cloud gaming restrictions may be biggest news in CMA interim report
Continue reading: Apple’s cloud gaming restrictions may be biggest news in CMA interim reportAs we explained in December, the CMA’s interim report on mobile ecosystems was a great piece of work which takes a holistic view of mobile ecosystems and the competition problems associated with these ecosystems. One concern raised in the interim report was not previously seen in the multiple reports and decisions issued by competition authorities…
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Compliance with the DMA: the need for interpretative guidelines and a proper regulatory dialogue
Continue reading: Compliance with the DMA: the need for interpretative guidelines and a proper regulatory dialogue“Trilogue” negotiations for the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) have begun and the EU institutions are likely to conclude discussions by late March. That is great news. Though we believe that no major change of direction is necessary (or realistic to expect), there are some areas that would benefit from improvement. As discussed in an earlier post, one such…
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One needed area of improvement for the Digital Markets Act: The designation of gatekeepers
Continue reading: One needed area of improvement for the Digital Markets Act: The designation of gatekeepersThe Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) is one of the core priorities of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union (“Council”), which commenced on 1 January 2022. According to several reports, the French presidency would like to pursue an aggressive agenda, with trilogue discussions being wrapped up by the end of March and…
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2021 was a busy year for the Platform Law Blog, but things will be even more intense in 2022
Continue reading: 2021 was a busy year for the Platform Law Blog, but things will be even more intense in 2022Many thanks to our loyal readers for following us throughout the year. We had a great run in 2021 with a vast increase in our audience. Many thanks also to the legislators, competition officials and policy-makers for giving us great materials to draw from. 2021 has been a year of intense developments on the Platform…
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The Interim Report of the CMA’s Market Study on Mobile Ecosystems : A Great Piece of Work
Continue reading: The Interim Report of the CMA’s Market Study on Mobile Ecosystems : A Great Piece of WorkOn 14 December 2021, the CMA published the Interim Report of its Market Study on Mobile Ecosystems. This is a massive (445 pages + annexes) piece of work, which is – as always with the CMA – extremely well done. The purpose of this Interim Report is for the CMA to share the content of…
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CMA blocks the Facebook/Giphy merger: you can’t say they didn’t warn us
Continue reading: CMA blocks the Facebook/Giphy merger: you can’t say they didn’t warn usThe UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) investigation into the acquisition of Giphy by Facebook (now Meta) has been watched by merger control practitioners with morbid fascination. It has included everything one could wish for in a merger case – a Big Tech killer acquisition (arguably), novel theories of harm (arguably), satellite litigation, the highest…
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IMCO has spoken its mind – a significant step towards the adoption of the DMA
Continue reading: IMCO has spoken its mind – a significant step towards the adoption of the DMAOn 23 November, the Committee for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (“IMCO”), which leads the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) through the European Parliament, adopted its position on the European Commission’s Proposal by an overwhelming 42 votes in favour, two against and one abstention. This is a milestone towards the adoption of the EU’s ex ante regulation…
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General Court of the EU delivers landmark Google Shopping judgment (Google and Alphabet v Commission, T-612/17)
Continue reading: General Court of the EU delivers landmark Google Shopping judgment (Google and Alphabet v Commission, T-612/17)As readers of this blog will know, on Tuesday 10 November 2021 the General Court (“GC”) delivered its judgment in case T-612/17, Google and Alphabet v Commission, largely upholding the Commission’s 2017 decision in Google Search (Shopping) (AT.39741). This is a landmark (and very aggressive) judgment and a major vindication for the Commission. By way…