272 results Key developments in sustainability claims in 2022 In 2022, the ACM and the European Commission put the spotlight on the accuracy of companiesâ sustainability claims. Notably, the ACM published several market studies and adopted commitment decisions concerning allegedly misleading sustainability claims. Forewarned is forearmed: RPM still top of mind The clock is ticking for companies to set the record straight on resale price maintenance (RPM). Retailers must be able to determine their own retail prices without any direct or indirect meddling by suppliers. Employers beware: the Commission joins the âlabour partyâ Companies should review their recruitment and hiring policies and practices. The Commission has joined the hunt for âjob cartelsâ with its first ever cartel in the labour market. MondelÄzâs fine takes the biscuit: cross-border trade crusade peaks The European Commission has fined MondelÄz EUR 337.5 million for restricting cross-border trade. Brand owners are advised to double-check their licensing and distribution systems, as well as their commercial conduct, for possible territorial restraints. Meta fined for Facebook Marketplaceâs Unfair Trading Conditions and Tying Unfair trading conditions and tying are gaining traction as alleged abusive practices in the digital industry, as the European Commission fines Meta EUR 797.72 million for hindering competitors of Facebook Marketplace. Competition law developments in 2022 While 2022 revolved around new and improved regulatory tools, the focus in 2023 will be on putting these tools to use. More merger-related obligations, digital sector scrutiny and clarity on competition-law and consumer-law aspects is imminent. Informal views issued in agricultural industry and banana sector The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) informally accepted a commitment agreed by the partners of the Belgian Agro Food Chain Platform, limiting the possibility to contractually exclude the theory of change of circumstances. Cross-border representative actions: publication of requirements for Dutch organisations seeking designation as âqualified entitiesâ By 26 December 2023 at the latest, EU Member States must publish a list of organisations that they have designated as âqualified entitiesâ (bevoegde instanties) for bringing cross-border representative actions within the EU on behalf of consumers. Belgian Competition Authority concludes first hybrid cartel proceedings On 23 October 2023, the Belgian Competition Authority (the BCA) concluded its first hybrid cartel proceedings by imposing a fine of EUR 778.777 on CERP SA (CERP) for participating in anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical distribution sector. Dutch court confirms: Samsung's 'price recommendations' practices were unlawful The Rotterdam District Court has delivered its judgment in the ACM's first-ever vertical restraints case. It upholds the fine imposed on Samsung for coordinating its retailers' online consumer prices under the pretence of 'price recommendations'. Commission publishes PSD3 and PSR Proposal; a tightening of the regulation of payment services providers in the EU On June 28, 2023, the European Commission published a set of new legislative proposals, including PSD3, aimed at ushering in the digital era for payments and the broader financial sector, with a particular focus on consumers. Google Android-ruling: Commission flunks AEC test once again The AEC test has likely assumed mythic status at the European Commission with the EU courts striking down its AEC analysis for a third time. Nevertheless, the Commission seems on the right track to tackling abuse of dominance in the digital sector. The Foreign Subsidies Regulationâs initial focus on China Although the text of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation is not aimed at specific countries, the European Commissionâs initial enforcement actions appear to be targeting Chinese subsidies. The long and (un)winding road of âkiller acquisitionâ Illumina/Grail Crystal ball gazing into prospective innovation rat races when assessing vertical mergers may soon be all in a dayâs work for the European Commission. Innovation was a recurring theme in the Commissionâs handling of the Illumina/Grail deal. Court of Appeal overturns first instance judgment and establishes that several prestressing steel producers are liable for the potential loss alleged by Deutsche Bahn The Court of Appeal of 's-Hertogenbosch ruled that several producers of prestressing steel are jointly and severally liable for potential loss that Deutsche Bahn may have suffered as a result of an infringement of competition law rules. Competition law in 2024: putting theory into practice 2023 marked the near finale of the European Commissionâs overhaul of its competition policy, leaving only a few loose ends to tie up in 2024/2025. It is now time to watch theory be put into practice by the competition authorities and at the courts. Digital antitrust conduct: too elusive to catch? The ink on the Digital Market Act has barely dried, but fast-evolving digital developments already have competition authorities calling for new tools. Is Big Tech not kept in check by the DMA, the antitrust rules and the EU Merger Regulation after all? The ECJâs ruling in Servier: Never Settle For Less Patent settlement agreements between originator pharmaceutical companies and generics manufacturers are a risky business. Originator medicine company Servier and five generic companies rolled the dice and the ECJ largely confirmed their antitrust fines. Pagination Previous page Page 13 Page 14 Current page 15 Page 16 Next page
Key developments in sustainability claims in 2022 In 2022, the ACM and the European Commission put the spotlight on the accuracy of companiesâ sustainability claims. Notably, the ACM published several market studies and adopted commitment decisions concerning allegedly misleading sustainability claims.
Forewarned is forearmed: RPM still top of mind The clock is ticking for companies to set the record straight on resale price maintenance (RPM). Retailers must be able to determine their own retail prices without any direct or indirect meddling by suppliers.
Employers beware: the Commission joins the âlabour partyâ Companies should review their recruitment and hiring policies and practices. The Commission has joined the hunt for âjob cartelsâ with its first ever cartel in the labour market.
MondelÄzâs fine takes the biscuit: cross-border trade crusade peaks The European Commission has fined MondelÄz EUR 337.5 million for restricting cross-border trade. Brand owners are advised to double-check their licensing and distribution systems, as well as their commercial conduct, for possible territorial restraints.
Meta fined for Facebook Marketplaceâs Unfair Trading Conditions and Tying Unfair trading conditions and tying are gaining traction as alleged abusive practices in the digital industry, as the European Commission fines Meta EUR 797.72 million for hindering competitors of Facebook Marketplace.
Competition law developments in 2022 While 2022 revolved around new and improved regulatory tools, the focus in 2023 will be on putting these tools to use. More merger-related obligations, digital sector scrutiny and clarity on competition-law and consumer-law aspects is imminent.
Informal views issued in agricultural industry and banana sector The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) informally accepted a commitment agreed by the partners of the Belgian Agro Food Chain Platform, limiting the possibility to contractually exclude the theory of change of circumstances.
Cross-border representative actions: publication of requirements for Dutch organisations seeking designation as âqualified entitiesâ By 26 December 2023 at the latest, EU Member States must publish a list of organisations that they have designated as âqualified entitiesâ (bevoegde instanties) for bringing cross-border representative actions within the EU on behalf of consumers.
Belgian Competition Authority concludes first hybrid cartel proceedings On 23 October 2023, the Belgian Competition Authority (the BCA) concluded its first hybrid cartel proceedings by imposing a fine of EUR 778.777 on CERP SA (CERP) for participating in anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical distribution sector.
Dutch court confirms: Samsung's 'price recommendations' practices were unlawful The Rotterdam District Court has delivered its judgment in the ACM's first-ever vertical restraints case. It upholds the fine imposed on Samsung for coordinating its retailers' online consumer prices under the pretence of 'price recommendations'.
Commission publishes PSD3 and PSR Proposal; a tightening of the regulation of payment services providers in the EU On June 28, 2023, the European Commission published a set of new legislative proposals, including PSD3, aimed at ushering in the digital era for payments and the broader financial sector, with a particular focus on consumers.
Google Android-ruling: Commission flunks AEC test once again The AEC test has likely assumed mythic status at the European Commission with the EU courts striking down its AEC analysis for a third time. Nevertheless, the Commission seems on the right track to tackling abuse of dominance in the digital sector.
The Foreign Subsidies Regulationâs initial focus on China Although the text of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation is not aimed at specific countries, the European Commissionâs initial enforcement actions appear to be targeting Chinese subsidies.
The long and (un)winding road of âkiller acquisitionâ Illumina/Grail Crystal ball gazing into prospective innovation rat races when assessing vertical mergers may soon be all in a dayâs work for the European Commission. Innovation was a recurring theme in the Commissionâs handling of the Illumina/Grail deal.
Court of Appeal overturns first instance judgment and establishes that several prestressing steel producers are liable for the potential loss alleged by Deutsche Bahn The Court of Appeal of 's-Hertogenbosch ruled that several producers of prestressing steel are jointly and severally liable for potential loss that Deutsche Bahn may have suffered as a result of an infringement of competition law rules.
Competition law in 2024: putting theory into practice 2023 marked the near finale of the European Commissionâs overhaul of its competition policy, leaving only a few loose ends to tie up in 2024/2025. It is now time to watch theory be put into practice by the competition authorities and at the courts.
Digital antitrust conduct: too elusive to catch? The ink on the Digital Market Act has barely dried, but fast-evolving digital developments already have competition authorities calling for new tools. Is Big Tech not kept in check by the DMA, the antitrust rules and the EU Merger Regulation after all?
The ECJâs ruling in Servier: Never Settle For Less Patent settlement agreements between originator pharmaceutical companies and generics manufacturers are a risky business. Originator medicine company Servier and five generic companies rolled the dice and the ECJ largely confirmed their antitrust fines.