136 results Brand owners beware: Commission tough on cross-border sales restrictions The European Commission recently imposed a EUR 6.2 million fine on Hello Kitty owner Sanrio for preventing its licensees from selling licensed merchandising products across the entire EEA. Wanted: fast solutions for fast-growing platforms Dominant digital companies be warned: calls for additional tools to deal with powerful platforms in online markets are increasing. ECJ answers preliminary questions on jurisdiction in cartel damage case On 29 July 2019, the ECJ handed down a preliminary ruling concerning jurisdiction in follow-on damages proceedings in what is termed the trucks cartel. Tackling Big Tech up-front? Time to stop thinking and start acting Benelux competition authorities have published a joint memorandum on how best to keep up with challenges in fast-moving digital markets. Safeguarding legal privilege: better safe than sorry? The European Court of Justice recently ruled that the European Commission does not have to take additional precautionary measures to respect the right of legal professional privilege when conducting a new dawn raid at the same company. The postman will no longer ring twice: Minister unblocks postal merger The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) recently blocked postal operator PostNL's acquisition of its only national competitor, Sandd, because this would create "a monopolist on the postal delivery market". Margrethe Vestager to play matchmaker between enforcement and regulation Current Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager may face even greater challenges in the next European Commission. Walking a thin line: cooperation and collusion Buying groups are under attack from competition authorities across Europe. Gotta catch ‘em all? Upward referral of ‘killer acquisitions’ upheld Companies involved in intended or completed M&A transactions falling below EU and national merger notification thresholds should beware that their deals may still catch the European Commission’s eye. Setting the Stage: the European Commission’s first in-depth FSR Decision The European Commission has published its first-ever in-depth decision under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, marking a significant milestone in understanding the application of this regulatory tool. We identify important takeaways for future practice. The honeymoon phase of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation is over! Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. The industry voices have been clear about the Foreign Subsidies Regulation. But what is the authority’s view? We provide an update on recent developments, including the European Commission’s first policy brief. ECJ accepts carve-out Italy in Commission’s Amazon Buy Box investigation The EU Court of Justice dismissed Amazon’s claim that the exclusion of Italy from the European Commission’s investigation into its Buy Box feature deprived Amazon of its protection against a parallel investigation by the Italian competition authority. European Court of Justice plays hardball in Sports rulings The rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the discretionary powers of international sports associations to authorise alternative competitions show that the specifics of sports are no reason to tread lightly when applying EU competition rules. The vertical fight continues: two more cases on vertical restraints Companies should not take competition rules lightly in their supply relationships. The EU General Court's Valve judgment and the ACM's LG decision illustrate the consistent attention to vertical restraints. Belgian watchdog tackles bid rigging In recent cases in the fire protection and private security sectors, the Belgian Competition Authority has made the prosecution of bid-rigging one of its top priorities, imposing hefty fines on infringers for their participation in cartel schemes. Qualcomm falls prey to EU court’s predatory pricing ruling The EU General Court confirms that Qualcomm’s below-cost pricing strategy designed to eliminate competition was predatory. This judgment, the first of its kind in over a decade, provides useful guidance on predatory pricing practices. Mayday, Mayday: Pay day! The Commission’s fight to avoid paying interest to Deutsche Telekom is over. The ECJ upheld the right of companies to receive interest on unduly collected antitrust fines, carrying a hefty price tag for the Commission. The ACM hits the ground running in its 2025 priorities The ACM will, possibly as a prelude to an upcoming New Competition Tool, launch market investigations into five sectors. Companies are well-advised to prepare for upcoming market investigations and potential solutions for identified market failures. Pagination Previous page Page 4 Current page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Next page
Brand owners beware: Commission tough on cross-border sales restrictions The European Commission recently imposed a EUR 6.2 million fine on Hello Kitty owner Sanrio for preventing its licensees from selling licensed merchandising products across the entire EEA.
Wanted: fast solutions for fast-growing platforms Dominant digital companies be warned: calls for additional tools to deal with powerful platforms in online markets are increasing.
ECJ answers preliminary questions on jurisdiction in cartel damage case On 29 July 2019, the ECJ handed down a preliminary ruling concerning jurisdiction in follow-on damages proceedings in what is termed the trucks cartel.
Tackling Big Tech up-front? Time to stop thinking and start acting Benelux competition authorities have published a joint memorandum on how best to keep up with challenges in fast-moving digital markets.
Safeguarding legal privilege: better safe than sorry? The European Court of Justice recently ruled that the European Commission does not have to take additional precautionary measures to respect the right of legal professional privilege when conducting a new dawn raid at the same company.
The postman will no longer ring twice: Minister unblocks postal merger The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) recently blocked postal operator PostNL's acquisition of its only national competitor, Sandd, because this would create "a monopolist on the postal delivery market".
Margrethe Vestager to play matchmaker between enforcement and regulation Current Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager may face even greater challenges in the next European Commission.
Walking a thin line: cooperation and collusion Buying groups are under attack from competition authorities across Europe.
Gotta catch ‘em all? Upward referral of ‘killer acquisitions’ upheld Companies involved in intended or completed M&A transactions falling below EU and national merger notification thresholds should beware that their deals may still catch the European Commission’s eye.
Setting the Stage: the European Commission’s first in-depth FSR Decision The European Commission has published its first-ever in-depth decision under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, marking a significant milestone in understanding the application of this regulatory tool. We identify important takeaways for future practice.
The honeymoon phase of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation is over! Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. The industry voices have been clear about the Foreign Subsidies Regulation. But what is the authority’s view? We provide an update on recent developments, including the European Commission’s first policy brief.
ECJ accepts carve-out Italy in Commission’s Amazon Buy Box investigation The EU Court of Justice dismissed Amazon’s claim that the exclusion of Italy from the European Commission’s investigation into its Buy Box feature deprived Amazon of its protection against a parallel investigation by the Italian competition authority.
European Court of Justice plays hardball in Sports rulings The rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the discretionary powers of international sports associations to authorise alternative competitions show that the specifics of sports are no reason to tread lightly when applying EU competition rules.
The vertical fight continues: two more cases on vertical restraints Companies should not take competition rules lightly in their supply relationships. The EU General Court's Valve judgment and the ACM's LG decision illustrate the consistent attention to vertical restraints.
Belgian watchdog tackles bid rigging In recent cases in the fire protection and private security sectors, the Belgian Competition Authority has made the prosecution of bid-rigging one of its top priorities, imposing hefty fines on infringers for their participation in cartel schemes.
Qualcomm falls prey to EU court’s predatory pricing ruling The EU General Court confirms that Qualcomm’s below-cost pricing strategy designed to eliminate competition was predatory. This judgment, the first of its kind in over a decade, provides useful guidance on predatory pricing practices.
Mayday, Mayday: Pay day! The Commission’s fight to avoid paying interest to Deutsche Telekom is over. The ECJ upheld the right of companies to receive interest on unduly collected antitrust fines, carrying a hefty price tag for the Commission.
The ACM hits the ground running in its 2025 priorities The ACM will, possibly as a prelude to an upcoming New Competition Tool, launch market investigations into five sectors. Companies are well-advised to prepare for upcoming market investigations and potential solutions for identified market failures.