78 results Google Shopping: self-preferencing is a form of abuse of dominance On 10 November 2021, the General Court (GC) almost entirely dismissed Google’s action against the European Commission’s Google Shopping decision. Upward referral of killer acquisitions: enlightened or one-stop shop flop? Companies involved in M&A deals falling below the EU and national notification thresholds need to think twice about their deal’s potential impact on competition from now on. Abuse of economic dependence: lessons drawn from the first judgments On 22 August 2020, the ban on abuse of economic dependence was implemented in Belgium. Now that almost a year has passed and the first judgments have been rendered, we assess what first lessons can be drawn from these judgments. The Sustainable Finance Package: a game changer in finance Today’s publication of the Sustainable Finance Package will impact large corporates, as well as financial institutions, including asset managers, insurers and others. Stibbe advises Standard de Liège Stibbe advises Belgian football club Standard de Liège on its project to modernise and enlarge its stadium in Sclessin. Foreign subsidies: another addition to the M&A checklist Checking for merger control notification obligations and Foreign Direct Investment screening mechanisms will be on the list for most companies involved in M&A deals. Slovak Telekom: ECJ on essentials of the ‘essential facilities’ doctrine Only dominant companies with a “genuinely tight grip” on the market can be forced to grant rivals access to their infrastructure. Facebook/Belgian DPA: Landmark ruling on cross-border enforcement under the GDPR On 15 June 2021, the CJEU delivered an important judgment on the one-stop-shop mechanism. Are your distribution contracts ready for the revised VBER? On 9 July 2021, the Commission published its draft revised Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and the accompanying Vertical Guidelines. Stibbe advises Forum Estates Stibbe's Real Estate Transaction Group, led by Boris Cammelbeeck, has advised Belgian real estate fund Forum Estates on the acquisition of joint venture Winkelcentrum Maaswijk te Spijkenisse B.V. Stibbe advised Mitiska REIM Stibbe's Real Estate Transaction Group, led by Boris Cammelbeeck, has advised Mitiska REIM with the acquisition of Makado Beek retail center from Syntrus Achmea. Makado Beek is one of the largest retail centers in the Netherlands. The new VBER is here! Time to update your distribution agreements The new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) entered into force on 1 June 2022. The new VBER is stricter on dual distribution and across-platform retail parity obligations than the old one, but is more lenient towards active sales and online sales r Unpacking the Federal Coalition Agreement (2025-2029): Key Implications for the Real Estate Industry With the recent formation of a new Belgian federal government, the real estate sector is facing some important changes. By breaking down the federal coalition agreement (2025-2029), we explore what to expect in the upcoming years. ACM walks the walk: first-ever vertical price coordination fine The Dutch Competition Authority (“ACM”) has claimed a first victim in its vertical restraints battle. Samsung Electronics was fined nearly EUR 40 million for having meddled in the online resale prices for televisions at seven retailers. Commission reveals first piece of antitrust sustainability puzzle The European Commission has published a Policy Brief setting out its preliminary views on how to fit the European Green Deal’s sustainability goals into the EU competition rules. Game over for dark patterns? ACM fines Epic for unfairly targeting children The ACM has fined Epic Games for exploiting children’s psychological vulnerabilities, marking a key moment for Dutch consumer law enforcement. Our briefing examines the broader implications for consumer-facing businesses, especially those in online sales. The new sustainability advertising code: lessons from one year of review by the advertising code committee In the first year since the SAC came into force there have been 22 rulings by the ACC and the AT in which an advertisement has been tested against the SAC. This blog addresses the lessons that can be drawn from an analysis of these rulings. You win some, you lose some: Google AdSense decision annulled The General Court has annulled the EUR 1.49 billion fine imposed on Google. The Commission had failed to properly assess the allegedly abusive contractual clauses related to online advertising, including whether they actually had a lock-in effect. Pagination Previous page Page 1 Current page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Next page
Google Shopping: self-preferencing is a form of abuse of dominance On 10 November 2021, the General Court (GC) almost entirely dismissed Google’s action against the European Commission’s Google Shopping decision.
Upward referral of killer acquisitions: enlightened or one-stop shop flop? Companies involved in M&A deals falling below the EU and national notification thresholds need to think twice about their deal’s potential impact on competition from now on.
Abuse of economic dependence: lessons drawn from the first judgments On 22 August 2020, the ban on abuse of economic dependence was implemented in Belgium. Now that almost a year has passed and the first judgments have been rendered, we assess what first lessons can be drawn from these judgments.
The Sustainable Finance Package: a game changer in finance Today’s publication of the Sustainable Finance Package will impact large corporates, as well as financial institutions, including asset managers, insurers and others.
Stibbe advises Standard de Liège Stibbe advises Belgian football club Standard de Liège on its project to modernise and enlarge its stadium in Sclessin.
Foreign subsidies: another addition to the M&A checklist Checking for merger control notification obligations and Foreign Direct Investment screening mechanisms will be on the list for most companies involved in M&A deals.
Slovak Telekom: ECJ on essentials of the ‘essential facilities’ doctrine Only dominant companies with a “genuinely tight grip” on the market can be forced to grant rivals access to their infrastructure.
Facebook/Belgian DPA: Landmark ruling on cross-border enforcement under the GDPR On 15 June 2021, the CJEU delivered an important judgment on the one-stop-shop mechanism.
Are your distribution contracts ready for the revised VBER? On 9 July 2021, the Commission published its draft revised Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and the accompanying Vertical Guidelines.
Stibbe advises Forum Estates Stibbe's Real Estate Transaction Group, led by Boris Cammelbeeck, has advised Belgian real estate fund Forum Estates on the acquisition of joint venture Winkelcentrum Maaswijk te Spijkenisse B.V.
Stibbe advised Mitiska REIM Stibbe's Real Estate Transaction Group, led by Boris Cammelbeeck, has advised Mitiska REIM with the acquisition of Makado Beek retail center from Syntrus Achmea. Makado Beek is one of the largest retail centers in the Netherlands.
The new VBER is here! Time to update your distribution agreements The new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) entered into force on 1 June 2022. The new VBER is stricter on dual distribution and across-platform retail parity obligations than the old one, but is more lenient towards active sales and online sales r
Unpacking the Federal Coalition Agreement (2025-2029): Key Implications for the Real Estate Industry With the recent formation of a new Belgian federal government, the real estate sector is facing some important changes. By breaking down the federal coalition agreement (2025-2029), we explore what to expect in the upcoming years.
ACM walks the walk: first-ever vertical price coordination fine The Dutch Competition Authority (“ACM”) has claimed a first victim in its vertical restraints battle. Samsung Electronics was fined nearly EUR 40 million for having meddled in the online resale prices for televisions at seven retailers.
Commission reveals first piece of antitrust sustainability puzzle The European Commission has published a Policy Brief setting out its preliminary views on how to fit the European Green Deal’s sustainability goals into the EU competition rules.
Game over for dark patterns? ACM fines Epic for unfairly targeting children The ACM has fined Epic Games for exploiting children’s psychological vulnerabilities, marking a key moment for Dutch consumer law enforcement. Our briefing examines the broader implications for consumer-facing businesses, especially those in online sales.
The new sustainability advertising code: lessons from one year of review by the advertising code committee In the first year since the SAC came into force there have been 22 rulings by the ACC and the AT in which an advertisement has been tested against the SAC. This blog addresses the lessons that can be drawn from an analysis of these rulings.
You win some, you lose some: Google AdSense decision annulled The General Court has annulled the EUR 1.49 billion fine imposed on Google. The Commission had failed to properly assess the allegedly abusive contractual clauses related to online advertising, including whether they actually had a lock-in effect.