Introduction In October 2015, following a phase II investigation, the European Commission published its decision to approve a JV between three of the largest collective management organisations (CMOs) in Europe, PRSfM (UK), GEMA (Germany) and STIM (Sweden).[1]M.6800-PRSfM/ STIM/ GEMA/ JV. As in other recent music industry mergers, the Commission investigated whether the combination of the…

81th Lunch Talk of the Global Competition Law Center Thursday, April 28, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM The ECN+ Initiative: Outcome and Challenges of the Commission Consultation on the Empowering of NCAs with Eddy DE SMIJTER, DG COMP Guido LOBRANO, Business Europe Alf-Henrik BISCHKE, Hengeler Mueller Moderator: Jacques Bourgeois, Sidley Austin LLP Programme:…

Co-authored by Bill Batchelor & Tom Jenkins, Baker & McKenzie   1.            Summary On 18 March 2016, the European Commission published an initial “Issues paper” on geo-blocking in the EU.  The paper is part of the Commission’s ongoing e-commerce sector inquiry examining whether suppliers impose illegal territorial restrictions on retailers’ online activities. The Issues Paper…

80th Lunch Talk of the Global Competition Law Center Monday, April 4, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EU Competition Law Enforcement and the Legacy of Ordo-liberalism: Myths and Realities with Christian Ahlborn, Linklaters Pierre Larouche, Tilburg University Vincent Verouden, E.CA Economics Moderator: Damien Gerard, GCLC Programme: 12:00 – 12:30: Sandwich lunch and socializing…

79th Lunch Talk of the Global Competition Law Center Monday, March 14, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Assessing unilateral effects in horizontal mergers: closeness of competition and the role of bidding data with Daniel Coublucq, DG COMP Sascha Schubert, Freshfields David Spector, MAPP Economics Moderator: Damien Gerard, GCLC Programme: 12:00 – 12:30: Sandwich…

DG COMP has published a study by the University of East Anglia analysing the European Commission’s approach to geographic market definition in recent cases.  It has reviewed ten cases from 2008-2014 where geographic market definition was a key issue.  The study looked at the Commission’s geographic market analysis in terms of the methodology used and…

11th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE GLOBAL COMPETITION LAW CENTER Monday-Tuesday, February 1-2, 2015 from 9:00 AM onwards THE NOTION OF RESTRICTION OF COMPETITION: REVISITING THE FOUNDATIONS OF ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT IN EUROPE Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, Bernard Amory, Christopher Bellamy, Yves Botteman, Cristina Caffarra, Avantika Chowdhury, Miranda Cole, Raphaël De Coninck, Carles Esteva-Mosso, Luc Gyselen, James Killick,…

The European Commission boldly announced its 2013 merger simplification package with the headline “Commission cuts red tape for businesses.” Nearly two years on , further refinement of the Commission’s procedures is needed to reduce the information required to be included in notification Form CO, and so shorten the time needed to “start the clock” on…

On 4th November, the European Commission published a far-reaching consultation (the Consultation) on proposals to boost the enforcement powers of national competition authorities (NCAs) and to address differences between national competition enforcement systems in the European Union.  The Consultation builds on the 2014 Communication on Ten Years of Regulation 1/2003 (the Communication) but also reflects…

11th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE GLOBAL COMPETITION LAW CENTER Thursday-Friday, November 26-27, 2015 from 9:00 AM onwards THE NOTION OF RESTRICTION OF COMPETITION: REVISITING THE FOUNDATIONS OF ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT IN EUROPE Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, Bernard Amory, Christopher Bellamy, Yves Botteman, Cristina Caffarra, Peter Camesasca, Pascale Déchamps, Raphaël De Coninck, Carles Esteva-Mosso, Luc Gyselen, Pablo Ibanez-Colomo,…