The Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) published its decision clearing Google’s acquisition of generative AI developer Galileo AI (Galileo)[1]. Galileo AI was founded in 2022 and develops generative AI tools, namely text-to-user interface (UI) and image-to-UI tools. The decision (and the dissenting opinion) provides insights into how competition authorities struggle to tackle anticompetitive risk arising from…
Payment Systems in Turkey Payment and Electronic Money Institutions are entities licensed to operate as a payment institutions or electronic money institutions pursuant to the Law No. 6493 on Payment and Securities Settlement Systems, Payment Services and Electronic Money Institutions (“Law No. 6493”) and the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment…
The power to conduct unannounced on-site inspections, commonly known as dawn raids, remains one of the most effective tools available to competition authorities in detecting anti-competitive practices. However, the digital transformation of business operations has introduced new complexities to these on-site inspections, particularly regarding the handling and preservation of electronic evidence. Recent decisions by the…
2024 was marked by significant investigations, fines, and new frameworks addressing emerging issues in competition law of Türkiye. From resale price maintenance (RPM) and labor market agreements to the regulation of digital marketplaces, the Turkish Competition Authority’s (TCA) activities reflect a commitment to fostering competitive markets across various sectors. This short article outlines and summarizes…
Introduction On 03.12.2024, the Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) announced that the Competition Board (“Board”) had adopted the Guidelines on Competition Infringements in Labour Markets (“Guidelines”) with its decision dated 21.11.2024 and numbered 24-49/1087-RM(4), following the publication of the Draft Guidelines on Competition Infringements in Labor Markets (“Draft Guidelines”) and the receipt of public feedback. The…
Introduction The recent decision of the Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) in its investigation into Altıparmak Gıda A.Ş. (“Balparmak”) and Sezen Gıda Ltd. Şti. (“Anavarza”), prominent players in the bee products market, highlights a pivotal shift in corporate liability for employees’ anti-competitive behaviour when conducted without the company’s knowledge. Unlike the approach to corporate liability taken…
Introduction The rise of electric passenger cars has reshaped global markets, driven by decarbonization policies, growing consumer awareness, and innovative marketing strategies. Türkiye is no exception, with the sector developing rapidly. A significant step in this evolution is the Turkish Competition Authority’s (“TCA”) decision dated December 21, 2023. This decision granted an individual exemption for…
Introduction There have been some exciting developments in Turkish competition law recently, not least of which was the Turkish Competition Board’s (“Board”) first-ever judgment on non-compliance with commitments. To recap, the Board approved the merger between Luxottica Group S.p.A. and Essilor International S.A. back in 2018, subject to behavioural and structural commitments. To review the…
Part II: Procedural Provisions This blog post is the second in a series of two blog posts. The aim of the series is to provide a brief overview of the (“Draft Law”, “Turkish DMA”, “Draft” or “Law”). In the first blog post, we focused on the general preamble of the Draft together with the details…
Part I: Prohibitive Provisions This blog post is the first in a series of two blog posts. The objective of this series is to provide a brief overview of the Draft Amendment of the Turkish Competition Act (“Draft Law”, “Turkish DMA”, “Draft” or “Law”). The first blog post focuses on the substantive provisions whereas the…
