Introduction The reasoned decisions regarding the two separate investigations conducted independently by the Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) against suppliers operating in the fast-moving consumer goods (“FMCG”) market were published on the official website of the TCA in May 2024. Both decisions set significant precedents regarding “resale price maintenance”, which the TCA has particularly focused on…
In its decision of 17 June 2024, the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has cleared the takeover of Olink Holding AB (publ), Sweden (“Olink”) by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., USA (“Thermo Fisher”) after an extensive review period exceeding five months (press release). This case marks a significant milestone as it is the first time that…
… from the Deputy Editors (Lena, Nils & Alba), who met at the 19th ASCOLA conference in Würzburg (sorry Peter, no lawyers allowed)! Like every year, we will have a small summer slowdown, but we will keep posting. Can’t get enough of competition law? Have a look into our open access series on the main…
In the complex landscape of global defense procurement, nations often find themselves navigating a delicate balance between fostering domestic capabilities and maintaining fair competition. A landmark case in South Korea’s defense industry has brought this tension into sharp focus, offering valuable insights into the intricacies of antitrust regulation in the context of national security interests….
The twin interim proceedings in the Vivendi/Lagardère gun-jumping investigation raise interesting legal issues in the wake of the ongoing case Meta Platforms v Commission (C-497/23 P), and in the wider context of ever more detailed requests for information from the European Commission in competition inquiries: what are the boundaries of the Commission’s powers to request…
Japan is now the fourth region in the World to have adopted complementary rules to its competition law regime to capture the power of Big Tech. Following Germany’s, the UK’s and the European Union’s steps, Japan in June the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software (for short, the Smartphone Software Competition Promotion…
On June 20, 2024, the Canadian Parliament passed important changes to Canada’s Competition Act (Act) with the enactment of Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023 (Bill C-59). The amendments to the Act contained in Bill C-59 mark the third (stage in the Canadian government’s extensive overhaul of Canadian competition law, which began…
On June 6, 2024, AG Collins rendered his opinion in the referral request by the Amsterdam District Court (“ADC”) regarding price parity clauses and product market definition in the context of litigation involving Booking.com (“Booking”), the online platform acting as an intermediary between end customers and hotels, also called online travel agent (OTA). Summary…
Both Member States and the European Union (‘EU’) have pledged their commitment to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (‘Agenda’) and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (‘SDGs’). The Agenda represents a comprehensive common framework for sustainable development. The objective is to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by eradicating poverty,…
It was only a matter of time before the European Commission (“EC“) launched its first ever in-depth investigation of an M&A transaction under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (“FSR“). On 10 June 2024, that time came: The EC referred the acquisition of the Czech telecom operator PPF Telecom Group B.V. (“PPF“) by the Emirates Telecommunications Group…
