Competition Law in Conversation Archives - The Competition Law Hub

The Market Definition Notice 2024

ComplawAdmin — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:17:00 +0000

In February 2024, the European Commission published its revised Market Definition Notice. For the first time, this new instrument contains important guidance on how to delineate digital platform markets and ecosystems. It also leaves some important questions unanswered, however. On 18 March 2024, Competition Law in Conversationdiscussed the digital elements in the new Notice with Thomas Büttner (European Commission), who was involved in the drafting of the revised Notice, and Magali Eben (University of Glasgow), who has widely published on digital market definition. The session was moderated by Vicky Robertson.

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Priority-Setting in Antitrust in the Digital Era

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:20:00 +0000

What cases are prioritised by competition authorities when it comes to the digital economy? What patterns can be observed, and how does an authority actually decide which instruments to make use of (eg, national vs EU competition law, DMA, etc)? We discussed priority-setting in the digital era with Silke Hossenfelder (German Federal Cartel Office) and Or Brook (University of Leeds) on 24 October 2023 in Vienna.

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Competition Law in Conversation: Smart Farming

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 23 May 2023 08:45:00 +0000

As farming becomes more digitalised and, in fact, ‘platformised’, the question arises whether competition law can harness some of the insights it has gathered in technology cases and apply them to issues arising in smart farming. In this instalment of Competition Law in Conversation on 23 May 2023, Manuel Gómez-Barbero of the European Commission’s Joint Research Center first set out what the future of smart farming could look like. Then, Ioannis Lianos (Head of the Hellenic Competition Commission) addressed the antitrust side of things when it comes to the digital future of agriculture. The session was moderated by Vicky Robertson of The Competition Law Hub.

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Digital Merger Control: Past, Present and Future

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 07:12:00 +0000

The increasing concentration in digital markets has led to the question whether competition law has sufficient tools at its disposal to curb acquisitions by Big Tech. In late 2022, the European Commission published a Policy Brief setting out its past approach to digital mergers, and allowing a glimpse into the future. At the same time, Vicky Robertson provided an expert report to the Commission on national cases regarding digital mergers, for which she analysed data from a wide range of Member States.

On 25 April 2023, we discussed these questions with Sean Mernagh (European Commission) and The Hub’s Vicky Robertson, moderated by Klaudia Majcher.

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Online Distribution Under the New VBER

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 08:50:00 +0000

The new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) entered into force on 1 June 2022. It introduces up-to-date rules for companies to benefit from a safe harbour for their distribution agreements, including online distribution. What changes does the VBER bring for online distribution? What are their advantages and drawbacks?

On 6 December 2022 we discussed these questions with Katarzyna Czapracka (White & Case) and Filip Tuytschaever (Contrast & Free University of Brussels).

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Gatekeeper Status under the DMA

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 08:37:00 +0000

The new Digital Markets Act (DMA) strives to keep digital markets open and contestable despite the presence of important gatekeepers. The first step is to identify a gatekeeper, which the DMA does through quantitative and qualitative benchmarks. Next to the presence of core platform services, this will also be the first aspect that potential gatekeepers are likely to contest. This instalment of Competition Law in Conversation looks at the gatekeeper notion, its implications, and its overlaps with the presence of market power under Article 102 TFEU.

On 18 October 2022, Competition Law in Conversation discussed these issues with Antoine Babinet (European Commission) and Florence Thépot (University of Strasbourg). You can find their speaker interviews below.

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Cloud Computing and Competition Law

ComplawAdmin — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 09:37:24 +0000

As the economy becomes more digitalised, cloud computing is poised to become a new frontier for digital competition. What types of practices may restrict competition in the cloud? What should be competition law’s role in addressing the emerging concerns in this industry?

On 24 May 2022, Competition Law in Conversation discussed these issues with Elodie Vandenhende (French Competition Authority) and Tim Cowen (Preiskel & Co LLP). You can find their speaker interviews below.

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Digital Mergers and Killer Acquisitions

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:57:00 +0000

Over the past few years, Big Tech has gone on unprecedented buying sprees, buying up promising start-ups and diversifying its portfolio. What are the competition implications of these acquisitions? Are they ‘killer acquisitions’? To what extent do they strengthen the digital ecosystems of Big Tech? And are transaction value thresholds – as implemented in Austria – a useful screening tool?

On 24 March 2022, Competition Law in Conversation discussed these issues with Stefan Ruech (Austrian Federal Competition Authority) and Anne C. Witt (EDHEC Lille). You can find their speaker interviews below.

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Digital Ecosystems and Competition Law

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 11:39:00 +0000

Large digital platforms are increasingly building self-contained digital ecosystems that capture users in unprecedented ways. What particular competition law problems arise in such settings? How can we address antitrust issues arising in these types of digital conglomerates?

On 16 November 2021, Competition Law in Conversation discussed these issues with Amelia Fletcher (University of East Anglia) and Frédéric Jenny (ESSEC Business School). You can find their speaker interviews below.

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Antitrust vs Privacy

ComplawAdmin — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:45:00 +0000

In the digital economy, many questions find themselves at the intersection of competition law and data protection. The impending replacement of third-party cookies on Chrome with Google’s own Privacy Sandbox and the introduction of Apple’s App Tracking Technology (ATT) raise the question: Could there be competition concerns when big tech platforms introduce more privacy-friendly tools?

On 19 October 2021, Competition Law in Conversation discussed these issues with Orla Lynskey (London School of Economics and Political Science) and Daniel Sokol (University of Southern California). You can find their speaker interviews below.

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