The European Union (EU) antitrust enforcement landscape is experiencing unprecedented changes, largely shaped by volatile geopolitical and economic circumstances and by recent influential case law.
Antitrust & Competition Law
Disclosure of information compiled ex novo permissible, subject to proportionality by national courts
The case originated from a 2016 Commission Decision, where the Commission found continuous infringement of Article 101 TFEU by 15 international truck manufacturers, with most infringements taking place between January 1997 and January 2011.
Amazon hoping for an agreement to stop competition law investigations
The e-commerce giant could potentially be imposed some significant fines reaching in the billions of euros, in violation of EU competition law rules, unless they can strike a deal with the Commission.
Dedicated buttons on TV remotes – a challenge to cultural sovereignty?
“If there is a button for an American platform, there must be a button for a French platform.”
Everything from the pig goes…except cartels!
Fake notebooks, clandestine meetings, secret phone calls, destroyed documents, the list goes on and on. About fifty companies were ultimately targeted by the twenty-three months of investigation.
Reflecting on EU state aid measures during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Commissioner for Competition has been active in approving state aid measures in order to benefit the affected businesses as quickly as possible.
Employee data rights reaffirmed in various settings
Two interesting data protection developments were concluded on the first week of October, with the Court clarifying elements of the Commission investigation procedure into anticompetitive activities and a hefty fine for a H&M subsidiary for data collection
Amazon under scrutiny by German competition authorities
The investigation looks into whether Amazon’s practices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic towards third-party marketplace sellers could amount to an abuse of a dominant position.
Apple gains victory in the General Court
The American tech behemoth gained a major victory over the Commission, as the General Court did not see the company gaining unfair advantages in the Irish tax rulings.
ECJ: Parties not directly affected by actions of a cartel may claim compensation for losses incurred
New ECJ ruling gives increased protection to parties affected by anticompetitive behaviour
