Meta/Giphy court judgment: The CMA’s controversial merger analysis survives, but its procedures don’t

As readers of this blog know, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) blocked its first Big Tech merger in the Meta/Giphy case. Meta duly appealed to the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”) and the CAT’s judgment was issued last week. The most discussed element of the case has been the CMA’s controversial theories of … Continue reading Meta/Giphy court judgment: The CMA’s controversial merger analysis survives, but its procedures don’t

The CMA Final Report on the Mobile Ecosystems market study: a repudiation of Apple’s narrative over privacy and safety as justifications for the status quo

On 10 June 2022, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its Final Report on its year-long market study into mobile ecosystems – namely mobile operating systems, app stores, and web browsers. The CMA found that Apple and Google have a tight grip over these increasingly crucial ecosystems, which in turn places them in … Continue reading The CMA Final Report on the Mobile Ecosystems market study: a repudiation of Apple’s narrative over privacy and safety as justifications for the status quo

The CMA takes matters into its own hands with browsers and cloud gaming market investigation references

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has published its report into mobile ecosystems a few days before its statutory deadline. This market study has focused on mobile browsers, mobile operating systems and app stores. Following the UK Government’s disappointing decision to delay the necessary legislation that will give the Digital Markets Unit (“DMU”) its … Continue reading The CMA takes matters into its own hands with browsers and cloud gaming market investigation references

Servizio, competition on the merits, and Google Shopping

This is the second post on the CJEU’s judgment in Servizio, a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of Article 102 TFEU (see here for the first post discussing the relevance of consumer welfare and actual effects in establishing an abuse under Article 102 TFEU). In this post I would like to discuss the concept of … Continue reading Servizio, competition on the merits, and Google Shopping