Tag: online platforms

Platform divergence and geographic divergence after Microsoft/Activision and Apple v CMA

In January 2022, we first reported on the CMA’s concerns that Apple had been blocking cloud gaming apps on the App Store (Google does allow those apps on Play Store but does not allow in-app purchases to be completed within cloud gaming apps). The CMA referred this issue to a full market investigation on 22 … Continue reading Platform divergence and geographic divergence after Microsoft/Activision and Apple v CMA →

Into Uncharted Waters – Making sense of the CAT’s Apple/CMA judgment

In November last year, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) started a market investigation into the supply of web browsers and browser engines on mobile devices, and the distribution of cloud gaming services through app stores on mobile devices. However, Apple appealed the CMA’s decision to make a market investigation reference (MIR) in the … Continue reading Into Uncharted Waters – Making sense of the CAT’s Apple/CMA judgment →

Making sense of NCAs’ roles under the DMA – The Dutch proposal

In the run-up to the enactment of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission strongly defended its exclusive jurisdiction to enforce it. Despite valiant efforts on the part of several national competition authorities (NCAs) who wanted a formal role enforcing the new rules, the Commission’s exclusive competence remains largely in place in the … Continue reading Making sense of NCAs’ roles under the DMA – The Dutch proposal →

The Responsible Online Commerce Coalition (ROCC): Businesses team up to ensure a level playing field in e-commerce

Amazon’s revenues reached half a trillion dollars in 2022, having increased tenfold in a decade. There are few companies as fascinating and impressive as Amazon and arguably no other company occupies such a central position in the modern retail economy in the US and Europe. Its famous e-commerce platform represents more than half of e-commerce … Continue reading The Responsible Online Commerce Coalition (ROCC): Businesses team up to ensure a level playing field in e-commerce →

Platform antitrust/regulation in 2023: Our eleven predictions

Happy New Year to all! The authors of this blog wish you the best for what will be a thrilling year for those interested in platforms. It has never been more exciting to operate in the tech space. To start the new year, we have put our heads together to make eleven predictions about 2023. … Continue reading Platform antitrust/regulation in 2023: Our eleven predictions →

CMA market study into music streaming – What you need to know

The CMA has today launched a market study into music streaming. This is a step that could lead to a range of interventions: The CMA could issue guidance or recommendations;It could launch enforcement action under its antitrust powers (as happened after the electric vehicle charging market study); orIt could make a market investigation reference, which … Continue reading CMA market study into music streaming – What you need to know →

Apple’s cloud gaming restrictions may be biggest news in CMA interim report

As we explained in December, the CMA’s interim report on mobile ecosystems was a great piece of work which takes a holistic view of mobile ecosystems and the competition problems associated with these ecosystems. One concern raised in the interim report was not previously seen in the multiple reports and decisions issued by competition authorities … Continue reading Apple’s cloud gaming restrictions may be biggest news in CMA interim report →

The DMA should stay true to its principles, or it could fail

As readers of this blog know, the core idea behind (and the principle underpinning) the DMA proposal is that a small number of large digital platforms have become “gatekeepers” in that they operate one or more important “gateways” for business users to reach end users. In this context, the DMA rightly proposes to impose on … Continue reading The DMA should stay true to its principles, or it could fail →

The P2B Regulation is not consigned to oblivion: ACM launches market study, reminding us that transparency in the platform economy is important

The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) announced a few days ago that it will launch a market study into how platforms deal with the rules laid down in the Platform-to-Business (P2B) Regulation. The P2B Regulation is a regulatory initiative that may not have received the attention it deserves. This could be explained by … Continue reading The P2B Regulation is not consigned to oblivion: ACM launches market study, reminding us that transparency in the platform economy is important →

The UK’s regulatory regime for Big Tech: will the Government dare to make it more effective?

The British Government’s consultation on the design of the new regulatory regime for Big Tech (the “Consultation”) closed on Friday.  We gave our initial thoughts on this legislation back in July.  This blog post picks out some of the other important issues. For the most part, the Government has followed the advice of the CMA’s … Continue reading The UK’s regulatory regime for Big Tech: will the Government dare to make it more effective? →