The UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has opened an investigation into the proposed private equity consortium takeover of Inmarsat. Inmarsat is the UK headquartered leading global mobile satellite communications provider of connectivity to ships, aircraft, and generally to locations not covered by traditional mobile networks. Moreover, it is reported that the CMA has also…
DetailsThe EU has rejected a range of proposed standards for internet-connected cars, citing legal reasons. Despite speculation, the EU Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, has indicated that the decision to block the proposed standards was not linked to calls for the standard to allow use of cellular technology, in particular 5G, as well as WiFi. Car…
DetailsThe European Commission has fined US chipmaker Qualcomm €242 million for abuse of market dominance in 3G baseband chipsets. The chipsets are a key component which enable smartphones and computer tablets to connect to the internet via 3G. The European Commission has found that company engaged in predatory pricing, “with the intention of eliminating a…
DetailsThe European Commission has today announced the opening of a formal antitrust investigation against tech giant Amazon. The investigation is to assess whether Amazon’s use of sensitive data from independent retailers selling on its marketplace breaches EU Competition Law. With the European Commission having issued record-breaking fines in recent years against Google for illegal leveraging…
DetailsThe UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has set its sights on Amazon’s investment in Roofoods Ltd, trading as Deliveroo, issuing an Interim Enforcement Order on 24 June 2019. Amazon was the lead investor in a financing round announced by Deliveroo in May, acquiring a minority stake in the food delivery business. The Interim Enforcement…
DetailsOn 7 June 2019, Ofcom launched a Competition Act investigation regarding providers of equipment and related services in the electronic communications sector in the UK. Ofcom’s website states that it is looking to establish “whether competitors in the provision of equipment and related services in the electronic communications sector in the UK have infringed competition…
DetailsIn a decision handed down by the European Court of Justice on Wednesday 5 June, Microsoft’s Skype Service was declared to be a “telecoms operator” and therefore subject to EU telecoms regulations. In C-142/18 Skype Communications Sarl v IBPT, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) sided with the Belgian communications regulator, the Belgian Institute of…
DetailsThe European Union’s landmark data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect one year ago. By now, the implications for European residents and companies are fairly well known. Many of us will have received updated privacy policies in our email inboxes, or become increasingly aware of headline-grabbing stories on mass data…
Details(This post is published to coincide with the attendance of our film lawyers at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The post is co-written by our media law consultant David Allen Green and one of our film law specialists Matthew Fox.) * Mary Poppins Returns is a wonderful film, but it is a little harsh on…
DetailsYou may have received a text message or email yesterday from your mobile operator, notifying you of new EU regulations which cap the cost of roaming fees within Europe. From 15 May, the cost for phone calls via landline and mobile phone or SMS made from one of European Union member states to another are to…
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