Google has agreed to allow developers to offer alternative payment options in its app store after the CMA launched a probe into its control over Google Play in-app purchases. The investigation was launched in June 2022 following the CMA’s market study into ‘mobile ecosystems’. In its report, the CMA raised concerns that Google’s control over…
On 6 May 2022 the Government confirmed its approach to strengthen digital competition regulation in the UK.[1] The UK is now on the verge of publishing the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill (the “Bill”) which will be broadly aligned with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (“DMA”). However, will the Bill be fit for purpose?…
On the 14th of September 2022, the European General Court (“EGC”) delivered its judgement on Google’s antitrust case. The EGC largely upheld the European Commission’s (“EC”) 2018 ruling to impose an antitrust fine on Google, but with a slight reduction of the fine from €4.343bn to €4.125bn to “better reflect the gravity and duration of the…
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 came into force on 4 January 2022. BEIS has published its first annual report, which has been made a statutory requirement by s 61 of the Act on 16 June 2022. It covers transaction notifications during the period of 4 January – 31 March 2022 and how they…
Providers of electronic communications networks and services (“CPs”), are generally authorised to operate in the UK without a licence, save for certain exceptions where a licence is still required (e.g., use of spectrum). The UK regulator (“Ofcom”) requires CPs to comply with Ofcom’s General Conditions of Entitlement (the “General Conditions”). These have been subject to…
On 12 August 2021, The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) announced its provisional findings that Facebook’s completed acquisition of Giphy is likely to harm competition between social media platforms and between digital display advertising players. The CMA considers that Facebook could restrict the use of GIFs on other social media platforms, making its competitors change…
Preiskel & Co selected by Global Law Experts as Communications Law Firm of the Year in England.
Find the award publication here.
On 9 December 2020, two antitrust suits were filed in the US by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and 48 state attorneys general against Facebook. It is understood that the attorneys general case is being led by the New York attorney general. The cases allege that Facebook conducted a series of anticompetitive acquisitions, and engaged…
TuneIn is a radio service which provides links to radio stations all over the world. In 2017, the service was sued in the English High Court by Sony Music UK and Warner Music UK, on the basis that linking to radio stations in other jurisdictions, which were not licensed to play music in the region,…
Preiskel & Co Chair, Antitrust Division, Tim Cowen, will chair an upcoming Digital Policy Alliance webinar entitled “Competition Remedies or Digital Regulation? Review of CMA investigation of online advertising markets and the latest initiatives”. The webinar will address the likely impact and consequences of proposed initiatives to tackle market imbalance in the digital space. Speakers…
