On 20 January 2022 the European Commission (“Commission“) published its final report on the consumer Internet of Things (“IoT“) sector inquiry, largely confirming its preliminary findings issued in July 2021. These include concerns around high market entry barriers, the influence on the market of a small number of vertically integrated players, and issues around access … Read more

On 23 July 2021 the CMA published the report of its market study into the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, in which it sets out a range of measures in order to ensure that a comprehensive and competitive national network of EV charge points is in place ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol … Read more

The CMA has today (2 December 2020) launched a market study into the electric vehicle charging sector in the UK. The study will consider two broad themes: how to develop a competitive sector while also attracting private investment to help the sector grow; how to ensure people using electric vehicle chargepoints have confidence that they … Read more

On 27 November 2020, the UK Government published its response to the CMA’s recommendations set out in its final report of its market study into online platforms and digital advertising (the “Final Report”). The Government broadly endorses the CMA’s recommendations, though it identifies the need for further evidence and analysis before granting the full scope … Read more

In July 2020, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) published its market study final report “Online platforms and digital advertising” (“Report”) (see the Report here). The Report includes significant recommendations on the future regulation of platforms funded by digital advertising, with the CMA calling for the adoption of new UK legislation to provide for additional regulatory … Read more

On 16 July 2020 the EU Commission launched a sector inquiry into the consumer Internet of Things (IoTs).  Under Article 17 of Regulation 1/2003 the Commission can conduct a sector inquiry into a particular sector of the economy where there are concerns that markets are not working as well as they should and where this … Read more

The German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”) has launched a sector inquiry in the provision and marketing of publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. According to the FCO’s president, Andreas Mundt, the FCO has received several complaints about prices and conditions at the charging stations. Read more

The Commission’s 2020 updated working programme provides for a legislative proposal for a new “ex ante competition tool” to be put forward before the end of 2020, in the context of its digital markets strategy. At this stage no further details as to the nature of the new tool are available, but Commissioner Vestager has … Read more