December 2009

Anticompetitive practices

 The Portuguese Competition Authority caters to a catering cartel (Eurest / Trivalor / Uniself / ICA-Nordigal / Sodexo Portugal)
University of Lisbon
Portugal 18 contributions 10165 visits
The Portuguese Competition Authority has imposed fines totaling EUR 14,7 million on five undertakings for a violation of the national provision similar to Art. 101 of the TFUE (and, possibly, under this provision as well), for a cartel in the national market for mass catering and for canteen (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority fines individual managers for the first time in a cartel in the catering and related services and grants full exemption under leniency (Eurest / Trivalor / Uniself / ICA / Nordigal / Sodexo Portugal)
University College London
United Kingdom 2 contributions 2829 visits
The competition authority in Portugal (Autoridade da Concorrência - AdC) decided last December 30, 2009 to condemn five companies for harmful anticompetitive practices in the market of meals (catering) and services of administration and exploration of refectories, canteens or restaurants. The (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority imposes fines totaling €14.7M on five undertakings implicated in the Canteen Cartel and uses the leniency regime for the first time (Eurest / Trivalor / Uniself / ICA / Nordigal...)
DLA Piper (Lisbon)
Portugal 20 contributions 28420 visits
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Vieira de Almeida (Lisbon)
Portugal 12 contributions 15068 visits
On 30 December 2009 the Portuguese Competition Authority (PCA) imposed total fines € 14,720 million on five mass catering undertakings active in the market for meals and refectory, canteen and restaurant management/operating services for anti-competitive practices. This case amounts to the first (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority closes its investigation into retail trade and technical maintenance of automobiles, following its acceptance of commitments (Honda Motor Europe)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Lithuania: The Competition Council (CC) closes Investigation in Retail Trade of Automobiles and Technical Maintenance Sector following Commitments* On 24 December 2009, the Lithuanian Competition Council terminated its investigation concerning the compliance of the practices of vehicle traders (...)

The Croatian Competition Authority holds illegal minimum price fixing agreement among residential management service providers (Eki Inginjering)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
In December 2008 the Croatian Competition Authority (AZTN) received a complaint submitted by the consumer protection organization “Istrian Consumer”. The complainant alleged that four providers of residential management services in the city of Pula (Eki Inžinjering d.o.o., Uljanik Upravljanje (...)

The Canadian Competition Authority releases the final version of its Competitor Collaboration Guidelines instituting a new dual-track approach for conspiracy and agreement between competitors
University of Laval
Canada 25 contributions 12065 visits
On December 23, 2009 the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) released the final version of its Competitor Collaboration Guidelines (“Guidelines”) that outlines the Bureau’s approach to enforce the new agreement provisions resulting from the fundamental changes induced by Bill C-10. Bill C-10 overhauls (...)

The Canadian Competition Bureau publishes guidance on “product of Canada” and “made in Canada” claims
Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law (Ottawa)
France 47 contributions 19936 visits
Introduction Canada’s Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”), an independent enforcement agency that assists the Commissioner of Competition (the “Commissioner”) in protecting and promoting competition, released its Enforcement Guidelineson“product of Canada” and “made in Canada” Claims(the “Guidelines”) (...)

The Irish High Court finds that four Dublin local authorities acted in breach of Irish competition law in proposing changes to how the domestic waste sector is regulated (Nurendale / Panda Waste Services)
Venture Legal Services (Dublin)
Ireland 1 contribution 1421 visits
In a ruling made on 21 December 2009 in the case of Nurendale Limited (trading as Panda Waste Services) v. Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council, the Irish High Court determined that the four Dublin local authorities (...)

The EU Commission launches public consultation on the review of the competition rules for the motor vehicle sector
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
France 163 contributions 55239 visits
On 21 December 2009, the European Commission launched a public consultation on its review of the competition rules for the motor vehicle sector. In particular, the European Commission published a draft sector-specific block exemption and notice concerning the sale of new motor vehicles, spare (...)

The Irish Competition Authority publishes booklet on the detection and prevention of collusive tendering
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Ireland: The Competition Authority raises Awareness on Harm caused by Bid-Rigging/Collusive Tendering, and publishes booklet on “The Detection and Prevention of Collusive Tendering”, and organizes “Bid-Rigging Road-Show&” On 20 December 2009, the Irish Competition Authority published an (...)

The Macedonian Competition Authority finds anticompetitive practices on the market for radio advertising (Ros Metropolis Radio)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
On 18 December 2009 the Macedonian Competition Authority (KZK) concluded its investigation on the market for radio advertising on the territory of Skopje municipality and concluded that three radio stations - Ros Metropolis Radio, City Radio and Club FM concluded an anticompetitive agreement by (...)

The French NCA fines a trade association in the hydrotherapy sector for price fixing and exchanges of information between its members and dismisses lack of prior intent as a mitigating circumstance (Conseil national des exploitants thermaux)
Maulin Avocats (Paris)
France 9 contributions 15360 visits
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Herbert Smith Freehills (Paris)
France 94 contributions 44925 visits
In a decision issued on 18 December 2009, the French Competition Authority (the «Authority«) fined a trade association in the hydrotherapy sector, the Conseil national des exploitants thermaux («CNETh«), for infringing article L. 420-1 of the French Commercial Code (the French equivalent of art. (...)

The German Competition Authority fines three coffee roasters for price fixing (Tchibo / Melitta Kaffee / Alois Dallmayr)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Germany: Coffee Roasters fined for Price Fixing In a decision of 18 December 2009, the Bundeskartellamt imposed fines totalling approximately € 159,500,000 on three coffee roasters and the six responsible employees. The companies involved are Tchibo GmbH, Melitta Kaffee GmbH and Alois Dallmayr (...)

The Dutch Supreme Court annuls a judgment of the Court of Appeal for error in market definition and lack of analysis of the franchise agreement’s restrictive object in the light of its context (Prisma Vastgoed, Prisma Food Retail / Verweerders)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 46 contributions 199156 visites
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European Court of Justice (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 23 contributions 87196 visits
In 1989, Prisma rented out a supermarket to the defendant. The rental agreement provided for an option to purchase the supermarket in favour of the defendant, which could be exercised on 30 April 2001. This agreement further provided that in case the defendant purchased the supermarket, it (...)

The French Competition Authority issues an opinion on the possible implementation of retail price maintenance scheme for digital books
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
France: The Autorité de la concurrence recommends not to apply RPM to Digital Books and suggests Contractual Models for Relations between Publishers and Digital Librarians On 18 December 2009, the Autorité de la concurrence (hereafter: the Autorité) delivered its opinion on the possible (...)

The Bulgarian Competition Authority finalises sector inquiry into voluntary health insurance
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Bulgaria: The Commission on the Protection of Competition (CPC) finalises Sector Inquiry into Voluntary Health Insurance On 17 December 2009, the CPC adopted a Decision on a Sector Inquiry into the competitive environment on the national market of voluntary health insurance. The report covers (...)

The French Competition Authority refuses to condemn companies specialized in medical technologies despite their parallel behaviour (Ethicon / Tyco Healthcare France / Syndicat national des industries technologies médicales)
Aéroports de Paris (ADP)
France 1 contribution 714 visits
On the 29th August 2005 the Minister of Economy referred a case to the French Competition Authority (Autorité de la Concurrence) concerning observed parallelism in price operated by Ethicon SAS (Ethicon), Tyco Healthcare France (Tyco) and the national trade union of industries specialised in (...)

The Bulgarian Competition Authority holds that a network of vertical exclusivity agreements covering 86% of the relevant market has anticompetitive effects (Net Is Sat / Megalan / University of National and World Economy and Others)
Dessislava Fessenko (unknown)
United Kingdom 32 contributions 85872 visits
The Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition (the “CPC”) found that a network of vertical exclusivity agreements regarding construction and exploitation of Internet infrastructure and access to Internet that covered 86% of the relevant market foreclosed new entries and expansion by (...)

The Slovak Competition Authority condemns the three biggest national banks for having concluded an agreement restricting competition (Vseobecna uverova banka / Slovenska sporitelna / Ceskoslovenska obchodna banka)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Slovakia: Cartel in the Banking Sector* On 17 December 2009, a decision of the Council of the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter ‘the Office’) came into force, by which the Council confirmed the first instance decision of the Division of Agreements Restricting Competition. (...)

The French Competition Authority analyses parallel behaviour as proof of a concerted practice and excessive pricing by a dominant company, in the context of a price-regulated sector (Ethicon / Tyco Healthcare France / Syndicat national des industries technologies médicales)
Prôreus (Paris)
France 2 contributions 6493 visits
I. Introduction The main interest of this decision of the French Competition Authority (hereafter « the Competition Authority ») lies in its analysis of parallel behaviour as proof of a concerted practice, on the one hand, and excessive pricing by a dominant company, on the other, in the context (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority fines two phone kiosk chains for a prohibited agreement on the market for prepaid cards (Plus Punkts / Narvesen Baltija)
Latvian Competition Council (Riga)
Latvia 117 contributions 22720 visits
The Competition Council Fines Two Kiosk Chains for Prohibited Agreement* On 16 December 2009 the Competition Council of Latvia adopted a decision establishing a prohibited agreement between two kiosk chains – Plus Punkts Ltd. and Narvesen Baltija Ltd./Preses apvienība Ltd. – and imposed fines in (...)

The Italian Competition Authority fines a sports association for having impeded individual sale of broadcasting rights (Italian Football Association)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 380 contributions 90727 visits
On 16 December 2009, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) ruled that the Italian Football Association (“IFA”) had infringed Article 101 TFEU by implementing an agreement impeding the sale by individual football clubs of television broadcasting rights relating to Second Division Championship (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority imposes a fine on participants of a kiosk chain cartel (Plus Punkts / Narvessen / Preses apvienība)
Klavins Ellex (Latvia)
Latvia 5 contributions 1673 visits
Introduction On 15 May 2009 Latvian Competition Council received an application from SIA “Tele2” (Tele2) containing information regarding potentially concerted practices among SIA “Plus Punkts” (Plus Punkts), SIA “Narvessen Latvia” (Narvessen) and AS “Preses apvienība” (Preses apvienība). After (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority adopts guidelines on regulation of fines slightly different from EU Law
Erdem & Erdem (Istanbul)
Turkey 67 contributions 75583 visits
Regulation on Fines to Apply in Cases of Agreements, Concerted Practices and Decisions Limiting Competition, and Abuse of Dominant Position (the “Regulation on Fines” or the “Regulation”) has entered into force through publication in the Official Gazette dated 15.02.2009 and numbered 27142. The (...)

The Polish President of the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection fines an operator and ten distributors for vertical price collusion with respect to trailer accessories (Knott)
Greenberg Traurig (Warsaw)
Poland 29 contributions 79998 visits
Decision On 15 December 2009, the President of the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (the ”OCCP”) fined Knott Sp. z.o.o. (“Knott”) and its ten distributors for vertical price collusion with respect to trailer accessories (such as axles, overrun couplings, jockey wheels, brakes and (...)

The Italian Revenue Police raids pasta makers during an investigation into a suspected price-fixing cartel (Barilla / De Cecco / Garofalo / Amato / Di Vella)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 380 contributions 90727 visits
On 15 December 2009, a number of Italy’s largest pasta makers were raided by the Italian Revenue Police as part of a criminal investigation into a suspected price-fixing cartel, which is alleged to have caused an increase in the retail price of pasta by 50% in the last two years. The (...)

The Belgian Civil Supreme Court upholds the decision of the Appeal committee of the Pharmacists professional body (V.D.F.M / Ordre des Pharmaciens)
Bollé Brands (Paris)
France 3 contributions 2330 visits
1. Introduction In its judgment of 11 December 2009, the Belgian Civil Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) confirmed the decision of the Appeal Committee of the Ordre des pharmaciens which ruled that competition can be restricted by a College of Pharmacists for the protection of the public (...)

The Spanish Competition Appeal Court reduces the fine imposed on a savings bank for lack of assessment on the anticompetitive effects caused by the exchange of information and other restrictions by effect (Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa)
European Commission
Belgium 30 contributions 119454 visits
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Garrigues (Brussels)
Belgium 28 contributions 104277 visits
In its judgment of December 10, 2009 on the appeal brought by Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa (“BBK”) against the Decision of the Spanish National Competition Authority (hereinafter CNC) of October 18, 2007 in the Basque and Navarre Savings Banks,case, the “Audiencia Nacional” has halved the fine imposed by (...)

The Polish Competition Authority imposes unprecedented fines on cement cartel (Lafarge Cement, Górażdże Cement, Grupa Ożarów, Cemex, Dyckerhoff, Cementownia Warta and Cementownia Odra)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 380 contributions 90727 visits
On 10 December 2009, the Polish Competition Authority announced that it had imposed unprecedented fines amounting to PLN 411 million (approximately € 99 million) on Polish producers of grey cement, who were found to have participated in a price-fixing and market-sharing cartel for over eleven (...)

The Polish Competition Authority imposes the biggest fine in its history on members of a cement cartel (Lafarge Cement)
WilmerHale (Brussels)
Belgium 5 contributions 7070 visits
The cement market in Poland and main proceedings The market for grey cement in Poland is shared between several former state-owned companies. This market structure, inherited after centrally planned economy, was subsequently preserved by international entities, which had acquired local cement (...)

The Polish Competition Authority issues the highest fine of €99.5 million in its history for breaching National Law for companies operating on the cement market (Cement Cartel)
WKB Wiercinski Kwiecinski Baehr (Poznan)
Poland 14 contributions 10873 visits
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Orange (Warsaw)
Poland 5 contributions 4937 visits
On December 8, 2009, the Polish competition authority, the President of the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection, issued a decision in which it found that 11 companies operating on the cement market entered into an anticompetitive agreement breaching Polish national law and the EU (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority gives access to a statement of objections to a potential damage claimant (Natrium hypochlorite market cartel)
Court of First Instance of Namur (Namur)
Belgium 224 contributions 46114 visits
On 7 December 2009, the Dutch Competition Authority (“NMa”) announced that a potential damage claimant had been given access to a statement of objections issued in the course of a cartel investigation in the natrium hypochlorite market which ultimately led to a € 3.1 million fine imposed on (...)

The Romanian Competition Authority imposes an 8% fine on an association of undertakings for price fixing and refers them for the first time to criminal investigation bodies (Association of the Depositories of Cereals)
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (Bucharest)
Romania 4 contributions 13336 visits
Price fixing by associations of undertakings is no novelty in the competition world. Neither are heavy fines, although it is not often that a competition authority reaches an 8% fine for a short term infringement (be it price fixing), and without application of any aggravating circumstances. (...)

The Amsterdam Court of First Instance rules on a refusal to appoint motor vehicle dealers to a motor vehicle selective distribution network (KIA)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
France 163 contributions 55239 visits
On 3 December 2009, the President of the Amsterdam Court of First Instance (the “President”) accepted an interim proceedings claim brought by four former Kia Nederland BV (“KIA Nederland”) repairers. The repairers claimed that KIA Motors Nederland BV (“KIA Motors”), which replaced KIA Nederland as (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirms dismissal of antitrust claims addressing the proper application of the implied preclusion doctrine (Electronic Trading Group / Banc of America Securities)
Moses & Singer LLP (New York)
6 contributions 1929 visites
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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (New York)
United States 7 contributions 2480 visits
On December 3, 2009, in In re Short Sale Antitrust Litigation (No. 08-0420-cv), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a putative class action alleging collusion among certain financial institutions that serve as “prime brokers” in connection with short sale (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority closes a resale price maintenance case, after applying the de minimis rule (El Corral de las Flamencas)
Lonza (Basel)
Switzerland 6 contributions 6445 visits
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ARPA Abogados Consultores (San Sebastian)
Espagne 6 contributions 7286 visites
On December 3, 2009, the Spanish Competition Authority(Comisión Nacional de la Competencia, “CNC”) closed a case of possible infringement of Article 1 of the Law 15/2007, for the Defense of Competition (“LDC”), involving the company El Corral de las Flamencas, S.L. (“El Corral”) fixing resale prices (...)

The Finnish Market Court uphelds Competition Authority decision on fines for timber cartel (Stora Enso / Metsäliitto / UPM-Kymmene)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Article published in ECN Brief 02/2010 (click here). The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Please note that the ECN is not the actual "author" of this case summary, but the mere source. As mentioned by the ECN: "The information provided by the ECN Brief is (...)

The Regional Administrative Tribunal for Latium upholds the Competition Authority which fined 26 pasta manufacturers and two trade associations for having cartelized the market for durum semolina pasta (Pricing of Pasta)
Municipality of Cagliari
159 contributions 131194 visits
By a judgment of December 2009 the Regional Administrative Tribunal for Latium decided on the appeal against the decision of the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) in the Pricing of Pasta case. The ICA had fined 26 pasta manufacturers and two trade association for having cartelized the market (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirms the dismissal of claims based on the aggregation of petroleum exchange agreements to show alleged cumulative anticompetitive effects (Gilley Enterprises / Atlantic Richfield)
Sheppard Mullin (Los Angeles)
États-Unis 46 contributions 7771 visites
Spirit of Twombly Exorcises Specter of Revived Aguilar Claims* The Ninth Circuit recently affirmed the dismissal of claims based on the aggregation of petroleum exchange agreements to show alleged "cumulative anticompetitive effects." Gilley Enterprises v. Atlantic Richfield Company, No. (...)

The Czech Regional Court in Brno cancels an NCA decision for not providing sufficient evidence as to the participation of an undertaking in the cartel conduct (Poultry Producers Cartel)
Skils (Prague)
Czech Republic 34 contributions 25865 visits
On 2 December 2009 the Regional Court in Brno cancelled decision of the Czech Office for Protection of Competition (“Office”) concerning cartel behavior of several poultry producers. The Regional Court did so despite the fact that it consented in all material respects with findings of the Office (...)

The Swiss Competition Authority imposes fines on three pharmaceutical companies for resale price maintenance (Pfizer, Lilly, Bayer)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
France 163 contributions 55239 visits
According to a press release of 1 December 2009, the Swiss Competition Authority has imposed fines totaling approximately € 3.7 million on three pharmaceutical companies (Pfizer, Lilly and Bayer) for engaging in resale price maintenance with their distributors. It appears that the three (...)

The Austrian Supreme Court rules that a newspaper distributor cannot be considered an agent under EU competition law (Newspaper Distributor II)
Salzburg University
Austria 8 contributions 23714 visits
Background The Austrian Competition Authority (“Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde”) successfully filed an application with the Austrian Cartel Court against a German publishing group, its Austrian subsidiary and an Austrian newspaper distributor. The application was based on certain vertical restraints (...)

The Hungarian Parliament amends the Competition Act and introduces rewards for information about cartels (Act CLXIII of 2009)
Baker McKenzie (Budapest)
Hungary 17 contributions 36410 visits
An amendment of the Hungarian Competition Act introduces financial rewards for providing information about cartels. The new reward system is expected to boost the capacity of the Hungarian Competition Office to uncover hard core infringements. I. The structure of the reward system Pursuant to (...)

Unilateral Practices

 The Turkish Competition Authority imposes €17,3 M fine on the incumbent telecommunications operator for its abusive practices in GSM and mobile marketing services market (Turkcell)
L’Oréal (Istanbul)
4 contributions 7765 visits
Procedure After the completion of its investigation dated 09 October 2008, the NCA announced the short version of its final decision on 30 December 2009. Turkcell has been accused of abusing its dominant position in GSM services market via exclusive cooperation agreements in mobile marketing (...)

The Belgian Competition Authority’s College of Prosecutors dismisses multiple complaints against the incumbent telecom operator for abuse of a dominant position in the market for international transit services for call termination in Belgium (Base / Belgacom)
Catholic University of Louvain
Belgium 2 contributions 4348 visits
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Lexing (Liège)
Belgium 20 contributions 15935 visits
I. The Parties Belgacom S.A. is the incumbent operator on the Belgian telecom market. It provides mobile telecom services through its 100% subsidiary Belgacom Mobile Belgium (“BMB” - Proximus). Base S.A. is a 100% subsidiary of KPN, a Dutch landline and mobile telecommunication company. (...)

The Belgian Competition Authority’s College of Competition Prosecutors rejects a complaint about termination rates for international calls against incumbent telecoms operator (BASE / Belgacom)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Belgium: Complaint about Termination Rates for International Calls against Belgacom rejected On 24 December 2009, the College of Competition Prosecutors of the Belgian Competition Council rejected a complaint by mobile operator BASE against telecom operator Belgacom (incumbent telecoms (...)

The Czech Competition Authority fines a mineral water producing company for export bans but substantially lowers the fine taking into consideration cooperation and commitments (Karlovarské minerální vody)
Kinstellar (Prague)
Czech Republic 1 contribution 1142 visits
On 23 December 2009, the Czech Competition Office (the “Office”) ended an investigation against Karlovarské minerální vody (KMV) for export bans and imposed in a settlement procedure a fine of CZK 5 million (approximately EUR 192,000). This was the fourth case in which the Office had used settlement (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority closes investigation into a state-owned intercity coach station for refusing to allocate a slot to a private coach company (KISOT)
Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University (Ankara)
31 contributions 11865 visits
This study analyses the decision of the Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) in which it has closed its abuse of dominance investigation into the state-owned Kirikkale intercity coach station (KISOT) after six months from its previous cease-and-desist order to halt potentially abusive refusal to (...)

The High Court of Ireland holds that Dublin local authorities abused their dominant position in the household waste collection market in an attempt to remove rival private operators (Nurendale / Panda Waste Services)
Arthur Cox (Dublin)
Ireland 8 contributions 6047 visits
Nurendale Limited t/a Panda Waste Services v Dublin City Council & Ors arises out of a change (“Variation”) to the Waste Management Plan for the Dublin Region 2005-2010 made collectively by the four Dublin local authorities on 3 March 2008. Panda Waste Services (“Panda”) challenged this (...)

The Macedonian Competition Authority defines the waste depot as an essential facility on the market for waste disposal (Komunalna Higiena / Eko Club)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
On 18 December 2009 the Macedonian Competition Authority (KZK) found an abuse of dominant position on the market for waste disposal on the territory of Skopje municipality committed by the public undertaking Komunalna Higiena (KH). KH was the sole undertaking providing waste disposal services (...)

The Chinese Intermediate People’s Court No.1 in Beijing issues second abuse of dominance decision under the new anti-monopoly law (Baidu / TRISC - Tangshan Renren Information Service Company)
Jones Day (Shanghai)
China 51 contributions 23375 visits
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Jones Day (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 20323 visits
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Winston & Strawn (Washington)
United States 27 contributions 23074 visits
On December 18, 2009, a Chinese court ruled in favor of Baidu, Inc. (“Baidu”), allegedly the largest Chinese search engine company, in a lawsuit filed by Tangshan Renren Information Service Company (“TRISC”), an online information platform. TRISC alleged that Baidu abused its dominant market (...)

The Macedonian Competition Authority finds abuse of dominant position on the funeral services market (Komunalec)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
On 18 December 2009 the Macedonian Competition Authority (KZK) found an abuse of dominant position on the market for funeral services rendered on the territory of the municipality of Prilep. The municipal government entrusted the administration of cemeteries and provision of basic funeral (...)

The Macedonian Administrative Court upholds the Competition Authority’s decisions establishing abusive charges on the mobile telecommunications market (T-Mobile)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
In December 2009 the Macedonian Administrative Court has put a full stop in a lengthy litigation process between the Macedonian Competition Authority (KZK) and two mobile phone operators Cosmofon and T-Mobile Macedonia which according to the KZK have abused their dominant positions on the (...)

The Italian Competition Authority accepts commitments proposed by the historical postal operator during an investigation into possible abuse of dominant position in the collection and payment services sector (Poste Italiane / Aumento Commissione Bollettini)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Italy: The Antitrust Authority (ICA) accepts Commitments by Poste Italiane On 16 December 2009, the Italian Competition Authority accepted binding commitments proposed by Poste Italiane during an investigation into a possible abuse of dominant position in the collection and payment services (...)

The US FTC files a complaint concerning the harm of competition on the relevant central processing unit and graphics processing unit markets (Intel)
IPR University Center (Helsinki)
Finland 29 contributions 5361 visits
FTC files complaint against Intel Corp.* On 16 December 2009 the FTC issued an administrative complaint against Intel Corp. (“Intel”) claiming that Intel has violated Section 5 of the FTC Act through practices that harm competition in the relevant central processing unit (“CPU”) and graphics (...)

The EU Commission renders legally binding commitment offered by U.S. software undertaking concerning web browsers (Microsoft)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 19 contributions 34483 visits
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European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 2 contributions 10194 visits
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European Commission - DG IT (Brussels)
Belgium 4 contributions 5207 visits
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"The Commission’s decision in the Microsoft Internet Explorer case and recent developments in the area of interoperability"* I. Commitment decision on the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows A. Introduction On 16 December 2009, the Commission adopted a commitment decision (‘the Decision’) (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority finds no abuse of dominance in the postal sector (Sandd / TNT)
Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets- ACM (The Hague)
Netherlands 10 contributions 3420 visits
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13 contributions 3945 visits
I. Introduction On 15 December 2009 the Dutch Competition Authority (“NMa”) adopted a decision by which it found no signs of abuse of a dominant position by TNT N.V. (“TNT”),an undertaking in the Dutch postal sector. Following a complaint from another undertaking in the postal sector, Sandd (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority dismisses alleged predatory pricing, tying and bundling, discriminatory pricing and foreclosure through exclusive and/or multi-year contracts in the postal market (Sandd / TNT)
ASML (Veldhoven)
Netherlands 3 contributions 3581 visits
I. Introduction On 15 December 2009 the Dutch Competition Authority (NMa) dismissed a complaint from Dutch postal delivery service Sandd against competitor TNT and certain subsidiaries. Sandd claimed that TNT had violated article 102 TFEU and the equivalent national provision. It argued that (...)

The Latvian Administrative Regional Court upholds the decision of the Competition Authority and confirms the abuse of dominant position committed by a collecting society (AKKA / LAA)
Latvian Competition Council (Riga)
Latvia 117 contributions 22720 visits
Court Upholds the Decision on Abuse of Dominant Position by Collective Copyright Management Association* With the decision of 11 December 2009 the Administrative Regional Court rejected a claim of the Collective Copyright Management Association AKKA/LAA against the 1 December 2008 decision of (...)

The Italian Competition Authority accepts commitments proposed by the historical electric operator and its subsidiaries to put an end to an abuse of dominant position (Enel)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216874 visits
Italy: The Antitrust Authority accepts Binding Commitments by Enel, Enel Distribuzione and Enel Servizio Elettrico On 10 December 2009, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) accepted binding commitments by ENEL SpA (a holding of the Enel group), ENEL Distribuzione SpA (which manages (...)

The Macedonian Administrative Court upholds the Competition Authority’s decision establishing abusive charges on the electricity distribution market (Elektrostopanstvo)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
On 10 December 2009 the Macedonian Administrative Court has put a full stop in a lengthy litigation process between the Macedonian Competition Authority (KZK) and incumbent electricity provider Elektrostopanstvo, which according to the KZK has abused its dominant position on the market for (...)

The EU Commission welcomes a company’s public declaration on FRAND terms to patents essential for various standards set by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (IPCom)
Ashurst (Milan)
France 102 contributions 28846 visits
IPCom publicly accepts to take over Bosch’s FRAND terms commitments* On 10 December 2009, the European Commission issued a press release regarding the public declaration by IPCom, a German IP licensing company, in relation to the disputes on a portfolio of patents key to mobile standards (...)

The EU Commission renders legally binding commitments offered by U.S. software undertaking to lower memory chip royalty rates (Rambus)
European Commission - DG TRADE (Brussels)
Belgium 1 contribution 1405 visits
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European Parliament (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 1 contribution 1405 visits
"Patent ambush in standard-setting: the Commission accepts commitments from Rambus to lower memory chip royalty rates"* I. Introduction Standardisation involves competitors sitting around a table agreeing technical developments for their industry. Normally, antitrust rules do not allow (...)

The EU Commission closes an investigation into a chip manufacturer for abuse of dominant position (Rambus)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
United Kingdom 145 contributions 50403 visits
Several developments that took place during December 2009 suggest that the issue of standards-setting is one that is currently of renewed interest to the European Commission, and likely to remain that way under the next Commission. US chip manufacturer Rambus had previously found itself in (...)

The EU Commission renders legally binding commitments offered by French and German incumbent gas operators concerning long-term capacity bookings (GDF) (E.ON)
European Commission - DG GROW (Brussels)
Belgium 2 contributions 2440 visits
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European Commission
Belgium 9 contributions 8740 visits
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European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 4 contributions 3172 visits
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The Commission’s GDF and E.ON Gas decisions concerning long-term capacity bookings - Use of own infrastructure as possible abuse under Article 102 TFEU* I. Introduction The Commission’s commitment decisions of December 2009 and May 2010 in the GDFand E.ON Gas cases dealt with foreclosure (...)

Mergers

 The Croatian Competition Authority amends the remedies for a conditionally approved supermarkets merger (Konzum / Lokica)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 224191 visits
On 30 December 2009 the Croatian Competition Authority (AZTN) issued a conditional clearance to an acquisition by Konzum of a number of supermarkets belonged to Lokica, two wholesale and retail distributors with dominant market positions on the wholesale distribution market in Croatia and (...)

The US FTC employs a creative remedy, requiring the offer of divestiture to determine the existence of a viable alternative purchaser, before approving the merger of acute care hospitals (King’s Daughters Hospital / Scott & White)
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Brussels)
Germany 9 contributions 2363 visits
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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Washington)
United States 8 contributions 2059 visits
After a decade of what was perceived by many as relatively restrained merger enforcement, the Obama administration has repeatedly and vocally vowed to “reinvigorate antitrust enforcement” and to “take effective action to stop or restructure mergers that are likely to harm consumer[s]”. Many (...)

The US FTC requires an unusual method of testing for a less anticompetitive purchaser by offering the sale before completing the requisite due diligence, then clearing the merger in the acute care facilities industry (King’s Daughters Hospital / Scott & White)
Milbank (New York)
United States 6 contributions 1504 visits
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Dentons (San Francisco)
United States 3 contributions 864 visits
Healthcare reform and concerns about consolidation in the health care industry juxtaposed with continuing economic distress provided a fascinating backdrop for the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recent investigation of Scott & White Healthcare’s consummated acquisition of King’s (...)

The UK Competition Commission clears a merger in the entertainment industry (Ticketmaster / Live Nation)
KPMG (London)
United Kingdom 1 contribution 1045 visits
Factual background Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc (“Ticketmaster”) is the world’s largest ticket agent, and sells tickets on behalf of live music promoters and venue operators. Live Nation Inc (“Live Nation”) is principally a promoter of live music events and an owner/operator of live music venues. (...)

The Federal Cartel Office clears in Phase II the acquisition of a business area of Edscha by Webasto, two competitors in a highly concentrated market (Webasto/Edscha)
Gleiss Lutz (Frankfurt)
Germany 8 contributions 1550 visits
On 22 December 2009, the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) issued a decision by which it cleared a merger control concentration between two competing manufacturers of roof systems for convertibles in phase two. The question at stake was whether the intended concentration in a highly (...)

The Italian Competition Authority announces that the amount of its merger control filing fee continues to be 1.2 per cent of the value of the notified transaction
McDermott Will & Emery (Paris)
France 122 contributions 63550 visits
ITALIAN COMPETITION AUTHORITY CONFIRMS 1.2 PER CENT MERGER CONTROL FILING FEE FOR 2010* The Italian Competition Authority announced today that the amount of its merger control filing fee will remain unchanged in 2010. The amount of the fee will therefore continue to be 1.2 per cent of the (...)

The Competition Appeal Tribunal upholds the appeal against the Competition Commission break-up decision on airport services market (BAA Ltd)
Talwar, Thakore & Associates (New Delhi)
India 13 contributions 7279 visits
2009 has seen the disposal of Gatwick airport following an adverse finding by the UK Competition Commission (CC) in its investigation of the airport services market. The market investigation report on BAA airports by the CC was successfully appealed by BAA. The Competition Appeal Tribunal (...)

The French Competition Authority publishes guidelines regarding the control of mergers and acquisitions
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 727 contributions 380648 visits
The Autorité de la concurrence publishes guidelines regarding the control of mergers and acquisitions.* On its Internet site, the Autorité de la concurrence has published new draft guidelines on the control of mergers and acquisitions. This document reviews the progress of the procedure and (...)

The EU Commission welcomes the declaration of a telecom operator to take over previous commitment after a merger (IPCom)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
United Kingdom 145 contributions 50403 visits
Several developments that took place during December 2009 suggest that the issue of standards-setting is one that is currently of renewed interest to the European Commission, and likely to remain that way under the next Commission. On 10 December 2009, the European Commission welcomed the (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines infrastructures groups in the logistics and telecoms sectors for not meeting the obligation to notify the acquisition of a service provider of digital terrestrial television and broadcasting transport to television stations (Abertis and Tradia/Teledifusión)
Lonza (Basel)
Switzerland 6 contributions 6445 visits
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ARPA Abogados Consultores (San Sebastian)
Espagne 6 contributions 7286 visites
On January 26, 2010, the Spanish Authority (Comisión Nacional de la Competencia, “CNC”) jointly and severally fined Tradia Telecom, S.A. (“Tradia”) and its parent companies Abertis Telecom, S.A. and Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A. (collectively referred to as “Abertis”) €143,000 for acquiring (...)

State Aid

 The EU Commission endorses commitments made by the Dutch authorities to bring the social housing system into line with EU state aid rules (Dutch Housing Corporations)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 15 December 2009, the European Commission endorsed commitments made by the Dutch authorities to bring the social housing system into line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Dutch authorities will ensure that (...)

The EU Commission endorses a scheme to compensate the Polish postal undertaking for net losses incurred in discharging its public service obligations (Poczta Polska)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 15 December 2009, the European Commission also endorsed a scheme to compensate the Polish post for net losses incurred in discharging its public service obligations between 2006 and 2011. The Commission found the (...)

The EU Commission approves two State aid measures in favour of a German bank consisting of injections of capital and an impaired assets relief measure in the form of guarantees for two portfolios of structured securities (Landesbank Baden-Württemberg)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (‘LBBW‘) benefited from two support measures: an injection of € 5 billion of tier-one capital and an impaired assets relief measure in the form of guarantees of € 12.7 billion for two portfolios of (...)

The European Commission finds that a tax exemption which the Dutch State intends to grant for natural gas used in installations producing ceramic products is incompatible with EU State aid rules
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* After an in-depth investigation opened in February 2009, the European Commission found that a tax exemption which the Dutch state intends to grant for natural gas used in installations producing ceramic products would be (...)

The EU Commission approves State aid measures concerning the recapitalization of a UK bank (Royal Bank of Scotland)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* Under a package of financial support measures approved by the Commission on 13 October 2008, RBS received state recapitalisation of £ 20 billion (€ 22 billion), giving the state a 70 % stake in the bank. Approval of this (...)

The EU Commission adopts a communication amending the temporary framework for State aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 8 December 2009 a technical amendment to the Temporary Framework was adopted to open up easier access to finance and encourage longterm investment, especially in Member States with low labour costs. Member States will (...)

The EU Commission holds that a corporate tax provision that allows Spanish companies to amortize goodwill constitutes unlawful State aid and orders its recovery
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 98 contributions 34256 visits
"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* In 2007, the Commission initiated a formal investigation of a corporate tax provision that allows Spanish companies to amortise goodwill (i.e. write off, over a period of time, the price paid for acquisition of a business (...)

The EU Court of Justice upholds Commission’s appeal against annulment of State aid decision on excise duty exemptions for alumina production (Commission / Ireland)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 152 contributions 32882 visits
On 2 December 2009, the Court of Justice (the “ECJ”) set aside the judgment of the Court of First Instance (now the General Court (the “GC”)) that had annulled a Commission’s decision declaring exemptions from the excise duty on mineral oils used as fuel for alumina production in France, Ireland and (...)

Procedures

 The Czech Supreme Administrative Court decides that, under Czech legislation in force prior to 1st. Sept. 2009, sanctions for an infringement of competition law may be imposed on the legal successor of the infringing entity where an intra group merger has been carried out in order to avoid said sanctions (Petrol cartel)
Czech Ministry of Justice (Prague)
République tchèque 30 contributions 80722 visites
By a judgment of 30 December 2009, the Czech Supreme Administrative Court annulled an earlier judgement by the Regional Court in Brno in the Petrol cartel case over the issue of legal succession with respect to sanctions for an infringement of competition law. During the course of the (...)

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal denies the claimant damages in the first English follow-on damages case to reach trial (Enron Coal Services / English Welsh and Scottish Railway)
Emirates NBD (Dubai)
United Arab Emirates 2 contributions 2993 visits
Overview In December 2009, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“Tribunal”) dismissed the follow on damages claim brought by Enron Coal Services Limited (“Enron”) against English Welsh and Scottish Railway Limited (“EWS”). The Tribunal held that Enron had failed to make its case against the Defendant on (...)

The Polish Parliament adopts an act on collective redress
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216867 visits
Poland: Polish Act on Collective Redress adopted On 17 December 2009, the Polish Parliament adopted the Act on Pursuing Claims in Group Proceedings (hereafter: Act), drafted by the Ministry of Justice. The Act was published in the Official Journal of 18 January 2010 and will enter into force (...)

The Bratislava Regional Court confirms strict criteria that courts have on the reasoning of decisions of the Competition Authority (Slovnaft)
Wolf Theiss (Bratislava)
Slovakia 8 contributions 4758 visits
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Kinstellar (Bratislava)
Slovakia 2 contributions 2172 visits
Factual background Regional Court Bratislava (“Court“) overruled, in its judgment dated 15 December 2009, two decisions of the Slovak Antimonopoly Office (the “AMO”), namely the first instance decision No. 2006/DZ/2/1/140 dated 22 December 2006 and the appellate decision No. 2007/DZ/R/2/102 dated (...)

The Hungarian Parliament grants rewards to individual whistle blowers
Court of First Instance of Namur (Namur)
Belgium 224 contributions 46112 visits
On 14 December 2009, the Hungarian parliament adopted an anti-bribery law (law 163 of 2009), introducing an informant fee for individuals who provide the Hungarian Competition Authority (the “GVH”) with evidence of an infringement of Article 101 TFEU or the corresponding provision of the (...)

The Spanish Supreme Court’s ruling on the breach of the rights of defence of a company subject to a competition investigation improves due process (SOS Cuetara)
Airbus (Toulouse)
France 5 contributions 6211 visits
This judgment marks the end of a case which began in April 2005, when the Spanish Competition Authority (ANC) opened an investigation into the Spanish olive oil market following a complaint from a consumer protection association. A number of food distributors and a major olive oil producer were (...)

The Spanish Supreme Court passes an important judgment concerning the violation of the right to rely on all relevant evidence in an antitrust case (SOS Cuetara)
European Commission
Belgium 30 contributions 119454 visits
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Garrigues (Brussels)
Belgium 28 contributions 104277 visits
Introduction On 10 December 2009, the Spanish Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) passed an important judgment concerning the limits of the notion of due process under Spanish law. In particular, the Supreme Court shed some light on the consequences of the violation of the right to rely on all (...)

The French Competition Authority fines incumbent telecom operator in overseas territories and applies EU case law on presumption of liability of parent companies for the first time (Orange Caribbean)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216867 visits
France: The Autorité fines Incumbant Telecom Operator in the Overseas Territories and applies EU Case-Law on Presumption of Liability of Parent Companies for the first Time On 9 December 2009, the Autorité de la concurrence imposed on Orange Caribbean, the incumbent and leading telecom operator (...)

The Slovak Competition Authority holds that health insurance companies carrying on public health insurance are not subject to the Slovak Competition Act (Report on Health Insurance sector)
Braun (Bratislava)
Slovakia 7 contributions 9261 visits
On December 3, 2009 the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (“Office”) released its report on general investigation with regard to a planned merger of two state-owned health insurance companies engaged in public health insurance. The Office found that providing for public health insurance (...)

The DG Competition Head of Unit Per Hellström confirms that the role of standards is likely to gain prominence in the next EU Commission
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
United Kingdom 145 contributions 50400 visits
Several developments that took place during December 2009 suggest that the issue of standards-setting is one that is currently of renewed interest to the European Commission, and likely to remain that way under the next Commission. Speaking during a conference held in Brussels on 3 December (...)

The Hungarian Parliament adopts new procedural rules rewarding individuals for reporting hard-core cartels (Act CLXIII of 2009 on the protection of fair procedures)
DLA Piper (Budapest)
Hungary 37 contributions 99400 visits
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DLA Piper (Budapest)
Hungary 35 contributions 74770 visits
In December 2009, the Hungarian Parliament adopted Act CLXIII of 2009 on the protection of fair procedures (“Fair Procedures Act”) which aims to enforce the right to fair trial in the field of public finance, public procurement and competition procedures. The Fair Procedures Act enters into force (...)

Regulatory

 The French Electronic Communications Regulator defines the access obligations imposed on “in-building operators” in the context of the roll-out of the fibre networks
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 9 contributions 20751 visits
Further to a long-lasting public consultation, alongside the European Commission analysis on the appropriate fibre lines’ regulation, ARCEP, (the National Regulatory Authority - NRA) adopted a decision and a recommendation on the access obligations imposed on undertakings deploying in-building (...)

The French Competition Authority issues an opinion on the possible implementation of a single price system for digital books
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 727 contributions 380648 visits
Digital books: the Autorité de la concurrence believes that observing this market, still in its infancy, is a necessary prerequisite.* The Minister for Culture and Communication has sought an opinion from the Autorité de la concurrence relative to various measures leading to the implementation (...)

The Irish Competition Authority publishes report on general medical practitioners and identifies unnecessary restrictions on the supply of family doctors
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216867 visits
Ireland: The Competition Authority identifies Unnecessary Restrictions on the Supply of Family Doctors and publishes Report on General Medical Practitioners On 16 December 2009, the Irish Competition Authority published the first two parts of a threepart report into the market for primary (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority publishes a study on the costs and margins in the food production chain
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216867 visits
The Netherlands: The NMa increases Transparency of Price-Formation Mechanism in Food Production Chain On 2 December 2009, the NMa published a study which provides insight into the costs and margins in the food production chain in the Netherlands, from producer to supermarket, for the following (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority issues a study on mobility in the retail banking sector
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216867 visits
Portugal: The Competition Authority (PCA) concludes a Study on Mobility in the Retail Banking The Study on Mobility in the Retail Banking Sector(conducted together with the Portuguese Central Bank) aimed at characterizing the degree of mobility of retail banking clients and identifying factors (...)

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