Watchdog investigates big broadcasters for supposed antitrust breaches with freelance workers July 13, 2022 The UK watchdog has opened an investigation into ITV's purchase of freelance services, which support the production and broadcasting of sports content.
UK competition watchdog digs into Microsoft’s £58bn mega deal with Activision Blizzard July 6, 2022 Microsoft is under the spotlight of UK’s competition watchdog after snapping up “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard for $68.7bn (£57.8bn) earlier this year in the biggest deal in gaming history. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had until 1 September to make a call on whether the deal would reduce competition in [...]
New research warns fresh Digital Markets Unit risks stifling UK innovation July 6, 2022 A new report has warned that proposals to introduce a new Digital Markets Unit (DMU), housed at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will have dire consequences for innovation, investment and dynamism in the digital sector.
Incoming CMA chair warns job cuts could make it harder to take on cases that protect consumers from high prices June 28, 2022 The competition watchdog’s ability to get the best deal for British consumers could be endangered by job cuts, the government’s chosen candidate for chair of the body has warned. The government intends to slash 91,000 civil service jobs over the next three years, in an endeavour to bring headcount back to 2016 levels. Ministers’ preferred [...]
UK to take ‘back seat’ as EU leads the way for Big Tech regulation June 20, 2022 Departing chief of the UK competition watchdog has warned that the UK risks falling behind its European cousins after the government backtracked on giving the regulator enhanced powers to hold Big Tech to account. Speaking to the Financial Times, Andrea Coscelli said that the UK will become a “rule taker” rather than leader in this [...]
Truck makers ‘cartel’ to face landmark £2bn opt-in lawsuit over decade long price fixing scheme June 9, 2022 A UK competition tribunal has given a trucking industry trade body the green light to bring forward a more than £2bn opt-in claim against a “cartel” of European truck makers, over allegations they fixed the prices of lorries for more than a decade. The UK’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) trade body’s claim is set to [...]
JD Sports prepares for £2m bill after watchdog finds it broke law by fixing Rangers FC merch prices June 7, 2022 JD Sports may face a hefty penalty after the competition watchdog found it broke rules by fixing retail prices of some Rangers Football Club branded clothes. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had provisionally found that Elite Sports and JD Sports fixed the retail prices of a number of Rangers-branded replica kits and [...]
UK competition watchdog launches antitrust probe into BT’s Warner Bros Discovery tie-up June 1, 2022 UK competition watchdog has launched an investigation into BT's 50:50 joint venture with US media giant Warner Bros Discovery.
Ex-BCG partner Marcus Bokkerink tipped as next competition watchdog chair May 31, 2022 Retired senior partner at Boston Consulting Group has been named as the next chair of Britain's competition watchdog.
Competition concerns: Morrisons’ takeover of McColl’s probed by CMA May 30, 2022 The competition watchdog is probing Morrisons’ takeover of beleaguered newsagent operator McColl’s, it has been confirmed. The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Monday it had launched an inquiry to investigate whether the takeover will impact competition in the UK, with an initial enforcement order. The two businesses will be instructed to compete as [...]
