We have already reported on the Bundeskartellamt’s press release on its preliminary assessment in the Facebook probe, see previous news item. Silke Heinz has now published a post on this topic on Kluwer Competition Law Blog, see here.
On December 19, 2017, the FCO has published a press release (here) and a background paper (here), outlining the preliminary assessment in the Facebook proceedings: Facebook is considered dominant in the German social media network market and to abuse its position through collecting and combining user data from third-party sources in a very broad way.
The allegations focus on collecting user data from third-party websites or Apps with a Facebook like button, even if the user does not click on it. The FCO finds that this practice infringes data protection laws, and Facebook’s general t&cs therefore violate the legal principles on general terms and conditions, which in turn qualifies as an abuse of dominance.
The fact that the FCO publishes a background paper pending proceedings is unusual. It may be explained by the great public interest in these proceedings, in which the FCO explores new territory. In addition, the FCO thereby puts some public pressure on Facebook. The proceedings raise the question whether antitrust law is the proper tool to tackle data protection law infringements. Silke Heinz is quoted on this in Global Competition Review, see here.
The Bundeskartellamt has published a background paper on innovation and related challenges in the antitrust law practice in October 2017, see here.
The paper covers economic and legal aspects of innovation across various areas of antitrust analysis, a hotly debated topic in recent months, notably after the European Commission’s Dow/DuPont merger decision. Silke Heinz has published a blog on the background paper on Kluwer Competition Law Blog, see here.
On July 24, 2017, the German FCO has published its sector inquiry report in cement and ready-mix concrete. The FCO’s sector inquiry deals with four main topics: divestitures of existing JVs in the market and the applicable criteria, joint bidding, potential price signaling and abusive practices. Roman Zagrosek has published a post on Kluwer Competition Law Blog, see here.
On July 26, 2017, Advocate General Wahl issued his opinion in the proceedings referred to the Court of Justice of the EU from Frankfurt’s Court of Appeals in case Coty vs. Parfümerie Akzente. The opinion confirms the Court’s longstanding jurisprudence that manufacturers of luxury goods can opt for selective distribution in order to protect a brand image and impose certain restrictions on authorized dealers. The opinion finds that the Court’s ruling in case Pierre Fabre has not changed this principle. In the case at hand, Wahl considers Coty’s prohibition for dealers to sell the luxury cosmetic goods via discernable third-party Internet platforms in principle as compatible with Article 101 TFEU. Wahl does not qualify the prohibition as a hardcore restriction, so that it can at least be exempted under the vertical group exemption regulation or individually under Article 101(3) TFEU. The opinion thus differs from the Bundeskartellamt’s position in similar questions. The Court of Justice now needs to rule. Silke Heinz is quoted on the opinion in Global Competion Review and by Bloomberg.
