CMA investigation into UK vet market could have big implications for investors – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 18th, 2024 in animals, competition, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The UK’s competition watchdog is to launch an in-depth investigation into the veterinary market due to concerns over poor competition and limited consumer choice, the outcome of which could have direct implications on buy-and-build investors in the sector, commercial and competition law experts have said.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th March 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Ground rent not legally or commercially necessary, says UK watchdog – The Guardian

Posted March 14th, 2024 in competition, consumer protection, leases, news, rent by sally

‘Britain’s competition watchdog has said ground rent is “neither legally nor commercially necessary” and that government may need to step in to protect consumers from soaring costs.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Revised litigation funding agreements piling up at Court of Appeal – Legal Futures

Posted March 12th, 2024 in agreements, appeals, champerty, competition, news by tracey

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has granted permission for another rewritten litigation funding agreement (LFA) to go before the Court of Appeal.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 12th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Data case shows CAT claims are broadening – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 5th, 2024 in competition, data protection, news by tracey

‘The type of claims being raised in opt-out collective proceedings before the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) is broadening, with the CAT’s recent certification of a data-related claim the latest example of this trend.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th March 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

UK housebuilders investigated over possible information-sharing – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2024 in competition, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, planning by tracey

‘The UK competition watchdog has opened an investigation into eight housebuilders after evidence they may be sharing commercially sensitive information.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Baby formula milk investigated over high prices – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2024 in children, competition, consumer protection, food, news by tracey

‘The UK infant formula market is under investigation after regulators said parents could be saving £500 in their baby’s first year.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Facebook £3bn legal action given go-ahead in London – BBC News

‘A judge has given the go-ahead to a mass legal action against Facebook owner Meta, potentially worth £3bn.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fake reviews and hidden online charges to be banned under new rules – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2024 in bills, competition, consumer protection, internet, labelling, news by sally

‘Fake reviews and unavoidable hidden online charges – which cost consumers £2.2bn a year – are to be banned under new laws to force businesses to be more clear with shoppers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government offers hope of full PACCAR solution in the future – Legal Futures

‘The government has acknowledged concerns that its legislative proposal to address the Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling does not go far enough – but further change is not imminent.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CAT “wrong” to identify ban on defendants contacting claimants directly – Legal Futures

Posted December 11th, 2023 in appeals, class actions, competition, consumer protection, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was wrong to identify a rule that prevents defendants communicating directly with legally represented members of an opt-out class action, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal approves first post-PACCAR litigation funding agreement – Legal Futures

Posted November 24th, 2023 in appeals, class actions, competition, damages, news by tracey

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has approved a litigation funding agreement (LFA) that was amended to take account of the Supreme Court ruling in PACCAR.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 24th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Competition watchdog seeks views on use of landbanks and how planning rules affect competition – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 22nd, 2023 in competition, consultations, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published two ‘working papers’ seeking feedback on its assessment of the use of landbanks, and how planning rules concerning zoning, consultations and local plan processes may be impacting competition and how new homes are delivered.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

George Peretz KC: Clause 19 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill: Power without accountability – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 15th, 2023 in bills, competition, constitutional law, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Clause 19 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the DMCC Bill”) gives the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) wide powers to impose conduct requirements on undertakings that the CMA has designated as having strategic market status (“SMS”) in respect of a digital activity (essentially, “big tech”). The condition for the exercise of the power is that the CMA considers it “appropriate” to do so having regard to broadly drawn statutory objectives – the “fair dealing” objective, the “open choices” objective (essentially, enabling consumers to choose freely and easily between providers) and the “trust and transparency” objective (essentially, having the information to make properly informed decisions). The types of conduct requirement that may be imposed are set out in clause 20: essentially, there is no statutory limit to the types of requirement that may be imposed save that (whatever they are) they must be for the purpose of securing various objectives or of preventing various widely defined types of conduct (for example “using data unfairly”). Breach of a conduct requirement may result, if the CMA so decides, in an enforcement order that requires action to remedy the breach or payment of damages.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Assoication, 15th November 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Sizing up the competition – The Upper Tribunal considers the public authority VAT exemption in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust v Revenue and Customs – Devereux Chambers

Posted November 14th, 2023 in competition, evidence, hospitals, news, parking, VAT by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal has ruled that an NHS Trust did not provide car parking under a “special legal regime” such that its supplies would be zero-rated. The case is important because (i) it sets a limit on what can be considered a “special legal regime” for the purposes of Article 13 of the Principal VAT Directive and section 41A of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, and (ii) it confirms that detailed factual and expert evidence is not required for a Tribunal to find that treating a public authority as a non-taxable person would lead to significant distortions of competition.’

Full Story

Devereux Chambers, 27th October 2023

Source: www.devereuxchambers.co.uk

‘Major milestone’: CAT to rule on collective action settlement – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 13th, 2023 in appeals, class actions, competition, news, tribunals by tracey

‘A “pioneering” £1.5m settlement has been agreed in a car delivery charges opt-out claim which the Competition Appeal Tribunal will now need to approve – potentially a first for the tribunal in a collective action.’

Full Story

Law Society’s Gazette, 12th October 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BBC and ITV among broadcasters investigated over possible competition law breaches – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2023 in BBC, competition, media, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The competition watchdog has launched an investigation into a group of broadcasters, including the BBC and ITV, over their use of freelance staff and services.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Microsoft’s $69bn deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard cleared by UK – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2023 in competition, computer programs, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The UK’s competition watchdog has cleared Microsoft’s $69bn (£54bn) deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the maker of games including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, in a move that paves the way for both companies to complete the transaction.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK public cloud infrastructure services market investigation opened – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 11th, 2023 in competition, computer programs, internet, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘An in-depth investigation has been opened by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to determine whether competition is working well in the UK public cloud infrastructure services market. The investigation has been spurred by a referral made by another UK regulator.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th October 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal set to be cleared by UK regulator – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in competition, computer programs, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Microsoft’s $69bn (£54bn) deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the maker of games including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, looks set to be cleared after the UK competition regulator said a revised deal addresses its concerns.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Competition Appeal Tribunal gives first judgment under Subsidy Control Act 2022 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 21st, 2023 in competition, local government, news, waste by sally

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has handed down judgment on the first application for review of a subsidy decision under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, dismissing the application made by a local business against a Durham County Council decision on the basis that it did not involve the grant of a subsidy.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com