European Commission
European Commission business and news from across the web.
Google loses protracted antitrust fight and will have to pay record-breaking €4.1 billion fine equivalent to less…Google has lost its appeal at the Court of Justice of the European Union, confirming a record-breaking €4.1 billion fine. The fine was originally imposed in 2018 for forcing manufacturers to pre-load Google products on Android devices. This latest ruling upholds the penalty, bringing Google's total EU antitrust fines to €11 billion over the past decade.
Stop Killing Games says 'the fight goes on' after European Commission rejects proposed rule changes: 'We're much more than just this single petition'The European Commission has rejected proposed rule changes that would have required publishers to keep games operational after their servers shut down, citing existing intellectual property rights. Stop Killing Games, the organization behind the petition, stated that the fight for game preservation continues, with plans to adapt US legislation for the EU and build a 'Stop Killing the Internet' team.
‘Stop Destroying Videogames’ – European Commission Responds to Initiative Supported by Over A Million SupportersThe European Commission has responded to the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' initiative, stating it cannot legally compel publishers to keep games playable indefinitely. While not proposing new legislation, the Commission will initiate industry discussions by the end of 2026 to draft a code of conduct for game end-of-life management and will raise awareness of existing consumer rights.
European Commission aims to facilitate code of conduct for managing "end of life" for games following Stop Killing Games petitionThe European Commission will facilitate a discussion between the games industry and consumers to create a code of conduct for managing the end-of-life for video games, following a petition signed by 1.3 million people. While unable to legally mandate game preservation due to intellectual property rights, the EC will raise awareness of existing EU consumer laws that provide remedies for digital content and services no longer available as contracted.- The EU commission punts on Stop Killing Games but it seems they can’t stop the movement even if they triedThe European Commission has punted on the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative, indicating a delay in regulatory action. Despite this setback, the article suggests that the movement for game preservation is strong and unlikely to be stopped by such delays.
Stop Killing Games suffers setback following European Parliamentary hearing - but all is not lostThe European Commission has decided not to propose new legislation for online game preservation, stating that existing EU copyright and consumer laws provide sufficient safeguards. This ruling is a setback for the Stop Killing Games movement, which had petitioned for a legal framework to prevent games from becoming unplayable when online services are shut down. While the Commission will encourage an industry code of conduct and greater transparency, it will not mandate game companies to keep titles playable indefinitely.- The EU won't pursue a mandatory game preservation lawThe European Commission has stated it will not pursue a mandatory law for video game preservation. The commission cited existing copyright and intellectual property laws as sufficient, indicating no new legislation is planned.
The European Commission will not legislate Stop Killing Games, but the campaign isn't dead yet, say its organisersThe European Commission will not legislate to mandate that video games remain playable after commercial support ends, citing intellectual property rights. Instead, they will initiate discussions with the industry and consumer representatives to create a code of conduct for managing game 'end of life' and raise awareness about existing consumer rights. The 'Stop Killing Games' campaign plans to continue advocating for similar protections through the European Parliament's Digital Fairness Act.
EU rules against Stop Killing Games, but after 2 years of campaigning founder insists change is coming: "Our position almost seems too good to be true"The EU Commission has decided against recommending new legislation to prevent publishers from revoking access to online-only games, a setback for the Stop Killing Games campaign. Despite this, campaign founder Ross Scott remains optimistic, stating that they have secured support within the EU Parliament to amend the Digital Fairness Act and pass legislation independently of the Commission's decision. The Commission will instead convene industry and consumer representatives to draft a code of conduct for managing the end-of-life for video games.- EC "Cannot Propose a Legal Obligation to Keep Video Games Playable"The European Commission has stated it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable, following hearings related to the Stop Destroying Videogames European Citizens' Initiative. The EC plans to engage with the industry on this matter.
EU Commission to 'engage with the industry' over Stop Killing Games initiativeThe European Commission will engage with the video game industry and consumers by the end of 2026 to address the issue of publishers disabling games. This follows a European Citizens' Initiative, 'Stop Killing Games,' which advocates for players to retain access to purchased titles. The Commission is exploring industry codes of conduct and leveraging existing consumer protection laws to incentivize longer game lifespans, citing Ubisoft's delisting and shutdown of The Crew as a key example.
"The timing is impossible to ignore": Stop Killing Games says Ubisoft attended "invitation-only" meeting with EU Commission ahead of response to campaign sparked by The Crew shutdown, but it "was not invited"The Stop Killing Games movement alleges that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot attended an "invitation-only" meeting with the European Commission shortly before the commission's planned response to their European Citizens' Initiative. The movement, which advocates against games being taken offline after purchase, was not invited to this meeting. This comes after Ubisoft shut down The Crew, a decision that has led to legal action and scrutiny from consumer authorities.- EU fines Temu $232 million for selling illegal productsThe European Commission has fined Temu €200 million ($232 million) for failing to prevent the sale of illegal products on its platform. This action highlights the regulatory scrutiny e-commerce platforms face regarding product safety and legality.
- Game History and PreservationThe European Commission has promised a response to the 'Stop Killing Games' petition regarding game server switch-offs before the summer. This discussion highlights ongoing concerns about game preservation and the longevity of digital titles.
Stop Killing Games petition on game server switch offs will get a reply "before the summer", European Commission promise during latest debateThe European Commission has promised a response to the Stop Killing Games petition regarding online game server shutdowns before the summer. Politicians debated consumer protections for game server shutdowns, with some referencing the long wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 as a comparison for legislative timelines. The Commission acknowledged the complexity of the issue and will examine existing rules before finalizing its communication.
Security researchers hacked the demo version of the European Commission's new age verification app in less than two…Security researchers have reportedly bypassed the demo version of the European Commission's new age verification app in under two minutes by exploiting a PIN reset vulnerability. While the Commission states the exploit is limited to the demo and the final version will be secure, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about data security and the ease of bypassing age estimation services.
The European Commission wants to push Google off its web search throne with a data sharing proposalThe European Commission is proposing that Google share its search data, including ranking, query, and click data, with third-party search engines. This initiative aims to foster competition and comply with the Digital Markets Act. Google has previously resisted similar data-sharing proposals, citing privacy and innovation concerns.- The European Commission wants Google to share search engine data with competitorsThe European Commission has proposed new measures requiring Google to share search engine data, including ranking, query, and click data, with competitors on fair terms. This move is part of the Digital Markets Act aimed at fostering competition in the online search market. The EC is accepting public comments on the proposal until May 1, with a final decision expected by July 27.
"I'd say mission achieved for this one": Stop Killing Games on the latest European Commission public hearingStop Killing Games founder Ross Scott and organizer Moritz Katzner attended a European Parliament hearing on the European Citizens Initiative Stop Destroying Videogames. Both participants expressed optimism about the positive reception from MEPs and the European Commission, viewing the hearing as a significant step in the legislative process for video game preservation.- French government says au revoir Windows, bienvenue LinuxThe French government has announced its intention to replace Microsoft Windows with the open-source Linux operating system on its workstations. This move is part of a broader European effort to enhance digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign technology companies. France is also migrating its videoconferencing tools and health data platforms.