Competition Law
Ongoing coverage on Competition Law.
Latest coverage
Saudi Arabia's $55 billion EA buyout approved by the European Commission, who say it doesn't "raise competition concerns"
The European Commission has approved Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's $55 billion buyout of Electronic Arts, stating it raises no competition concerns within the EU. While the deal has received regulatory approval in Europe, US lawmakers have called for an investigation into potential anti-competitive practices and worker impact.
EU demands Google give AI rivals more access to Android
The European Union has mandated that Google must provide rival AI voice assistants with greater access to core Android handset features. This order aims to foster competition within the mobile AI ecosystem.
Dutch non-profit set to take Valve to court for keeping game prices high
A Dutch non-profit, the Consumer Competition Claims Foundation, is preparing to take Valve to court over allegations of artificially inflating PC game prices on Steam. The organization claims Valve's 30% commission and contractual terms prevent developers from offering games at lower prices on competing storefronts, leading to overpayments by Dutch gamers estimated at over 220 million euros.
The European Commission wants Google to share search engine data with competitors
The 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.
£2 billion PlayStation lawsuit over unfair store pricing goes to trial
A £2 billion lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment over alleged unfair pricing on the PlayStation Store has gone to trial in the UK. Consumer champion Alex Neill is spearheading the case, accusing Sony of breaching competition law and abusing a monopoly on digital game sales since 2016. If successful, Sony could be ordered to pay £2 billion in damages to affected customers.
"It needs to cooperate fairly, and it's clearly not." Why Valve is facing a £656m day in the UK courts
A UK court has allowed a class-action lawsuit against Valve to proceed, alleging the company violates competition law through its 30% revenue share on Steam and price parity requirements. Digital safety campaigner Vicki Shotbolt is leading the case, seeking up to £656 million in damages for UK consumers. The lawsuit argues that Valve's practices harm consumers by inflating game prices and limiting developer pricing flexibility.
