Internet and digital technologies are transforming our societies, bringing with them an incredible potential for new opportunities, but also new challenges and threats.
Does Competition Law Need an Update for Online Markets? - Hot Topics, Trends and Perspectives in Competition Policy
Section
InfoSociety
Competition
Event Location
Brussels
Event Description
The European Competition and Regulatory Law Review (CoRe), the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) are delighted to invite you to our joint conference discussing some of today’s most frequently asked questions: Does competition law enforcement require an update for online markets? How well does enforcement work in Internet markets and is there a need to get better at factoring in the ‘multi-sidedness’ of many online business models?
With respect to e-commerce, it is widely accepted that online markets foster competition allowing consumers to benefit from greater price transparency and wider choice. However, the European Commission’s sector inquiry revealed an increasing amount of vertical restraints in online sales, such as geo-blocking to restrict cross-border trade, price and territorial restrictions as well as so-called ‘platform bans’. The legality of the latter is currently subject to the CJEU’s judicial review in the pending ‘Coty Germany’ case, ultimately raising the question how inclusive Europe’s e-commerce landscape should be.
At the same time, the Commission continues with high-profile investigations into digital companies. Will neutrality, equal treatment and fairness become the new gold standards in Article 102 cases? Where to draw the line between product innovation and market foreclosure? These developments could have far-reaching consequences for vertically integrated and multi-sided business models.
There is certainly no lack of emerging topics hotly debated in the competition community and beyond. Some claim that the widespread use of algorithms requires a rethink of competition rules. Others see potential concerns in the accumulation of data.
During this conference, leading experts from the European Commission, national competition authorities, industry, private practice and academia will discuss these issues with a view to shed light on whether policymakers need to adjust competition policy instruments to address challenges in online markets. Join the debate and register here. Participation is free of charge.
Structure and Topics
During our Competition Law Conference, renowned competition law experts from the European Commission, national competition authorities, industry, private practice and academia will discuss current developments
- Panel 1: Enforcing the Rules in Internet Markets - Challenges and Complexities
The panel will address the effectiveness of enforcement in Internet markets and the extent to which established competition law concepts work in multi-sided settings.
- Panel 2: The Future of E-Commerce - What Follows from the E-Commerce Sector Inquiry and Relevant Cases?
The panel will discuss the impact of the sector inquiry and whether competition enforcement can lead to a more inclusive e-commerce landscape.
- Panel 3: Neutrality, Equal Treatment and Fairness - New ‘Gold Standards’ under Article 102 TFEU?
The panel will discuss where to draw the proper line between product innovation and market foreclosure against the background of high profile investigations like Google Shopping.
- Panel 4: Current Hot Topics: Algorithms, Big Data and Privacy - Should these be Competition Concerns at all?
New, emerging debates come with new calls for a rethink of existing rules. The panel will discuss whether these calls are justified or not.
Who should participate?
- Private legal practitioners
- National Competition Authorities
- Representatives from public authorities dealing with competition law
- Representatives from national courts
- Industry representatives and in-house counsels dealing with competition law
- Economists
- Academics
Speakers and Chairs of the Conference:
- Pinar Akman
Professor of Law, Director of the Centre for Business Law and Practice, University of Leeds
- Georg M. Berrisch
Partner, Practice Group Chair - Antitrust & Competition Law, Baker Botts, Brussels
- Francisco Alves Da Costa-Cabral
Assistant Professor, Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University
- Yves Botteman
Partner, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Brussels
- Adina Claici
Director, Copenhagen Economics, Brussels
- Miranda Cole
Partner, Covington & Burling, Brussels
- Maurits Dolmans
Partner, Cleary Gottlieb, Brussels
- Justus Haucap
Director of Duesseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE)
- Thomas Höppner
Partner, Hausfeld, Berlin; Professor of Business Law, Technical University Wildau
- Pablo Ibáñez Colomo
Associate Professor of Law at the London School of Economics, London (invited)
- Pola Karolczyk
Associate, Antitrust/Competition, Sidley Austin, Brussels
- Robert Klotz
Antitrust & Competition Practice Group, Sheppard Mullin, Brussels
- Thomas Kramler
Head of Task Force Digital Single Market, DG Competition, European Commission, Brussels
- Alfonso Lamadrid de Pablo
Principal associate, Garrigues, Brussels
- Marianela López-Galdos
Director of Competition and Regulatory Policy, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), Washington D.C.
- Björn Lundqvist
Professor of Law, Department of Law, Stockholm University, Stockholm
- Carel Maske
Senior Attorney with Microsoft, Brussels
- Agustín Reyna
Senior Legal Officer Digital, BEUC, Brussels
- Ben van Rompuy
Leiden University/Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB); Managing Editor CoRe
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