Does Competition Law Need an Update for Online Markets? - Hot Topics, Trends and Perspectives in Competition Policy

Date

Thu, 11/30/2017

Address

Stanhope Hotel

Rue du Commerce 9

1000 Brussels

Belgium

Links

Registration [1]

Section

InfoSociety

Competition

Event Location

Brussels

Event Description

[2]

The European Competition and Regulatory Law Review (CoRe) [3], the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) [4] and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) [5] 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 [1]. 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

Programme.pdf [6]