Competition Law

The proposed acquisition of iRadio by European radio group Bauer Media Audio has been cleared by the government. The deal had already been cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) but required additional approval from the government as it is classed as a "media merger" un

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published its strategy statement for 2024–26 — its first since gaining new enforcement powers through legislation. The strategy statement, which takes effect from 1 January 2024, sets out the four strategic goals which span th

A new regime of administrative fines for breaches of competition law — allowing the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to impose fines of up to €10 million or 10 per cent of a company's global turnover — has come into effect. The Competition (Amendment) Act 2022,

America's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys have sued retail giant Amazon, alleging that the company is a monopolist that uses anticompetitive and unfair strategies. The FTC and its state partners say Amazon’s actions allow it to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices

DAC Beachcroft partner Joanne Finn and senior associate Elaine Davis consider imminent and significant changes to the Irish competition law regime. The Competition (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 June 2022, with the majority of its provisions commencing on 27 September 2023.

Brian McHugh has been appointed as chairperson of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Mr McHugh has served as a member of the CCPC since 2017 and has over 20 years' experience in the public sector, including 15 years in Northern Ireland's Utility Regulator.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has prevented Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision over concerns the deal would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come. The final decisi

Apple is no longer facing an EU investigation over whether its imposition of its own in-app purchases system on app developers breaches competition law. The European Commission this week sent a revised statement of objections to Apple in relation to a complaint raised by music streaming service Spot

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has adopted a revised declaration in respect of vertical agreements and concerted practices. Under the Competition Act 2002, the CCPC is permitted to declare in writing that a specified category of vertical agreements, decisions or concerted

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has opened a public consultation on proposed revisions to its declaration in respect of vertical agreements and concerted practices. Although vertical agreements which restrict competition are prohibited under section 4 of the Competition Act

A total of 68 mergers were notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in 2022, a 16 per cent decrease from 81 in 2021, according to its annual merger report. All mergers and acquisitions which reach certain financial thresholds must be notified to the CCPC. The CCPC examin

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has rejected a proposed acquisition of pharmacy solutions business Navi Group by healthcare services provider Uniphar. The competition watchdog said the acquisition may not be put into effect on the grounds that the result of the proposed acq

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has extended the validity of its declaration in respect of vertical agreements and concerted practices until March 2023. The declaration, which originally came into effect on 1 December 2010, was due to expire on 1 December 2022, but has been

Google must pay a €4.125 billion fine after abusing its position to impose unlawful restrictions on smartphone manufacturers and mobile network operators, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled. The General Court today largely confirmed the European Commission's decision th

Kevin O'Brien, former chair of ComReg, has been appointed as a member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Mr O'Brien has more than two decades' experience in senior regulatory and public policy roles in Ireland and abroad. Before joining the CCPC, he was head of consumer po