Competition law Blog

Official Blog of the European Competition and Regulatory Law Review (CoRe)

The CoRe Blog is the interactive online platform for up-to-date analysis of EU competition law developments. It’s the blog companion of the quarterly double-blind peer-reviewed European Competition and Regulatory Law Review (CoRe). The CoRe Blog fills in the gaps that a quarterly can’t address: immediate updates and analysis of breaking news in EU competition.

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24. April 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

Spotify lodges antitrust complaint against Apple: it’s ‘time to play fair’ in the music streaming industry
Competition Blogs - sara kurfess wXU9yeANElg unsplash
On March 13th, Spotify filed a formal antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission (EC). In the complaint, Spotify alleges that Apple has been using its App Store to impede Spotify’s competitive potential to the advantage of Apple Music—its biggest competitor in the music streaming business. In what follows, I quickly examine the contentious history between Spotify and Apple before surveying […]
read more
No Comments
21. March 2019  |   by Daniel Mandrescu

Business users vs. platforms – a (not entirely) new battle frontier
Competition Blogs - campaign creators OGOWDVLbMSc unsplash
The recent complaint of Spotify against Apple is yet another case concerning the contractual relationship between online platforms and their business users that appear to arise quite often these days. In the context of these cases the business users of online platforms claim to be subject to undesired practices such discriminatory treatment and unreasonable pricing. The essence of most of these complaints […]
read more
No Comments
18. February 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

When competition law met data protection: the Bundeskartellamt’s Facebook decision
Competition Blogs - kon karampelas HUBofEFQ6CA unsplash
On February 6th, the German Competition Authority (Bundeskartellamt or BKA) adopted its long-awaited Facebook decision, imposing far-reaching restrictions on how the social network can collect and process user data. This decision follows a preliminary assessment that the BKA published in December 2017, which this blog discussed at length. The BKA’s decision—as set out in a case summary and background paper—sticks closely to its preliminary assessment. In this blog post, […]
read more
No Comments
18. January 2019  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Abuse of dominance through data overcharges and EU competition law enforcement
Competition Blogs - markus spiske iar afB0QQw unsplash
The past year the EU commission and numerous competition authorities have addressed the matter of applying competition law to online platforms. The discussions concerning Facebook and Amazon have even touched upon the difficult relation between data and competition law. Despite the many debates concerning the application of competition law in digital markets, little attestation was given to the calculation of fines and damages […]
read more
No Comments
9. January 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

It’s raining Amazon probes: the Bundeskartellamt joins the Commission in investigating the tech giant’s marketplace practices
Competition Blogs - amazon 3
The investigation On 29 November 2018, the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announced an investigation into Amazon’s business terms and practices on its German marketplace. The Bundeskartellamt’s president commented: Amazon is the largest online retailer and operates by far the largest online marketplace in Germany. Many retailers and manufacturers depend on the reach of Amazon’s marketplace for their online sales. Amazon functions as […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Amazon probe: overcoming the antitrust paradox
Competition Blogs - P037742 506967 640x400 1
In a press conference on September 19th, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager announced a preliminary investigation into Amazon. At the heart of the potentially abusive conduct is Amazon’s ‘dual role’. One the one hand, Amazon offers a marketplace for third-party sellers to offer their products to consumers. On the other hand, Amazon offers its own products through its marketplace. The Commission’s […]
read more
No Comments
18. September 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Market definition for two-(or multi) sided platforms – demand interdependence and substitution as guiding principles
blackboard whit charts
The past year has led to a lot of discussion on the relation between competition law and (online) platforms and a lot of disagreement on how competition law should apply in such cases as displayed by comments on the major cases of Amex and Google. Unsurprisingly, one of the most contentious aspects of these cases was the market definition. It […]
read more
No Comments
27. July 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Android decision: Google cements its dominance in search… to the benefit of consumers?
Competition Blogs - pathum danthanarayana t8TOMKe6xZU unsplash
Last week’s Commission decision on Google’s Android operating system made for great headlines. On top of the eye-watering fine of €4.3 billion, it even had the dubious honour of eliciting a presidential tweet. It was the kind of decision that sparked extensive papers long before its adoption, and a barrage of commentary immediately afterwards. Now that the dust has settled, […]
read more
No Comments
17. July 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Tales of two-sided markets, market definitions and anti-competitive effects – insights from Ohio v. American Express
Competition Blogs - ryan born 16317 unsplash
  The case of Ohio v. Amex is the final phase of a long legal battle that started back in 2010 where Amex was accused of infringing section 1 of the Sherman Act for imposing its anti-steering provisions on merchants accepting Amex. While not delivering on all fronts, the case of Amex is an important one in the context of […]
read more
No Comments
18. May 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Online platforms and refusal to deal – Unlockd vs. Google – a seminal case in the making?
Competition Blogs - brooke lark W1B2LpQOBxA unsplash
The recent standoff between advertisement application developer Unlockd and Google, concerning the removal of Unlockd from the Google Play Store and AdMob marketplace, may turn out to be one of the most important competition law cases of the year. This case, which will likely require a competition law review of Google’s terms and conditions for these platforms, provides the opportunity […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »
Anja Naumann

Blog Editor

LL.M., PhD, currently legal trainee at the Higher Regional Court of Berlin.

>> Anja’s CoRe Blog posts >>

Daniel Mandrescu
Blog editor Assistant Professor EU competition law, Europa Institute, Leiden University >> Daniel's CoRe blog posts >>
Friso Bostoen

Blog Editor

Assistant Professor of Competition Law and Digital Regulation, Tilburg University

Friso Bostoen is an assistant professor of competition law and digital regulation at Tilburg University. Previously, he was a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute. He holds degrees from KU Leuven (PhD, LLM) and Harvard University (LLM). Friso’s research focuses on antitrust enforcement in digital markets. His work has resulted in numerous international publications, presentations, and awards (including the AdC Competition Policy Award 2019 and the Concurrences PhD Award 2022). In addition, Friso edits the CoRe Blog and hosts the Monopoly Attack podcast.

>> Friso’s CoRe Blog posts >>

Nelly Stratieva

Head of Editorial Department and Data Protection Officer

Responsible for EStAL (European State Aid Law Quarterly), EPPPL (European Public Private Partnership Law Review) and CoRe (European Competition and Regulatory Law Review). Overseeing Lexxion Publisher’s privacy and data protection compliance.

Parsa Tonkaboni
Picture Rita Paukste
Rita Paukste

Former Blog Editor

Senior Associate, Motieka & Audzevicius PLP, Vilnius

>> Rita’s CoRe Blog posts >>

24. April 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

Spotify lodges antitrust complaint against Apple: it’s ‘time to play fair’ in the music streaming industry
Competition Blogs - sara kurfess wXU9yeANElg unsplash
On March 13th, Spotify filed a formal antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission (EC). In the complaint, Spotify alleges that Apple has been using its App Store to impede Spotify’s competitive potential to the advantage of Apple Music—its biggest competitor in the music streaming business. In what follows, I quickly examine the contentious history between Spotify and Apple before surveying […]
read more
No Comments
21. March 2019  |   by Daniel Mandrescu

Business users vs. platforms – a (not entirely) new battle frontier
Competition Blogs - campaign creators OGOWDVLbMSc unsplash
The recent complaint of Spotify against Apple is yet another case concerning the contractual relationship between online platforms and their business users that appear to arise quite often these days. In the context of these cases the business users of online platforms claim to be subject to undesired practices such discriminatory treatment and unreasonable pricing. The essence of most of these complaints […]
read more
No Comments
18. February 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

When competition law met data protection: the Bundeskartellamt’s Facebook decision
Competition Blogs - kon karampelas HUBofEFQ6CA unsplash
On February 6th, the German Competition Authority (Bundeskartellamt or BKA) adopted its long-awaited Facebook decision, imposing far-reaching restrictions on how the social network can collect and process user data. This decision follows a preliminary assessment that the BKA published in December 2017, which this blog discussed at length. The BKA’s decision—as set out in a case summary and background paper—sticks closely to its preliminary assessment. In this blog post, […]
read more
No Comments
18. January 2019  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Abuse of dominance through data overcharges and EU competition law enforcement
Competition Blogs - markus spiske iar afB0QQw unsplash
The past year the EU commission and numerous competition authorities have addressed the matter of applying competition law to online platforms. The discussions concerning Facebook and Amazon have even touched upon the difficult relation between data and competition law. Despite the many debates concerning the application of competition law in digital markets, little attestation was given to the calculation of fines and damages […]
read more
No Comments
9. January 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

It’s raining Amazon probes: the Bundeskartellamt joins the Commission in investigating the tech giant’s marketplace practices
Competition Blogs - amazon 3
The investigation On 29 November 2018, the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announced an investigation into Amazon’s business terms and practices on its German marketplace. The Bundeskartellamt’s president commented: Amazon is the largest online retailer and operates by far the largest online marketplace in Germany. Many retailers and manufacturers depend on the reach of Amazon’s marketplace for their online sales. Amazon functions as […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Amazon probe: overcoming the antitrust paradox
Competition Blogs - P037742 506967 640x400 1
In a press conference on September 19th, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager announced a preliminary investigation into Amazon. At the heart of the potentially abusive conduct is Amazon’s ‘dual role’. One the one hand, Amazon offers a marketplace for third-party sellers to offer their products to consumers. On the other hand, Amazon offers its own products through its marketplace. The Commission’s […]
read more
No Comments
18. September 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Market definition for two-(or multi) sided platforms – demand interdependence and substitution as guiding principles
blackboard whit charts
The past year has led to a lot of discussion on the relation between competition law and (online) platforms and a lot of disagreement on how competition law should apply in such cases as displayed by comments on the major cases of Amex and Google. Unsurprisingly, one of the most contentious aspects of these cases was the market definition. It […]
read more
No Comments
27. July 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Android decision: Google cements its dominance in search… to the benefit of consumers?
Competition Blogs - pathum danthanarayana t8TOMKe6xZU unsplash
Last week’s Commission decision on Google’s Android operating system made for great headlines. On top of the eye-watering fine of €4.3 billion, it even had the dubious honour of eliciting a presidential tweet. It was the kind of decision that sparked extensive papers long before its adoption, and a barrage of commentary immediately afterwards. Now that the dust has settled, […]
read more
No Comments
17. July 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Tales of two-sided markets, market definitions and anti-competitive effects – insights from Ohio v. American Express
Competition Blogs - ryan born 16317 unsplash
  The case of Ohio v. Amex is the final phase of a long legal battle that started back in 2010 where Amex was accused of infringing section 1 of the Sherman Act for imposing its anti-steering provisions on merchants accepting Amex. While not delivering on all fronts, the case of Amex is an important one in the context of […]
read more
No Comments
18. May 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Online platforms and refusal to deal – Unlockd vs. Google – a seminal case in the making?
Competition Blogs - brooke lark W1B2LpQOBxA unsplash
The recent standoff between advertisement application developer Unlockd and Google, concerning the removal of Unlockd from the Google Play Store and AdMob marketplace, may turn out to be one of the most important competition law cases of the year. This case, which will likely require a competition law review of Google’s terms and conditions for these platforms, provides the opportunity […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

24. April 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

Spotify lodges antitrust complaint against Apple: it’s ‘time to play fair’ in the music streaming industry
Competition Blogs - sara kurfess wXU9yeANElg unsplash
On March 13th, Spotify filed a formal antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission (EC). In the complaint, Spotify alleges that Apple has been using its App Store to impede Spotify’s competitive potential to the advantage of Apple Music—its biggest competitor in the music streaming business. In what follows, I quickly examine the contentious history between Spotify and Apple before surveying […]
read more
No Comments
21. March 2019  |   by Daniel Mandrescu

Business users vs. platforms – a (not entirely) new battle frontier
Competition Blogs - campaign creators OGOWDVLbMSc unsplash
The recent complaint of Spotify against Apple is yet another case concerning the contractual relationship between online platforms and their business users that appear to arise quite often these days. In the context of these cases the business users of online platforms claim to be subject to undesired practices such discriminatory treatment and unreasonable pricing. The essence of most of these complaints […]
read more
No Comments
18. February 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

When competition law met data protection: the Bundeskartellamt’s Facebook decision
Competition Blogs - kon karampelas HUBofEFQ6CA unsplash
On February 6th, the German Competition Authority (Bundeskartellamt or BKA) adopted its long-awaited Facebook decision, imposing far-reaching restrictions on how the social network can collect and process user data. This decision follows a preliminary assessment that the BKA published in December 2017, which this blog discussed at length. The BKA’s decision—as set out in a case summary and background paper—sticks closely to its preliminary assessment. In this blog post, […]
read more
No Comments
18. January 2019  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Abuse of dominance through data overcharges and EU competition law enforcement
Competition Blogs - markus spiske iar afB0QQw unsplash
The past year the EU commission and numerous competition authorities have addressed the matter of applying competition law to online platforms. The discussions concerning Facebook and Amazon have even touched upon the difficult relation between data and competition law. Despite the many debates concerning the application of competition law in digital markets, little attestation was given to the calculation of fines and damages […]
read more
No Comments
9. January 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

It’s raining Amazon probes: the Bundeskartellamt joins the Commission in investigating the tech giant’s marketplace practices
Competition Blogs - amazon 3
The investigation On 29 November 2018, the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announced an investigation into Amazon’s business terms and practices on its German marketplace. The Bundeskartellamt’s president commented: Amazon is the largest online retailer and operates by far the largest online marketplace in Germany. Many retailers and manufacturers depend on the reach of Amazon’s marketplace for their online sales. Amazon functions as […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Amazon probe: overcoming the antitrust paradox
Competition Blogs - P037742 506967 640x400 1
In a press conference on September 19th, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager announced a preliminary investigation into Amazon. At the heart of the potentially abusive conduct is Amazon’s ‘dual role’. One the one hand, Amazon offers a marketplace for third-party sellers to offer their products to consumers. On the other hand, Amazon offers its own products through its marketplace. The Commission’s […]
read more
No Comments
18. September 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Market definition for two-(or multi) sided platforms – demand interdependence and substitution as guiding principles
blackboard whit charts
The past year has led to a lot of discussion on the relation between competition law and (online) platforms and a lot of disagreement on how competition law should apply in such cases as displayed by comments on the major cases of Amex and Google. Unsurprisingly, one of the most contentious aspects of these cases was the market definition. It […]
read more
No Comments
27. July 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Android decision: Google cements its dominance in search… to the benefit of consumers?
Competition Blogs - pathum danthanarayana t8TOMKe6xZU unsplash
Last week’s Commission decision on Google’s Android operating system made for great headlines. On top of the eye-watering fine of €4.3 billion, it even had the dubious honour of eliciting a presidential tweet. It was the kind of decision that sparked extensive papers long before its adoption, and a barrage of commentary immediately afterwards. Now that the dust has settled, […]
read more
No Comments
17. July 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Tales of two-sided markets, market definitions and anti-competitive effects – insights from Ohio v. American Express
Competition Blogs - ryan born 16317 unsplash
  The case of Ohio v. Amex is the final phase of a long legal battle that started back in 2010 where Amex was accused of infringing section 1 of the Sherman Act for imposing its anti-steering provisions on merchants accepting Amex. While not delivering on all fronts, the case of Amex is an important one in the context of […]
read more
No Comments
18. May 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Online platforms and refusal to deal – Unlockd vs. Google – a seminal case in the making?
Competition Blogs - brooke lark W1B2LpQOBxA unsplash
The recent standoff between advertisement application developer Unlockd and Google, concerning the removal of Unlockd from the Google Play Store and AdMob marketplace, may turn out to be one of the most important competition law cases of the year. This case, which will likely require a competition law review of Google’s terms and conditions for these platforms, provides the opportunity […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

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