Competition

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether airlines have breached consumers’ legal rights by failing to offer cash refunds for flights they could not lawfully take. The move comes as part of ongoing work by the CMA in relation to holiday refunds during the corona

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued advice to the UK government on the design and implementation of the UK’s new pro-competition regime for digital markets. If implemented, the new regime will govern the most powerful tech firms – those with strategic market status (SM

Retail giant Amazon has been charged by the European Commission over its use of sales data on independent retailers to "illegally" obtain an advantage in the European marketplace. In July last year, the Commission opened an in-depth investigation to assess Amazon's use of sensitive data. The data co

The European Commission is "leaning toward" appealing the ruling that US tech giant Apple did not receive illegal state aid from Ireland and does not have to pay €14 billion in back taxes, according to reports. According to Politico Europe, citing two senior EU sources, competition commissioner

Some of the biggest motor insurance companies in Ireland have engaged in anti-competitive cooperation, the competition watchdog has alleged in preliminary findings. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) today issued preliminary findings to AIG Europe S.A., Allianz PLC, AXA Insura

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit by Google under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is concerned that the proposed transaction would further entrench Google's market position in the online advertising markets

The proposed €200 million merger between financial firms Link Group and Pepper will be subject to a full investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The deal would see Link Group Administration Limited acquire sole control of Pepper Ireland Finance Holdings Limit

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has recruited new staff in anticipation of a significant increase in the number and complexity of merger notifications following Brexit. The competition watchdog continued to "adjust and expand to meet increased responsibilities and challenge

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that a private hospital group and seven consultant ophthalmologists broke competition law by taking part in illegal price-fixing. Following an investigation by the CMA, Spire Healthcare Limited and Spire Healthcare Group plc has admitted tha

The European Commission has opened two formal competition investigations into Apple in relation to its App Store and Apple Pay. The App Store investigation will examine restrictions imposed by Apple in its agreements with companies that wish to distribute apps to users of Apple devices.

Eoghan Ó hArgáin, associate and head of the EU, competition and regulated markets team at Eugene F. Collins, explores what measures may be taken under Irish law in response to reports of “price gouging”. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 there have been reports of hand san

Competition watchdogs in Ireland and the UK have issued guidance to consumers and businesses on the impact of coronavirus. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published a guide to consumer rights which sets out information about holidays, travel insurance, health insurance

Drug company Tiofarma has admitted that it took part in an agreement that resulted in significant price hikes for a life-saving medicine. The development means that two of the three companies under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have now admitted to an allegation that t

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined Fender Europe £4.5 million for breaking competition law by preventing online discounting for its guitars. Guitars make up a significant part of the wider musical instrument sector which has an estimated turnover in the UK of around £4

The number of mergers notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) halved following an increase in the financial threshold at the start of last year. A total of 47 mergers and acquisitions were notified to the watchdog in 2019, a 52 per cent decrease on 2018.