Leistungsschutzrecht für Presseverleger: Gesetzesentwurf öffentlich gemacht

Analyse von irights.info. Zeitungsverleger werfen iRights.info allerdings Urheberrechtsverletzung vor

Swiss Competition Authority: revision of the Communication on vertical restraints launched

Here.

RPM in Finland and Spain

According to the Finnish Competition Authority, the Finnish Market Court should impose a fine of EUR4m on the home goods manufacturer because of mininum resale price maintenance (RPM) on its products, whereas the the Spanish Competition Authority has resolved to open formal proceedings against Montesa Honda, S.A. and six of its dealers for alleged minimum resale prices for Honda motorcycles.

Compulsory Licence for HIV/AIDS Drug

The first granted by Ecuador, see this IP Watch's post.

Google Books as seen from an Italian (librarian) perspective

Antonella De Robbio, 2010 Odissea Google Libri

Bundesgerichtshof: Keine Urheberrechtsverletzung durch Bildersuche bei Google

S. die Pressemitteilung.

Market for live music ticket retailing in the UK: merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation cleared (again)

See the Competition Commission's Press release and Final Report

In support of the Federal Research Public Access Act

An Open Letter to the Higher Education Community- Read Peter Suber on the bill.

Decline in sales and file sharing: causal relationship unverified

See Nico van Eijk, Legal, Economic and Cultural Aspects of File Sharing

Copyright for Creativity

A Declaration for Europe, see also the list of signatories.

RPM after Leegin: per se rule of illegality to be restored?

"Discount Pricing Consumer Protection Act of 2009", see this report on the House Judiciary Committee's Hearing from antitrustlawblog.com.

Rules applicable to horizontal co-operation agreements in the EU to be revised

See the consultation.

Transgenic Seed and Competition Policy

AAI's Diana Moss, "Transgenic Seed: The High Technology Test of Antitrust?".

Transparency and Harmonization of Copyright Laws in the EU: the European Copyright Code

Here.

Telecommunications markets in New Zealand

2009 telecommunications monitoring report released by the Commerce Commission.

US Consumer Watchdog on Google's dominance in search

Letter addressed to the Department of Justice.

Broadcasting rights for Spanish League and Cup matches: competition concerns

Resolution issued by the Comisión Nacional de la Competencia, see also the Press Release.

A non-supportive video on software patents

Patent Absurdity, with reference to Bilski

Piracy: On the Difficult Task of Economic Measurement

US Government Accountability Office, Observations on Efforts to Quantify the Economic Effects of Counterfeit and Pirated Goods

WIPO Symposium on Intellectual Property and Competition Policy, Geneva, May 11, 2010

Program.

ACTA as viewed by research libraries

Here.See also this ACTA blog

On the limits of patent protection

Patent on diagnostic testing for genetic susceptibility to the most common hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer held invalid.

Economic value and fair use

Economic Contribution of Industries Relying on Fair Use, Computer & Communications Industry Association

Die Monopolkommission über Entflechtungsmassnahmen

Gestaltungsoptionen und Leistungsgrenzen einer kartellrechtlichen Unternehmensentflechtung, Sondergutachten der Monopolkommission gemäß § 44 Abs. 1 Satz 4 GWB

FTC on ICN 2010

Here.

EU consultation on cultural and creative industries

Consultation: GREEN PAPER on "Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries"

Live from the ICN Conference 2010 (a very personal perspective) - Day One

Some introductory remarks going on... The documents available sofar are worth reading (see also the program)

Almunia speaking:
- Turkey a fantastic country (I totally agree, sadly not part of the EU)
- Crisis, we have to be even more determined
- competition on the merits
- less efficient firms should leave the market, even more so given the current times
- markets should remain open, mergers not to be used as a protectionist tool
- convergency important (stressed as a key message)

- global convergence in legal and economic analysis
- Commission's role (also) of bringing cases useful for many countries
- cross border trade important
- specificities still exist but common principles should be established
- unilateral conduct, role of the ICN
-- share experiences
-- Announcement: ICN discussing this topic in Brussels soon
- each legal system can deliver good results
- merger control has been facilitated
- transparency of decisions important
- reasoned decisions - consistency, predicatbility
- ICN a success story (105 agencies)

- future?
- Almunia's ideas:
-- advocacy worldwide, especially in crisis
-- projects important, if focused
-- convergence worldwide: Best Practices should be developed further
-- help to new agencies
-- full representation of competition authorities should be achieved (some not ICN's members)
Applause

Agency Effectiveness Working Group:
Olavo Chinaglia, Commissioner, Brazil Council for Economic Defense

- earlier: gathering info in order to share
-- manage human resources, etc.
- now: extract general, abstract guidelines (second phase)
- handbook prepared
-- tool to help agencies in their internal work
-next: guidelines have been put into effect?
- but the two phases (collect/assess) connected
-- not stopping gathering info
- next year
-- work on second chapter (presented today)
-- third chapter's draft (on knowledge management)

Advocacy Working Group:
Ed Smith, Director of International, U.K. Office of Fair Trading
- two projects
-- sharing experience (5 seminars, reports available on ICN website)
-- market studies
--- select
--- stakeholders' role
--- manage projects
- feedback
- teleseminars should go on
- update of available toolkits
- across the board (?)
- need to change something? Later we'll know more...

Cartel Working Group: Jozsef Sarai, Section Head, Hungarian Competition Authority
- essential conclusions
-- criminal sanctions the most effective tool
--- incentive for leniency

Merger Working Group:
J. Robert Kramer II, Director of Operations and Civil Enforcement, U.S.
Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
- working on recommended practices going on
-- East-West: inspiration for the working groups
--- new way of working developed
-- market definition and comments accompanying them
--- only a tool (referred to market definition), possibly not decisive
- hypothetical monopolist test incomporated
- ways to implement RP
- supply side substitution (where to put it?)
- Failing Firm
-- carefully assess counterfactual (what would happen if?)
-- links to/role of the parent company?

Unilateral Conduct Working Group:
Markus Lange, Head, International Section, German Bundeskartellamt
- understand/promote convergence
- analysis of refusal to deal
-- questionnaire distributed
-- good cooperation
-- rtd: not specifically defined
-- not only outright, also constructive (unreasonable terms)
-- margin squeeze: topical subject
-- 150 cases about it
--- 300 ms not assessed
-- general rule: freedom to contract
--then, when to intervene (answer tomorrow)?
- need of exchange among agencies felt
- divergencies, but those can still be discussed on substantial terms (ICN's plus point)
- future work
-- new workgroup on unilateral conduct
-- remedies
-- divergencies not to be underestimated
- implementation of past work
- NGA's involvement

Kazuhiko Takeshima, ICN Vice Chair of Advocacy and
Implementation
- report of last year's very intensive work

- more coordination and work in the future
-- needs assessment

-- structure

Mexican Federal Competition Commission

- database of regional networks
- technical assistance
-- template package
-- regulatory barriers (World Bank)
- UNCTAD: translations, participation
- APEC (?)

William Kovacic, ICN Vice Chair of Outreach
- technology
-- blog
--- coverage of activities
--- visitorship increased
---- more intensive use
--- more than 70 countries
--- use should be intensified!
- Outreach toolkit
-- slides on ICN's mission and objectives
-- more detailed revue of workgroups' outcome

-- Studies
--- academics about other networks' experiences (learning)
- Ahead
-- narrative
-- more NGAs' involvement (research centres involved)
-- convergence on good practices
-- dissemination

- ICN University
-- webbased approach
-- common vocabulary
---- not homogeneity
-- demonstration (movie: audio not working)
--- very funny remarks

OECD
- presentation on their activities in the field of competition

Panel: Ahead?
- more "discipline" in choosing projects
- OECD's strength
-- members' experience

-- secretariat's good work
--- regional centres' involvement
-- policies in perspective: material already collected the org. can refer to
-- interdisciplinarity (studies on innovation etc.)
--- complementarities with other policies

ICN's strength vis à vis OECD
- complementarities
-- but: how to invest?
- content, peer reviews
- ICN
-- more practically oriented,

-- perhaps different distribution network
-- different audiences (case level for the ICN)
-- org output's assessment
- possible tensions
-- how to allocate limited resources
- ICN: possibly more "bounding" of its members
- ICN's technical assistance good, possibly even better if coordinated with different orgs (such as OECD)

How to work closer together (ICN-OECD)?
- better transmission of info
-- liason "slightly more formal"
--- what's going on?
-- channels of distribution
- OECD's competition commission
-- somebody in charge of summing up what ICN does
-- outreach/technical assistance, difficult to be more informed (also because ICN doesn't have a Secretariat)
-- more joint events
--- at the content's level
-- pedagogical material
--- repackaging of OECD's material
--- cooperation with the coming ICN's university

Planning for the ICN’s Second Decade: Setting the Stage for Breakout Sessions, Plenary - Vision, direction, implementation - Achievements (useful for the future: but how do we measure them?) -- efforts/contents/infrastructure/backbone for multilateral and bilateral discussions-negotiations among agencies -- common work on advocacy, important in recession, based on experience (e.g. Japan) - Respectful understanding of divergencies -- taking care of economic conditions Difficul things ahead? Focus on the Working Groups ICN's critical factors - focus on competition - vertical structure - stakeholders' and agencies involvement - structure of the working groups Future - Implementation -- Barriers to better use? -- communication/education -- workshops - Agency Effectiveness -- quality control - Inclusiveness -- more diversed geographically

Advocate General MAZÁK on Margin Squeeze

OPINION delivered on 22 April 2010 (1) Case C‑280/08 P

Deutsche Telekom AG, European Commission

Zusammenschluss der Telekommunikationsunternehmen France Télécom SA (Orange) und Sunrise Communications AG: Untersagt

Die schweizerische Wettbewerbskommission (WEKO) untersagt den Zusammenschluss der Telekommunikationsunternehmen France Télécom SA (Orange) und Sunrise Communications AG. Here ist die Verfügung.

Kartellrecht im Einkauf: Preisbildung zwischen Hersteller und Handel

“Vorläufige Bewertung” des Bundeskartellamtes

ACTA Draft Released

Here.

9th Annual ICN Conference: Live broadcast over internet

The live broadcast will be limited to the Plenary Sessions, though.

US Horizontal Merger Guidelines: Revision Released for Public Comment

Here.

Business models for online sports contents

Some reflections on recent baseball experiences in the online world.

Vertical Restraints in the EU: The "Revised" Rules

Block Exemption Regulation and Guidelines.

Private Kartell-Schadensersatzklagen: Die internationale Zuständigkeit deutscher Gerichte

Beitrag von Johannes Landbrecht.

UK Ofcom closes its consultations on pay TV market

Decisions taken under section 316 of the Communications Act. Premier League to challenge Ofcom's ruling

AAI: More on Transgenic Seed

Follow-on paper to its October 2009 White Paper.

La Cour de Cassation confirme le droit sui generis sur la base de données de l’annuaire de France Télécom

Voir l'arrêt, publié sur legalis.net.

Oracle/Sun: the Commission Decision

Published here.

Google, Dynamic Competition and Antitrust

Google and the Limits of Antitrust: The Case Against the Antitrust Case Against Google, Geoffrey A. Manne, Joshua D. Wright.

Patents and Standards

IP Watch on China’s Latest Draft Disposal Rules For Patents In Standards

Digital Economy Bill passed

See the text.

AdWords: The Ruling

Cases C-236 to 238/08 Google France, Google Inc. v Louis Vuitton Malletier.

Google Books Settlement, an Antitrust Perspective

An Introduction to Competition Concerns in the Google Books Settlement, by Rudolph J.R. Peritz and Marc Miller.

How Innovative is Europe?

EUROPEAN INNOVATION SCOREBOARD 2009, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INNOVATION PERFORMANCE

US FCC's National Broadband Plan and Education

On the necessity to support and promote online learning.

The UK Digital Economy Bill goes to the Commons

Final amendments were made to the Bill during the third reading in the House of Lords on 15 March.

Sports Leagues and Antitrust in the US

The New York Times on American Needle v. National Football League.

Ein nutzerorientiertes Urheberrecht

Justizsenator Dr. Till Steffen hat heute das Diskussionspapier "Nutzerorientierte Ausrichtung des Urheberrechts" vorgestellt.

Paths Forward for the Google Books Settlement

A Diagram, by Jonathan Band.

Research Libraries: Future Visions

ARL's Project.

Robert Lande on FTC v. Intel

FTC v. Intel: Applying the 'Consumer Choice' Framework to 'Pure' Section 5 Allegations

Deutscher Bundestag: Enquete-Kommission "Internet und digitale Gesellschaft" eingesetzt

S. den ursprünglichen Antrag.

Internet Access as a Fundamental Right?

Global poll conducted across 26 countries for BBC World Service.

EFF on DMCA Updated

Unintended Consequences: Twelve Years under the DMCA

Be the First to Tell

A Film about Leniency, Swedish Competition Authority

Open Access: Duke University's drafted policy

Discussion paper here.

France: La Cour de cassation au sujet de l'exclusivité Orange/Apple

Remise en cause la décision de la cour d’appel.

Paypal-Pflicht beim Internethändler Ebay: Das Bundeskartellamt leitet eine Untersuchung ein

S. FAZ.net.

On DMCA Safe Harbors and Liability for Copyright Infringements

Whose Burden Is It Anyway? Addressing the Needs of Content Owners in DMCA Safe Harbors, by Greg Jansen, 62 Federal Communications Law Journal 153

On Open Source Licensing

Improving the Open Source Legal System, by Richard Fontana (Red Hat).

Library and higher education-related institutions and organizations on net neutrality

See the letter sent to the US Federal Communications Commission

EU Organic Logo: The Winner is...

Diversity in Competition Policy

Wolfgang Kerber on Competition, Innovation and Maintaining Diversity
through Competition Law

IBM on Chin

Here is the tech firm's reply to Prof. Andrew Chin's paper, as well as Chin's Respone to the IBM Memorandum.

LCA on educational purposes and copyright law

See Streaming of Films for Educational Purposes.

On the relationship between intellectual property protection for fruit and vegetable crops and plant diversity

APPLE DIVERSITY REPORT CARD FOR THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: PATENTS AND OTHER SOURCES OF INNOVATION IN THE MARKET FOR APPLES, by P.Heald and S. Chapman

Competition Policy and Economic Crisis: A Look Back?

DID WE AVOID HISTORICAL FAILURES OF ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT DURING
THE 2008-09 FINANCIAL CRISIS? DANIEL A. CRANE

Copyright and Electronic Communication: A View from Italy

See IL DIRITTO D’AUTORE SULLE RETI DI COMUNICAZIONE ELETTRONICA, Italian Communications Authority.

Copyright and Digital Economy

An overview of the main issues as presented by Michael Geist

Research Libraries on Google Books Settlement

The Google Books Settlement: Second Round Comments

At the Intersection of Competition and Regulation

Prof. Justus Haucap, German Monopolies Commission on "Competition and Regulation in Network Industries", Trento University, Economics Faculty, February 17, 10am.

Museen und Archive und die Regelungen zum geistigen Eigentum

„Das Urheberrecht verursacht Depressionen“

Rechtliche Fragen zu „Google Street View“

Rechtsgutachten vom Prof. Johannes Caspar.

UK government's open data under CC compatible licence

See this BioMed's blog post.

Bread Cartel Members Fined in South Africa.

Competition Tribunal, The Competition Commission Applicant
and Pioneer Foods (Pty) Ltd.

European ISPs on the ACTA

See this press release.

The US Department of Justice on the proposed amended Google Book Settlement

See the new filing.

Competition in the Italian gas market:

ENI submits to the European Commission a structural remedies proposal.

Competition Policy in India

India's New Competition Regime: The Elephant Who Became a Tiger, by Mark Sansom and Priya Christian

"Vorsprung durch Technik"

The Court of Justice of the European Union, Case C-398/08 P , Audi AG v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market, on the distinctive character of a trade mark.

Trade mark dispute over the iPad

From the N.Y.Times

Motor vehicle sales and repair agreements in the EU

The replies to the 22.07.2009 to 25.09.2009 consultation on the future competition law framework applicable to the motor vehicle sector are now available.

Originality in Copyright Law

Elizabeth F. Judge and Daniel Gervais, Of Silos and Constellations: Comparing Notions of Originality in Copyright Law, 27 Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal 375 (2009), p. 322.

FTC's administrative complaint against Intel

See the FTC's press release.

US Statement at the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) Nineteenth Session

See the text of the Statement delivered, as well as the somewhat different approach taken by the European Commission (from KEI). An unofficial version of the Conclusions from WIPO SCCR 19 is also provided for by KEI.

On the Google Book Search Settlement, Antitrust and Innovation

Randy Picker, U. Chicago - Antitrust and Innovation: Framing Baselines in the Google Book Search Settlement.

Google Books Revised Settlement and Open Access

From Peter Suber’s December 2009 issue of the SPARC Open Access Newsletter. See also some comments from Germany's Coalition for Action: Copyright for Education and Research (Aktionsbündnis: Urheberrecht für Bildung und Wissenschaft)

ARL, ALA, ACRL on Facilitating Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind or Persons with Other Disabilities

Reply Comments before the Copyright Office, Library of Congress. See also the Comment offered by Jane C. Ginsburg and June M. Besek.

Eben Moglen on the Oracle/Sun Acquisition

See the letter sent to the EU Commission, the Software Freedom Law Center press release and Groklaw's post.

Elektronische Leseplätze in Bibliotheken

S. früheren Post.
OBERLANDESGERICHT FRANKFURT, Aktenzeichen: 11 U 40/09 (verkündet 24.11.2009).
Aus der Begründung (meine Hervorhebungen):
"Mit Recht wird jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass es umgekehrt zu erheblichen praktischen Schwierigkeiten führen dürfte, wollte man ein angemessenes Lizenzangebot ausreichen lassen (Dreyer in HK-UrhR, 2. Auflage, 2009, § 52b Rn. 12). Die Anwendung der Schrankenregelung des § 52b UrhG hinge dann nämlich jeweils davon ab, ob die (gerichtliche) Prüfung des Angebotes ergibt, dass es als angemessen einzustufen ist. Die damit verbundene Rechtsunsicherheit könnte dazu führen, dass die Bibliotheken von der im öffentlichen lnteresse liegenden Schrankenregelung des § 52b UrhG keinen Gebrauch machen (...)
Dass der Absatzmarkt für Fachbücher durch die Schrankenregelung über Gebühr beeinträchtigt wird, erscheint nicht ausreichend belegt. Gerade im Universitätsbereich dürften die finanziellen Möglichkeiten der Studierenden in der Mehrzahl der Fälle ohnedies nicht ausreichen, um Fachliteratur käuflich zu erwerben (...)
Nach ganz überwiegender Auffassung in der Literatur, die der Senat teilt, begründet § 52b UrhG eine Annex-Berechtigung zur Digitalisierung des Werkes, weil die Bestimmung anderenfalls weitgehend leer liefe, denn um die Zugänglichmachung zu ermöglichen, müssen die privilegierten Einrichtungen in aller Regel ein dazu erforderliches digitales Vervielfältigungsstück herstellen (...)
Dass dem Nutzer über den Lesezugriff hinaus auch Vervielfältigungen in gleicher Weise wie bei einer analogen Nutzung ermöglicht werden sollen, ergibt sich aus der Gesetzesbegründung jedoch nicht. Das im Urteil des Landgerichts beschriebene berechtigte Bedürfnis des Nutzers, Ausdrucke für eine sinnvolle Arbeit mit längeren Texten zu nutzen, wird in ausreichenden Maß durch die weiterhin bestehende Möglichkeit gewahrt, Kopien aus den in der Bibliothek vorhandenen Printexemplare zu fertigen. Schrankenbestimmungen sind grundsätzlich eng auszulegen (...)
Der Senat sieht indes keine überzeugende Möglichkeit, zwischen digitalen und analogen Vervielfältigungen zu unterscheiden (vgl. auch Schöwerling, ZUM 2009, 665; Heinz in juris-PR-lTR 14/2009).
Es ist danach auch nicht maßgeblich, ob die Möglichkeit, die an den Leseplätzen zugänglichen Dateien auszudrucken, die lnteressen der Rechtsinhaber nicht stärker beeinträchtigen würde, als dies bei der Nutzung von Kopiergeräten der Fall ist."

Google News: First (Five) Click (s) Free

Does it placate publishers' concerns?

How effective is "your" competition authority?

Question debated at the UK Competition Commission Autumn Lecture 2009.

European Treaty's Renumbering

From December 1, 2009: Article 81 and Article 82 EC have respectively become Article 101 and 102 TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union).

Deutscher Bundesrat zur Mitteilung der EU-Kommission zur Verbesserung der Durchsetzung geistiger Eigentumsrechte

"Eine zusätzliche zentrale Koordinierung durch nationale Koordinatoren, wie sie die Kommission fordert, ist abzulehnen".

On disruptive revolutions in the handset market and the role of competition policy

Why the iPhone Won't Last Forever and What the Government Should Do to Promote its Successor, by Robert W. Hahn and Hal J. Singer

On IBM, Antitrust and IP Law

Refusals to License and Installed-Base Opportunism in the Mainframe Computer Industry: The Investigation of IBM, by Andrew Chin

On the development of legal doctrine, the promotion of competition policy and the advancement of international cooperation and convergence

Phil Weiser, U.S. Department of Justice on Antitrust Doctrine, Competition Policy, and International Dialogue

Another IP/Antitrust Dispute

Emulex Corp. files an antitrust lawsuit against Broadcom Corp.

ARL and Others on the Google Books Settlement (Part III)

A Guide for the Perplexed Part III: The Amended Settlement Agreement, by Jonathan Band.

Zur Geltendmachung von Rechten aus einem Patent-Pool

"Patentverletzung durch Einsatz von geschützten Bauteilen in komplexen Vorrichtungen und die Rolle der Patent-Trolle", von Willi Schickedanz, in GRUR Int 2009, S. 901.

Zur Haftung des Internetanschlussinhabers bei Filesharing-Konstellationen nach den Grundsätzen der Störerhaftung

"Die Haftung des Internetanschlussinhabers bei Filesharing-Konstellationen nach den Grundsätzen der Störerhaftung", von Sven J. Mühlberger, in GRUR 2009, S. 1022.

Un titulo de Copyright europeo

Viviane Reding "ha recordado que con la entrada en vigor del Tratado de Lisboa será posible crear un título de "copyright europeo", que sería complementario al actual".

UK Digital Economy Bill

In particular on "technical" 3-strikes measures and the licensing of orphan works (see also clause 17).

RPM and the "hardcore restriction debate" in EU competition policy

See Resale Price Maintenance in EC Competition Law: The Need for a Standardised Approach , by Frederik van Doorn

IT-Branchenverband BIKT zum "dritten Korb" der Urheberrechtsreform

Aus der Pressemitteilung: "Der BIKT ...fordert das BMJ dazu auf, durch eine geeignete Regelung im Urheberrecht dafür zu sorgen, dass patentrechtliche Verbotsansprüche gegenüber Computerprogrammen keine Wirkung entfalten können. Der Verband plädiert daher für die Einführung einer „Schutzschirmklausel“, die die gesetzliche Absicherung des Urheberrechtsschutzes für Computerprogramme gegenüber dem Patentrecht gewährleistet".

Competition between TV Platforms

A Working Paper by Laia Domènech Campmajó (PPRE-IREA, University of Barcelona)

The European Ombudsman on Intel's complaint

A non-confidential version of the Decision closing the inquiry has now been published.

More on competition policy in difficult economic times

'We are here in a very melancholy Situation' : Financial crisis and competition policy - Speech by CC Chairman Peter Freeman to the David Hume Institute. See also Competition Policy and Financial Crises, A joint report by the Nordic competition authorities

ICN Cairo Cartel Workshop

The final presentations can be downloaded

Google Books Settlement Amended

Here. A first overview of the amendments from a German perspective here. Matters concerning Open Access are discussed here, concerning CC licences in particular here, further links to ongoing discussions here.

E-Learning and Copyright Exceptions

My short study published under a CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Italy licence is now available for download: E-Learning e sistema delle eccezioni al diritto d'autore.

The Federal Trade Commission to review the Intel/AMD settlement

According to the AAI, investigations should continue.

Russia: Fine Against Gazprom Neft Overturned

See the Moscow Times.

Thomson Reuters and Article 82 EC Treaty

Formal proceedings opened.

Plastic Additives Firms Fined For Colluding

See European Commission Press Release

US-Russia Antitrust Cooperation

The Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on antitrust cooperation with the Russian antitrust agency, Федеральная антимонопольная служба (ФАС) (see the US and the Russian press releases).

On Optimal Decisions Rules for Competition Policy

See "On Optimal Legal Standards for Competition Policy: A General Welfare-Based Analysis" by Yannis Katsoulacos & David Ulph.

Open Access: Petitionen an die Legislative

Petition an den Deutschen Bundestag: "Der Deutsche Bundestag möge beschließen, dass wissenschaftliche Publikationen, die aus öffentlich geförderter Forschung hervorgehen, allen Bürgern kostenfrei zugänglich sein müssen. Institutionen, die staatliche Forschungsgelder autonom verwalten, soll der Bundestag auffordern, entsprechende Vorschriften zu erlassen und die technischen Voraussetzungen zu schaffen". S. auch "An Open Letter to the U.S. Congress Signed by 41 Nobel Prize Winners".

Oracle/Sun Acquisition: Statement of Objections Issued

See this manager-magazin.de analysis, this from online.wsj.com, Oracle's first reaction and the US Department of Justice's Statement. See also Sun's filing to the SEC.

Oral argument in In Re Bilski before the US Supreme Court

See the transcript. Justice Breyer posed a slightly provoking question: "You know, I have a great, wonderful, really original method of teaching antitrust law, and it kept 80 percent of the students awake. They learned things --
(Laughter.)
JUSTICE BREYER: It was fabulous. And I could probably have reduced it to a set of steps and other teachers could have followed it. That you are going to say is patentable, too?
MR. JAKES: Potentially".

European Interoperability Framework

An unofficial draft copy is circulating.

Carlo Piana in Trento

Carlo Piana, Free Software Foundation Europe and Oracle Legal Counsel, Free Software Advocate, will talk at the Trento Competition Seminars about "Competition Policy, Innovation and Free/Open Source Software".

On Neelie Kroes' "steely political intent" in troubled economic times

See FT.com.

Competition Policy and Economic Crisis

Dr. Alessandra Tonazzi, Italian Competition Authority (AGCM), will talk about "Competition Policy in Difficult Economic Times" at the Trento Competition Seminars (Presentation).

Agreement on EU Telecoms Reform

See EU press release.

Standardization and Antitrust

A Presentation from the Philippe Nasse Seminar, by Damien Geradin.

Opposition to the EU Microsoft Browser "Settlement"

See this article from the New York Times.

US Intel Case

See the Office of Attorney General Press Release. The AAI is quite supportive of the complaint. The Federal Trade Commission will possibly "join the fray against the chip maker".

On Creative Impulses and Copyright Law

Economies of Desire: Fair Use and Marketplace Assumptions, by Rebecca Tushnet.

Football rights in Italy

The Milan Appeals Court has suspended the award of broadcasting rights to satellite operator Sky Italia for the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons because of competition concern.

Remedies in the EU and US Microsoft Cases

The Quest for Appropriate Remedies in the Microsoft Antitrust EU Cases: A Comparative Appraisal, by Nicholas Economides and Ioannis Lianos

Electronic dissertations at Stanford

From Digitalkoans: "Under the program, digital dissertations will be stored in the Stanford Digital Repository, which provides preservation services for scholarly resources, helping to ensure their integrity, authenticity and usability over time (...) documents will be available to the Stanford community through Socrates, the university's online library catalog, and "available to the world" through Google, which will serve as a third-party distributor".

Gestion et commercialisation des droits sportifs de la Fédération française de football: Entente verticale sanctionnée

Décision n° 09-D-31 du 30 septembre 2009 relative à des pratiques mises en oeuvre dans le secteur de la gestion et de la commercialisation des droits sportifs de la Fédération française de football.

Copyright to keep up with technology and consumer behaviour. UK IPO's actual proposal

© the way ahead: A Copyright Strategy for the Digital Age.

US Developments after Leegin

Notable developments concerning State Resale Price Maintenance Laws After Leegin, by Michael Lindsey.

Price competition in the distribution of books

The American Booksellers’ Association believes that the fierce price competition between Walmart, Target, and Amazon is damaging consumers.

Die Privatkopie und die deutsche Verfassung

Das Bundesverfassungsgericht hat eine Verfassungsbeschwerde von Unternehmen der Musikindustrie gegen die digitale Privatkopie nicht zur Entscheidung angenommen.

A New Structured Rule of Reason Approach for RPM?

Antitrust Federalism : Enhancing Federal/State Cooperation, CHRISTINE A. VARNEY Assistant Attorney General Antitrust Division U.S. Department of Justice

On copyright infringement and choice-of-law rules

Anita B. Frohlich, Copyright Infringement in the Internet Age - Primetime for Harmonized Conflict-of-Laws Rules.

Yet another EU copyright consultation

Creative Content in a European Digital Single Market: Challenges for the Future

Economic evidence in competition cases

A speech by P.Freeman, Chairman of the UK Competition Commission

India: Competition Appellate Tribunal Formed

The body will hear appeals against decisions by the Competition Commission of India.

US Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009

The House Judiciary Committee has voted to repeal the insurance industry’s exemption from antitrust legislation

Ausschaltung eines preisaktiven Internetanbieters

Das Bundeskartellamt verhängt Bußgeld gegen Hörgerätehersteller Phonak GmbH. Aus der Pressemeldung: "Die einseitige Vorgabe von unverbindlichen Preisempfehlungen ist nach geltendem Recht grundsätzlich zulässig. Ordnungswidrig handelt jedoch, wer zu ihrer Durchsetzung dem Abnehmer Nachteile androht oder zufügt oder ihm Vorteile verspricht oder gewährt. Eine Liefersperre ist ein solcher Nachteil.
Das Bundeskartellamt misst dem beschriebenen Vorgehen hier eine über den Einzelfall hinausgehende wettbewerbliche Bedeutung zu. Die Ausschaltung des einen preisaktiven Internetanbieters war dazu geeignet und bestimmt, die auf dem deutschen Markt für den Handel mit Hörgeräten insgesamt herrschende Preisstabilität aufrechtzuerhalten bzw. wiederherzustellen. Ist aber der Preiswettbewerb auf Einzelhandelsebene ohnehin eingeschränkt, so wiegt jede weitere Verhinderung vorstoßenden Wettbewerbs umso schwerer"

Online distribution of music: joint statement

The statement sets out general principles designed to underpin the online distribution of music in the future. See also the EC press release.

Transgenic seed industry: the effects of Monsanto's market power

AAI's White Paper "Transgenic Seed Platforms: Competition Between a Rock and a Hard Place"

Oracle-Sun Deal: Reasons to Support it?

See Groklaw's post. See also this post from the Antitrust Law Blog and this list of useful blog posts and news stories on MySQL.

On the "more economic approach" in applying art. 82 EC

From Formalism to Effects? – The Commission’s Communication on Enforcement Priorities in Applying Article 82 EC, Nicolas Petit