In late November, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1 and Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1226) were published. They bring most digital markets and competition sections of the Act (that were not already in force) into force on 1 January 2025. The new digital markets regime gives the…
This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up
Patent Court considers Panasonic interim licence in FRAND case In Lenovo Group Ltd and others v Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson and another [2024] EWHC 2941 (Pat), the Patents Court refused Lenovo’s application for a declaration that a willing licensor and a willing licensee would agree to an interim cross-licence of standard essential patents (SEPs) with Ericsson…
Communications and Digital Select Committee publishes report on future of news and impact of AI
The House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee has published its report on the future of news. It says that the risk of a “two tier” media environment in the UK is growing. The economics of mass market journalism are worsening, trust is low, and more people are actively avoiding mainstream reporting. News enthusiasts…
European Commission publishes evaluation of the EU competition rules on technology transfer agreements
The European Commission has published a Staff Working Document that summarises the findings of its evaluation of the Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER) and the accompanying Guidelines on the application of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to technology transfer agreements. The aim of the evaluation was to…
CMA publishes provisional findings in Mobile Browsers and Cloud Gaming market investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority’s independent inquiry group has carried out an in-depth assessment of the mobile browser markets and has provisionally concluded that they are not working well for UK businesses and millions of phone users. Most of the concerns that the group has identified relate to Apple’s policies that determine how mobile browsers…
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee launches inquiry into social media, misinformation and algorithms
The Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee has launched an inquiry into social media, misinformation and algorithms. The inquiry follows the anti-immigration demonstrations and riots which took place across the UK earlier this year. Some targeted mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers, driven in part by false claims that spread on social media platforms relating…
This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up
UK law Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 made The Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1188) have been made. They make amendments to the priority offences set out in Schedule 7 to the Online Safety Act 2023 and come into force on 10 December 2024. Criminal offences…
Online safety priorities for Ofcom published and study on effects of social media on children launched
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has set out his priorities for the Ofcom, as it prepares to implement and enforce the Online Safety Act next year. The Online Safety Act requires the government to publish a Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP). The SSP will be laid in Parliament for approval, before being formally designated by the…
UK government consults on detail of new subscription contracts regime
The UK government has published a consultation on the new subscription contracts regime under the Digital Markets, Competition and Digital Markets Act 2024. It seeks views on how the regime will work in practice. The feedback will inform secondary legislation and guidance, with the regime planned to come into force in 2026. Cooling-off rights: return…
Read More… from UK government consults on detail of new subscription contracts regime
European Commission fines Meta €797.72 million over abusive practices benefitting Facebook Marketplace
The European Commission has fined Meta €797.72 million for breaching EU antitrust rules by tying its online classified ads service Facebook Marketplace to its personal social network Facebook and by imposing unfair trading conditions on other online classified ads service providers. In June 2021, the Commission opened formal proceedings into possible anti-competitive conduct of Facebook….