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The CMA has cleared, with undertakings, the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three. The CMA conducted an in-depth Phase 2 review of the merger and, unusually, accepted behavioural undertakings from [...]

magine walking into your favourite supermarket, loyalty card in hand, and knowing that the discounts you're getting are not just a marketing gimmick but a genuine way to save money. [...]

Chief executive of the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Sarah Cardell, has announced that the authority will launch a review of its approach to merger remedies in early 2025. [...]

Back in October, we considered what the European Union Court's judgment in Illumina v. Inc and the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) approach to recent AI partnerships might foretell about [...]

In the lead-up to Black Friday, online traders should take heed of the latest laws governing online pricing practices and displays to avoid being 'marked down' by the regulators, who [...]

Our Autumn 2024 edition sets out the key EU / UK regulatory developments in online safety, digital platforms, cyber, AI and data. Check below whether your business is in scope, [...]

April 2025 'go live' date for new consumer protection enforcement regime: start preparing now The Government has indicated that it intends to bring new consumer enforcement powers contained in the [...]

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 receives Royal Assent The new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) implements the most extensive changes to the UK competition law [...]

This insight looks at various forms of price fixing that sometimes take place in the context of commercial agreements, and the very serious risks such behaviour can cause. Most businesses [...]

Following the UK Competition and Markets Authority's ('CMA') recent investigation regarding 'Green Claims' in the fashion industry (discussed here), the CMA has now published a Compliance Guide to help fashion [...]

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 ('DMCC') received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, making the United Kingdom the fourth jurisdiction to pass digital regulatory legislation targeting tech-giants. [...]

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced it is investigating Ticketmaster, the US-based ticket sales and distribution company, for potential breaches of consumer law, including in respect of its [...]

To date, merger inquiries appear to have been the CMA's preferred tool for screening AI partnerships, with a view to guarding against risks to competition in the rapidly developing AI [...]

The CMA has recently cleared two mergers on the basis of the failing firm defence, Tate & Lyle/Tereos and Eurofins/Cellmark, the latter in reportedly as few as 11 working days [...]

Ahead of the entry into force of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) later this year or in early 2025, the CMA is consulting on changes to [...]

Key takeaways The CMA's Green Agreements Guidance sets out its approach to applying competition law in relation to agreements between competitors that are aimed at reducing the adverse impact of [...]

Green claims are in vogue. One might say green is the new black, except that creates the impression this might be some passing trend. Here today, gone tomorrow. But that [...]

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (the 'Act') received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, and will strengthen the powers of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in [...]

In August 2024, the CMA issued updated guidance on reference pricing. As the consumer law REVOLUTION continues in the UK, this latest development offers important insight into the CMA's approach [...]

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (the 'Act') received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. The Act will strengthen the powers of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) [...]

Last week, the UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) published new draft merger control guidance for consultation, updated to reflect how the CMA's new powers under the UK Digital Markets, [...]

On 31 July 2024, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened asix-week consultation on the guidance (which it is required to publish under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers [...]

Competition authorities across the globe have, like the vast majority of organisations, been investing significantly in building their understanding of AI and the potential competition and consumer law impacts of [...]

CMA publishes issues statement in its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets | CMA consults on draft consumer law compliance advice for trader recommendation platforms | CMA publishes [...]

Greenwashing, or the use of green 'claims' to improve a business' or product's environmental credentials with consumers, has come under significant scrutiny in recent years. Both the Advertising Standards Authority [...]

In a recent court judgment, the English High Court reversed a lower court ruling and confirmed that when applying for a warrant to search a domestic dwelling, the UK Competition [...]

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK's competition and consumer protection authority, has requested all online business involved in selling to consumers in the UK to review its sales [...]

Two decisions this year in the United Kingdom concerning Leicester City Football Club (Leicester City) and Newcastle United Football Club (Newcastle United) show that competition law may be becoming a [...]

Phase II process started for Three/Vodafone The UK's Competition and Markets Authority ('CMA') has decided to initiate a Phase II investigation into Vodafone's proposed merger of its UK branch with [...]

The CMA has set out the work it is undertaking on the impact of foundation models on competition and consumer protection The head of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) [...]

1. OVERVIEW The English High Court has issued a landmark judgment confirming the ability of the UK Competition and Markets Authority ('CMA') to conduct raids of private residential premises when [...]

In January, the Competition and Markets Authority's Subsidy Advice Unit published their report assessing the UK Space Agency's plans for a subsidy scheme that will help firms based in Great [...]

Welcome to the latest edition of our Digest, covering legal and regulatory developments from the last few weeks relevant to advertising, marketing, and brand-owning businesses. As usual, for each item [...]

No path for Amazon's acquisition of iRobot Amazon has abandoned its planned USD 1.4 billion purchase of robot vacuum cleaner manufacturer iRobot following the European Commission's ('EC') report not to [...]

The CMA's Initial Report (Report), published on 18 September 2023, considers three levels of the AI Foundation Model (FM) value chain (although it focuses predominantly on the first two levels): [...]

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have recently warned businesses to stop using harmful website and app design that violates data protection and consumer [...]

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been conducting a market study into housebuilding in England, Scotland and Wales since February. It has now reached an interim stage and set [...]

In July, it was announced that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) would be re-investigating unregulated will writers over possible breaches of consumer law. Complaints to the CMA have centred [...]

On 4 May 2023, the CMA launched an initial review of the competition and consumer protection principles that can best guide the ongoing development of foundation models and their use [...]

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill ('the Bill'), currently being scrutinized by the UK Parliament, shows that addressing greenwashing is a policy priority in the UK. While the UK [...]

The UK CMA's Review of Foundation Models The UK Competition and Markets Authority ('CMA') recently announced a review of AI foundation models1 as part of its implementation of the UK [...]

UK CMA Blocks, EU Approves Microsoft's Proposed Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Microsoft's high-profile proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been undergoing merger control review in numerous jurisdictions around the world. [...]

The biggest gaming deal in history has hit another regulatory roadblock. As Microsoft continues to seek government approval for their acquisition of Activision, regulators in the UK and EU have [...]

Over the past few years, the UK regulators concerned with combating 'greenwashing' - i.e., the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) - have been very [...]

On 4 May 2023, the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced the launch of an initial review of the market for artificial intelligence foundation models. Through this initial [...]

On 25 April 2023, the UK Government announced the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the 'Bill') into Parliament.1 The Bill, which reflects a key government priority [...]

On Thursday, 4 May, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced the launch of its initial review focusing on competition and consumer protection considerations in the development and use [...]

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill On 25 April 2023, the UK Government published its long-awaited draft bill to reform aspects of the UK competition regime and establish a [...]

The new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will, according to the government, 'crack down on rip-offs, protect consumer cash online and boost competition in digital markets'. On the consumer [...]

We finally have sight of the long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. Warning: It is a sizeable and ambitious piece of legislation, but the following is our summary take [...]