IN THE NEWS
European Parliament approves directive on competition law private actions
The European Parliament has approved the proposed directive on damages actions for breaches of EU competition law. The directive is based on a proposal by the Commission of June 2013 and aims to remove a number of practical difficulties which private parties may face when they try to obtain compensation for harm they have suffered as a result of a breach of EU competition law. In particular, it includes provisions aimed at giving claimants easier access to evidence and more time to make claims. It also seeks to ensure that the effectiveness of the tools used by competition authorities to enforce antitrust rules, such as leniency and settlement programmes, is preserved. The proposal has now sent to the EU Council of Ministers for final approval. Click here.
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- Ofcom has begun a review of the wholesale must-offer obligation on Sky requiring it to offer Sky Sports 1 and 2 on a wholesale basis to other pay TV retailers. Although the wholesale must-offer has been the subject of appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, and then onto the Court of Appeal, which remitted the case back to the Tribunal, interim relief arrangements have been in place under which the wholesale must-offer has been in partial effect. Click here.
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