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Eu Antitrust

All articles tagged with #eu antitrust

EU Court of Justice dismisses Google appeal, upholding €4.1B Android fine
technology9 days ago

EU Court of Justice dismisses Google appeal, upholding €4.1B Android fine

Europe’s Court of Justice has dismissed Google’s appeal, confirming the 2018 ruling that fined the company for bundling its Search and Chrome with Android. The final penalty stands at about €4.1 billion ($4.7B), down from an initial €4.34B, with no further avenues for appeal. The case highlights the EU’s scrutiny of Android’s licensing practices, while regulators also eye the Digital Markets Act to push open access and data-sharing across platforms.

ECJ Upholds €4.1B Android Antitrust Penalty on Google
business9 days ago

ECJ Upholds €4.1B Android Antitrust Penalty on Google

Europe’s top court upheld the EU’s €4.1 billion antitrust penalty against Google for abusing Android to promote its own apps, rejecting Google’s appeal and confirming the revised amount from €4.34B in 2022. Google says Android remains open, while the EU continues Big Tech scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act, including recent action in its ad tech business.

EU Expected to Green-Light Paramount-Warner Merger With Concessions
business17 days ago

EU Expected to Green-Light Paramount-Warner Merger With Concessions

The European Commission is poised to approve Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery without a full antitrust investigation, but likely only after concessions to address competition concerns, which could include Paramount exiting certain international distribution deals and possibly divesting some assets; the decision is due by July 7, with UK regulators and foreign subsidies reviews and Middle East funding scrutinized separately.

Paramount Signals Kids-Channel Sell-Off to Satisfy EU View on Warner Deal
business1 month ago

Paramount Signals Kids-Channel Sell-Off to Satisfy EU View on Warner Deal

Paramount Skydance says it could divest some children’s TV networks to win EU clearance for its $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, as Brussels weighs overlaps in kids channels and other competition concerns. Remedies would need to be proposed by early July for a quick initial review, with a possible phase 2 investigation if concerns persist, while UK and US regulators also scrutinize the deal; Middle East sovereign funds are financing the bid, and Paramount is aiming for a Q3 close if approvals proceed smoothly.

Brussels Antitrust Review Could Slow Paramount-WBD Merger
business4 months ago

Brussels Antitrust Review Could Slow Paramount-WBD Merger

The European Commission is set to conduct a multi-stage antitrust review of Paramount's $110 billion deal to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, a process expected to slow the transaction more than block it. After a 25-working-day preliminary check, Brussels could launch a Phase II review, potentially stretching the timeline beyond a year. The EU will scrutinize overlaps across cinema distribution, TV channels, and streaming platforms, and may require divestitures; the UK review might be simpler. Financing from Middle Eastern funds and the EU's foreign subsidies rules add another layer of scrutiny. Overall, while approval remains likely, EU hurdles could push the close further out than in the U.S.

EU Regulators Could Favor Paramount in Warner Bros. Discovery Showdown
business4 months ago

EU Regulators Could Favor Paramount in Warner Bros. Discovery Showdown

EU antitrust officials are weighing rival Warner Bros. Discovery bids from Paramount Skydance and Netflix, with Brussels reviewing the implications and Paramount’s lobbying push underway. Regulators are focused on competition, consumer prices, and theatrical windows; while they rarely block deals outright, they could delay or condition approvals, leaving the final outcome uncertain as both sides present arguments.

EU weighs interim rules to keep third‑party AI on WhatsApp amid Meta probe
technology5 months ago

EU weighs interim rules to keep third‑party AI on WhatsApp amid Meta probe

The European Commission plans to impose interim measures to prevent Meta from excluding third‑party AI assistants from WhatsApp during an ongoing antitrust investigation into Meta’s AI policy, after preliminarily finding a breach of EU rules. Measures would require Meta to maintain access to WhatsApp under pre‑policy terms while the probe continues. Meta contests the approach, arguing there are many AI options and that WhatsApp Business API isn’t a key distribution channel. The action follows a string of 2025 fines against major tech firms for rule breaches.

Microsoft resolves EU antitrust concerns over Teams bundling
business10 months ago

Microsoft resolves EU antitrust concerns over Teams bundling

Microsoft has avoided a fine from the European Commission by committing to measures that address competition concerns related to its Teams app being bundled with Office 365 and Microsoft 365, following a complaint from Slack. The commitments include offering versions of Office without Teams, allowing data portability, and ensuring interoperability, with most obligations enforced for seven years and some for ten years, to promote competition in the collaboration tools market.

EU scrutinizes Mars' $36B Kellanova acquisition amid concerns over market impact
business1 year ago

EU scrutinizes Mars' $36B Kellanova acquisition amid concerns over market impact

The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Mars' $35.9 billion acquisition of Kellanova, the maker of Pringles, due to concerns that the deal could increase Mars' market power and lead to higher prices for consumers across the EU. The investigation will assess the impact on product prices, with a decision expected by October 31.

Google Faces Setback in EU Antitrust Battle Over €4.1 Billion Fine
business1 year ago

Google Faces Setback in EU Antitrust Battle Over €4.1 Billion Fine

Google faces a significant setback in its legal battle against a €4.7 billion EU antitrust fine, as the European Court of Justice’s advocate general recommended upholding the penalty, which was initially imposed in 2018 for abusing Android's dominance to stifle competition. The court's final decision is pending, but this case is part of broader EU efforts to regulate Big Tech.