Kangaroo referred to Competition Commission – The Guardian

Posted June 30th, 2008 in competition, joint ventures, media, news by sally

“The Office of Fair Trading has today referred Kangaroo – the proposed video-on-demand joint venture between BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 – to the Competition Commission.”

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The Guardian, 30th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law firms set for merger frenzy – The Times

Posted June 17th, 2008 in competition, law firms, news by sally

“More than 100 law firms in the UK are expected to attempt a tie-up in the next year, according to a study by BDO Stoy Hayward.”

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The Times, 17th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Competition Commission looks into banks’ payment protection – The Times

Posted June 6th, 2008 in banking, competition, consumer protection, insurance, news by sally

“Banks that have sold payment protection insurance (PPI) could face a wave of compensation claims after the Competition Commission said that 14 million consumers had been overcharged by an estimated £1.4 billion, or an average of £100 a year.”

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The Times, 6th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Litigation costs uncertainty impedes access to justice, legal experts warn – The Lawyer

Posted May 12th, 2008 in competition, costs, news by sally

“Uncertainty shrouds litigation costs, which is putting obstacles in the way of access to justice, a panel of experts warned at The Lawyer’s antitrust litigation conference last week (7 May).”

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The Lawyer, 12th May 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Councils consider legal action against building companies – The Times

Posted May 12th, 2008 in competition, news by sally

“Local authorities are looking into the possibility of launching legal action against building companies accused last month of cover-pricing and bid-rigging by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).”

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The Times, 12th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Inquiry lets the big stores off hook, say local shopkeepers – The Guardian

Posted May 1st, 2008 in competition, news by sally

“Consumer groups accused the competition authorities of failing to check the power of Britain’s supermarket chains yesterday after a two-year investigation of the grocery market.”

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The Guardian, 1st May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supermarkets face new curbs – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2008 in competition, news by sally

“Britain’s supermarkets could be blocked from opening new stores in towns where they already have a large market share, the Competition Commission announced today.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Times Law Panel debate: OFT plans to bring more criminal prosecutions – The Times

Posted April 16th, 2008 in company directors, competition, prosecutions, special report by sally

“The Office of Fair Trading is set to target more company directors for criminal prosecution in a bid to stamp out anti-competitive behaviour, a senior figure at the competition watchdog said last night.”

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The Times, 15th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

National Grid handed record £41.6m fine for ‘restrictive’ contracts – The Times

Posted February 26th, 2008 in competition, energy, fines, news by sally

“National Grid, the gas and power infrastructure company, has been fined a record £41.6 million by Ofgem, the energy market watchdog, for restricting competition in the market for domestic gas meters.”

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The Times, 26th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BSkyB to argue against John Hutton’s ‘error of law’ – The Times

Posted February 22nd, 2008 in competition, media, news by sally

“BSkyB will begin an appeal today against John Hutton and the Competition Commission’s ruling that it must sell more than half of its 17.9 per cent stake in its rival ITV.”

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The Times, 22nd February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Shoppers to pay for superstore shake-up – The Times

Posted February 15th, 2008 in competition, news by sally

“Supermarkets are to face public shaming and huge fines if they use their size to force down prices paid to their suppliers, the Competition Commission will announce today.”

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The Times, 15th February, 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Consumers warned on data loss compensation packs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 12th, 2008 in competition, data protection, news by sally

“Victims of Government data loss are being encouraged to buy packs claiming to help them claim compensation. Thousands have paid out, but privacy lawyers have warned that success is very unlikely.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th February 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

College of Law threatens SRA with anti-diversity suit – The Lawyer

Posted February 4th, 2008 in competition, legal education, minorities, news by sally

“The Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) has been attacked for taking action that will undermine the diversity of the British legal profession.”

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The Lawyer, 4th February 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Watchdog reveals payment protection profits – The Times

Posted January 29th, 2008 in competition, insurance, news by sally

“Insurance policies designed to protect consumers against a loss of income are so profitable that the lenders who sell them can earn revenue of £1,200 on a policy that can cost only £20 to sell, a report by competition authorities revealed yesterday.”

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The Times, 29th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

3 fails in court bid to uncover evidence of alleged collusion – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 22nd, 2008 in competition, disclosure, news, telecommunications by sally

“Mobile phone network 3 has been refused permission to force its rivals to disclose emails and documents in a process that would have cost each of them £200,000. The High Court ruled that 3’s requests were not specific enough.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Regulator rules out energy probe – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2008 in competition, energy, news by sally

“Energy regulator Ofgem has said that it has no concerns about anti-competitive behaviour in the UK, despite consumers bracing themselves for rising bills.”

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BBC News, 14th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ofcom flags concerns over pay-TV market – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2007 in competition, media, news by sally

“The communications regulator has identified ‘warning signs’ for future competition in the British pay-television market”.

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The Times, 18th December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Microsoft faces new antitrust challenge in Europe – OUT-Law.com

Posted December 17th, 2007 in competition, EC law, internet by sally

“A small Norwegian web browser firm has complained to the European Commission that Microsoft’s behaviour is damaging competition in Europe.”

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OUT-Law.com, 17th December 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Inquiry conclusions on Sky’s ITV stake are expected soon – The Times

Posted December 12th, 2007 in competition, media, news by sally

“John Hutton, the Business and Enterprise Secretary, is expected to publish within the next week the Competition Commission’s conclusions from its inquiry into the legitimacy of BSkyB’s shareholding in ITV.”

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The Times, 12th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Mobile phone rivals accused of colluding against 3 – The Times

Posted December 5th, 2007 in competition, law reports, telecommunications by sally

“Britain’s four biggest mobile phone operators used their own industry trade body as a forum for colluding to shut rival 3 out of the UK market, the High Court heard yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 5th December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk