An important judge changes the Senate. Is that news? And what news! Even Rupprecht Podszun, who is usually not at a loss for words, was momentarily speechless when he heard this one. Now he has regained his composure and quickly jotted down his thoughts – here are his SSNIPpets, small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! This HR development is a real bang for the buck: Prof. Dr Jürgen Kühnen, the legendary “Judge Kühnen”,…
For three days in a row, Rupprecht Podszun sat through the Annual Conference of ASCOLA, the Academic Society for Competition Law – a scholars-only event where research on antitrust is on display. Yes, he does that voluntarily, but he also serves as the Vice President of this organisation, so read his debrief with care. He tells you about the big ideas, the big names and the small stories of this conference. Name of the event: 16th Annual Conference of the Academic Society…
On 24 March 2021, the Cartel Senate of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court heard the case of Bundeskartellamt v. Facebook, case number VI Kart 2/19 [V]. The hearing ended spectacularly with the announcement of a referral to the European Court of Justice. Today, the specific questions to the ECJ were published. Rupprecht Podszun had a look at the referral and has also tried to find out what has happened since the hearing. At the end of the Düsseldorf hearing on…
How fortunate that winter has returned once again, restaurants in Düsseldorf are still closed and the vaccinations are taking their time. This way Rupprecht Podszun can first sift through all the antitrust snippets that have piled up on his desk. Today it’s all about China, drug prices and birthday parties. Here are his SSNIPpets – small, but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Choose one of the two In China, there is not exactly competition for leadership…
The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court on Wednesday added a new twist to the Bundeskartellamt vs. Facebook saga: The case is going to Luxembourg to the European Court of Justice. Meanwhile, as of today, 24 March 2021, it remains open whether the Bundeskartellamt will have Facebook’s implementation plan submitted to it in the meantime. Rupprecht Podszun was at the hearing in the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court for D’Kart. As I stumbled out of the Higher Regional Court, out into the open,…
While marveling in the provisions of the new German competition act, indulging in a new podcast and anticipating feverishly (not literally) the solution of the vaccination problems, Rupprecht Podszun found a bit of time. And wrote the SSNIPpets – small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Romantic competition Recently, the 130th anniversary of Nicolaus Otto’s death was commemorated, at least in the WDR radio programme ZeitZeichen, which has been running since 1972 (!). Otto, who invented…
Today saw the final installment of our Antitrust Advent Calendar 2020 – a definite sign that the year draws to a close. Yet, if we learned one thing in the Youknowwhatyear it is this: Nothing is definite. Rupprecht Podszun has some (preliminary?) closing remarks. When I wrote the final message in 2019, I looked forward “to the exciting developments in 2020” – not anticipating just how exciting it would be. We saw the Facebook case taking twists and turns in…
Today, the EU Commission wants to present the plans for the Digital Markets Act, which will give antitrust law completely new instruments – but which must not then be assigned to antitrust law. At the same time, this week the German competition law amendment will be passed in Parliament (or so we expect). And we also have a nice and spicy message on the German Facebook proceedings. Rupprecht Podszun reports. Post Scriptum (16 Dec 2020): The German Parliament will not…
There is something new in the Facebook case. Or maybe not quite. Rupprecht Podszun brings you up to date on the current state of affairs in this spectacular German abuse proceedings, which has been going on for some time now in the courts (and this blog). And you may rejoice: The story will remain with us! In my calendar, 25 November 2020 is marked in red. On this day it is like it sometimes was in the old days when…
Lockdown light. Trump has been voted out of office, a company from Mainz, Germany, has apparently developed a vaccine, and most freshmen leave their cameras on during digital lessons in class. Glimmers of Hope. Rupprecht Podszun is riding the 2nd wave – here are his SSNIPpets, small but significant news, information and pleasentries – our pet project! The fifth season of the year Karneval, a German tradition that is close to Mardi Gras in New Orleans or the Rio Carnival,…