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Author: Rupprecht Podszun

SSNIPpets (38): Phase II

SSNIPpets (38): Phase II

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In the antitrust community, the term “Phase II” has so far triggered thoughts about merger control: This is where Phase II is rather frightening. Today, “Phase II” gets a new meaning, even with competition folks – it is the gradual reopening of public life after the shutdown. Rupprecht Podszun is in his SSNIPpets phase. Here are his small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Stop the clock Since we had collectively been ordered into isolation a…

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SSNIPpets (37): Home Office

SSNIPpets (37): Home Office

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Carnival is over, we were still allowed to go outside the door in the Rhineland then. In the meantime, everything has moved to home office. Now, what happens if you are no longer allowed to see your local bookstore since you may bump into someone coming home from a conference in China? Before you run out of stock of reading material, Rupprecht Podszun has hoarded news and written down what was still on his mind for 2019 and 19a. Here…

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Conference Debriefing (18): GWB10-Hearing

Conference Debriefing (18): GWB10-Hearing

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German Ministries send their draft bills to hearings of stakeholders. Now it was the turn of the draft competition law reform that had to pass through this hellfire. Rupprecht Podszun went to Berlin to see how the Ministry fared with the representatives of industries, Google and the like… Name of the event: Hearing on the GWB Digitisation Act (#GWB10) (“Verbändeanhörung” in German) Place & Time: Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, auditorium of the old Kaiser Wilhelm Academy, 18 February…

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GWB10: the situation (1)

GWB10: the situation (1)

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The arena was opened on 24.1.2020: On this day, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology presented the draft bill for the “GWB Digitization Act” (the 10th amendment of the German competition act). Now, supporters and opponents of an update of the antitrust rules can work on concrete proposals. Rupprecht Podszun looks at the situation after week 1 and focuses on the digital issues of the amendment. Freedom or socialism? Really nice SSNIPpets had been ready for “print” last Friday….

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It’s official: The draft bill GWB10

It’s official: The draft bill GWB10

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Today, the German Federal Ministry of Economics officially published the draft bill on the new competition law. For months we have been waiting for the Big Bang, the 10th amendment of the GWB (#GWB10). But we had to wait: first, Peter Altmaier’s Ministry worked for a long time to shape the rules for GAFAs, then the Federal Ministry of Justice blocked its publication since it disagreed on aspects of the implementation of the ECN plus directive. In the meantime, we…

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SSNIPpets (36): Close of business

SSNIPpets (36): Close of business

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Christmas trees are close to be lit, December cookies have to be eaten before being too hard, time for last minute gift shopping is running out, and the essential question for the antitrust lawyer is which merger case you still have to get through in 2019 or which damage claims you still have to file by the end of the month. This newsletter provides important information on this – it is most probably the last one this year. Before close…

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Conference Debriefing (17): Antitrust in Times of Upheaval – CRA 2019

Conference Debriefing (17): Antitrust in Times of Upheaval – CRA 2019

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The conference circuit picked up speed again now that the end of this remarkable year is near. We were not able to attend everything out there but obviously if catering promises to be good Rupprecht Podszun is never too far – and so here is his Conference Debriefing from Woodstock! Name of Conference: Antitrust in Times of Upheaval Place & Time: Steigenberger Wiltcher’s Brussels, 10 December 2019 Host: CRA, the economic consultancy, but really it is The Cristina Caffarra Show…

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SSNIPpets (35): Fall of the Wall

SSNIPpets (35): Fall of the Wall

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This weekend, Germany celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago. A day of freedom – and also a day that gave the go-ahead for the introduction of the market economy in the Eastern part of Germany. The road to competition was not easy to take. Somewhere in Western Germany, Rupprecht Podszun celebrated the day so that SSNIPpets were delayed… here they are now, the small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! An open…

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SSNIPpets (34): In anticipation

SSNIPpets (34): In anticipation

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We’re happy these days since we are looking forward, for example, to the 10th amendment of the German competition act or to the start of the teaching term in university (which only starts now in Germany). But since both events are still a few days away, we are also happy looking at the colourful autumn leaves we have seen so far. Rupprecht Podszun has raked it together. Here are his SSNIPpets – small, but significant news, information and pleasantries –…

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Is she the future Commission President?
Vestager!

Vestager!

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Breaking News: Margrethe Vestager remains in charge of competition in the new European Commission. While overseeing the digital agenda of the Commission as a Vice President, she will also head DG COMP as the Commissioner. Enforcing competition rules, dealing with state aid and coordinating the digital promises of Ursula von der Leyen’s college of Commissioners seems a lot for one person – but, hey, she took on Google, Apple and the like without fear. Mme. Vestager will probably become the…

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