Amazon and Flipkart lose (first) battle against Antitrust probe -Karnataka High Court dismisses the writ petition against CCI prima facie order

So, is it the beginning of the end of the Amazon (and Flipkart’s) combined market dominance or, at least, their allegedly vertical anti-competitive arrangements in the online sales of Smart mobile phones in India?? Considering the recent media news Karnataka High Court dismisses petitions by Amazon, Flipkart against CCI probe on competition law violationsat least…

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CCI closes another case of suspected case of “cover bidding” in public procurement in absence of evidence of active collusion

In a recent order dated 20.04.2021, the Competition Commission of India (“CCI”) has dismissed allegations of bid rigging against Genus Breeding India Private Limited (“Genus Breeding”) in the tender process for establishing a facility for producing and supplying sexed semen of indigenous, crossbred cattle and buffalo breeds in Uttar Pradesh. The Information was filed by…

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CCI directs investigation against TATA Motors for exclusive distribution agreements and imposing unfair conditions in dealership agreements for commercial vehicles.

The Competition concerns in the automobile industry in India in general and in to vertical auto dealership arrangements between OEMs and their authorised dealers keep on emerging after India’s first landmark  auto / car spare parts case filed by Shamsher Singh Kataria ( Shamsher Singh Kataria Case / auto/car Spare Parts Case) . The ratio…

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CCI dismisses allegation of leveraging of dominance for Google Meet Application

CCI dismisses allegation of leveraging of dominance for Google Meet Application The Competition Commission of India (CCI) vide its order dated 29 January 2021 has dismissed an apparently speculative and mischievous information filed by a law student against Google’s alleged leverage of its dominant position in Gmail to protect and promote its market position in…

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WhatsApp’s new data privacy policy in India-CCI investigation to continue? Delhi High Court refuses to intervene.

The legal and regulatory tide seems to be blowing against WhatsApp and Facebook in India. The Delhi High Court vide its recent judgment pronounced today , the 22 April 2021 , has refused to stay the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) order dated 24 March 21 directing investigation against WhatsApp’s new data privacy policy for…

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Uber and Ola finally win antitrust case in India -Supreme Court upholds NCLAT decision -No Hub and Spoke cartel – (but importantly rejects NCLAT decision on lack of locus standi )

The Supreme Court of India vide its judgement dated 15.12. 2020 has upheld the concurrent findings on merits of Competition Commission of India (“CCI/ Commission”) dated 06.11.2018 and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (“NCLAT”) order dated 29.05.2020, wherein allegation of use of algorithmic pricing to facilitate price fixing cartel made against taxi aggregators, Ola…

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CCI ORDERS ANOTHER INVESTIGATION AGAINST GOOGLE’S ALLEGED ABUSE OF DOMINANCE BY GOOGLE PAY IN THE MARKET FOR ONLINE APP BASED PAYMENTS

This case provides the third instance in which CCI directed investigation into specific conducts by Google and is an off shoot of the investigation underway against Google for allegedly leveraging its dominant position in the markets for licensable Android OS for Smartphone manufacturers and the market for App stores for its Android OS to protect its market position in the market for App facilitating payment though UPIs, in terms of specific provisions of Section 4(2)(e) of the Act. Noticeably, CCI has directed investigation only in two , though major allegations , while dismissing three other allegations of favoritism, manipulations etc.by Google in it search results for Google Pay in the absence of any tangible evidence

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