Global Legal Monitor

Archive for Topic: Commerce
(269 posts)
(Mar. 8, 2021) On December 30, 2020, Italy’s Parliament passed Law No. 178 approving the annual budget for fiscal year 2021 (January 1 to December 31). This vast legislation touches upon many aspects of the Italian government and society. This article provides a broad overview of certain important areas of this legislation. Appropriations to Tackle […]
Germany: Higher Regional Court Rules Agreement between Google and German Ministry of Health on “Knowledge Panels” Violates Competition Law
(Mar. 4, 2021) On February 10, the Higher Regional Court Munich I (Landgericht München I, LG München I) granted two applications for preliminary injunctions against the German Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, BMG) and Google Ireland, Ltd. (Google) requested by NetDoktor.de GmbH (NetDoktor). The court held that the agreement between the BMG and Google […]
Australia: New Legislation Establishes Code of Conduct for Negotiations between News Media and Digital Platforms over Payments for Content
(Feb. 26, 2021) On February 25, 2021, the Australian Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2021 (Cth). The bill, which has been the subject of considerable domestic and international discussion, establishes a “mandatory code of conduct that applies to news media businesses and digital platform corporations […]
United Kingdom: Buy Now, Pay Later Transactions to Be Regulated to Protect Consumers
(Feb. 24, 2021) The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a report on February 2, 2021, about the burgeoning use of interest-free “buy now, pay later” agreements and set out 26 recommendations to the U.K. government, including an urgent call to introduce legislation to regulate the unsecured credit market. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in […]
Germany: New Digital Competition Act Expands Abilities of Competition Authorities to Regulate Abuse of Dominant Market Positions
(Feb. 23, 2021) On January 19, 2021, the Act to Amend the Competition Act to Achieve a Focused, Proactive, and Digital Competition Law 4.0 and Other Provisions (Digital Competition Act) entered into force in Germany. The Digital Competition Act amends the Competition Act (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen, GWB) and other laws to implement the requirements of […]
Ecuador: Law on Restrictions on the Use of Plastic Enters into Force
(Feb. 16, 2021) On December 21, 2020, the Organic Law for the Rationalization, Reuse and Reduction of Single Use Plastics entered into force in Ecuador through its publication in the Registro Oficial, the official gazette. The purpose of the law is to restrict the use of single-use plastic products. Under the new law, the following […]
United States: Appeals Court Rules Property Claims out of Early 20th Century Acts of Genocide Do Not Satisfy Jurisdictional Requirements in Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
(Feb. 5, 2021) On September 24, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court’s decision dismissing a complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), 28 U.S.C. § 1602 et seq. (Rukoru v. Federal Republic of Germany, No. 19-609 (2d Cir. Sept. 24, […]
Oman: New Basic Law Issued Creating a Mechanism for Appointing a Crown Prince
(Feb. 4, 2021) On January 12, 2021, Haitham bin Tariq, the sultan of Oman, issued Royal Decree No. 6/2021 on the Basic Law of the State, which establishes a new mechanism for appointing a crown prince and abrogates Royal Decree No. 96/101 on the Basic Law of the State. Content of Royal Decree No. 6/2021 […]
European Union: Commission Publishes Legislative Proposal to Regulate Digital Platforms
(Feb. 4, 2021) On December 15, 2020, the European Commission published two legislative proposals to regulate digital platforms: a proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act, DSA) and a proposal for a Regulation on Contestable and Fair Markets in the Digital Sector (Digital Markets Act, DMA). If adopted, […]
Italy: Miscellany of Measures Enacted to Fight Covid-19 Pandemic
(Jan. 28, 2021) On October 28, 2020, Italy’s government issued Decree Law No. 137, which introduced additional measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the topics these measures address are financial assistance for businesses and workers, tax and judicial proceedings, and public health surveillance. Financial Aid for Business, Sports, and Tourism Sectors The legislation allocates […]