Archive for the 'Developments' Category
May 6, 2014
Earlier today, the C.D. Howe Institute issued a new report on the Canada/U.S. retail price gap issue entitled Sticker Shock: The Causes of the Canada-US Price Differential (authored by Nicholas Li). This new report argues that Canada/U.S. price differences are not the result of price gouging or monopoly power of Canadian retailers, but rather Canadian government regulation, including high tariffs and supply management policies.
May 5, 2014
Earlier today, the Canadian Competition Bureau issued something a little different – its inaugural “Annual Plan”, which evidently is part of its overall transparency and compliance initiatives.
This short, strategic document includes a few interesting points. These include some current performance and enforcement statistics, including in relation to recent: information requests (8,000+); complaints (4,000+) (I had recalled this figure to have been higher in recent years); Immunity and Leniency Program applications (10 and 11 respectively); search warrants (14); and merger position statements (11).
May 2, 2014
The Canadian Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced earlier today that criminal charges have been laid in a federal government IT contract-related bid-rigging case. According to the Bureau, the charges relate to allegations that an IT services company, its former owner and several former employees, as well as several former federal government employees were involved in an illegal bid-rigging arrangement relating to the provision of IT services to Library and Archives Canada.
May 1, 2014
Earlier today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) posted a new post on their “Competition Matters” blog on competition law and associations entitled: Antitrust by Association(s). In its new post, the FTC discusses the historic application of the antitrust laws to associations, some early antitrust and association case law, some key antitrust and association related topics (e.g., anti-competitive codes of ethics) and some of the recent U.S. enforcement in the area (music teachers and legal support professionals association cases).
CANADIAN CASL (ANTI-SPAM LAW) PRECEDENTS
Do you need a precedent or checklist
to comply with CASL (Canadian anti-spam law)?
We offer Canadian anti-spam law (CASL) precedents and checklists to help electronic marketers comply with CASL. These include checklists and precedents for express consent requests (including on behalf of third parties), sender identification information, unsubscribe mechanisms, business related exemptions and types of implied consent and documenting consent and scrubbing distribution lists. We also offer a CASL corporate compliance program. For more information or to order, see: Anti-Spam (CASL) Precedents/Forms. If you would like to discuss CASL legal advice or for other advertising or marketing in Canada, including contests/sweepstakes, contact us: contact.
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April 30, 2014
Over the past few days and weeks I’ve spoken to, and advised, a number of companies and individuals about the upcoming coming into force of Canada’s federal anti-spam legislation (CASL).
April 29, 2014
A small but interesting advertising law development caught my eye earlier today – the Australian ACCC (Australia’s competition and consumer protection agency) took enforcement steps against a large Australian beer manufacturer (Carlton & United Breweries) for allegedly suggesting that it was small (a micro brewer). See: ACCC Acts on Beer Labelling.
April 25, 2014
Information about an interesting new competition law and associations webinar come into my inbox this morning entitled: Antitrust Risks for Trade Associations and Members: Ensuring Compliance Amid Intensive Federal Scrutiny. Given that I work with many associations, I thought I would post the details. While this particular webinar is US-based, many of the same issues and compliance strategies are the same in Canada. Strafford is also an excellent CLE provider (and no I have not been paid to say that!)
April 24, 2014
Readers of my blog will know that I like competition, a lot. I have also, as have many others, been following (and commenting a little) on the ongoing beer retailing regulation debate going on in Ontario, where I spend a lot of my time. While there has now been a lot written on this issue, and a significant amount of commentary, I thought that this new Sun News video sums up the key issues very well indeed (including key results of competition: price, choice and innovation) and dispels some of the myths being put forward for maintaining the current status quo and concentration in beer retailing in Ontario.
Templates/precedents and checklists to run promotional contests in Canada
Templates/precedents and checklists to comply with Canadian anti-spam law (CASL)
