May 7, 2014
Earlier today (or was that yesterday?), the New Zealand Commerce Commission (ComCom) launched what I thought was a very interesting new competition law compliance website focused on the construction industry called “Construction Site” (http://construction.comcom.govt.nz).
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
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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 28, 2014
Like many, I’ve been following a few of the more interesting local regulation (restraint?) and competition cases, including Tesla’s efforts to sell directly to consumers in a few U.S. states; Uber’s ongoing (and now increasingly global it seems) challenge to circumvent – through guts and innovation – local taxi regulations; and the ongoing, and at times slightly surreal, Ontario liquor retailing debate (in which corner stores are making efforts to compete with two incumbent liquor retailers).
Templates/precedents and checklists to run promotional contests in Canada
Templates/precedents and checklists to comply with Canadian anti-spam law (CASL)
