05.09.2018 New study handed over to the German Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier: Does competition law need new rules for the digital economy?

Jointly with Prof. Dr. Heike Schweitzer (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap (Universität Düsseldorf) Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kerber has written a study for the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy on the modernisation of the control of abusive behavior of firms with market power. As part of the discussion about a new amendment of the German competition law (GWB) that is planned by the German government the study analyzes whether and how the German competition law can be amended for a more effective fighting against new kinds of abusive behaviour of firms with market power in the digital economy. Important issues discussed in the study are abusive behaviour through the market power of intermediation platforms (esp. in regard to information), the prevention of “tipping” of platforms to monopolies, the strategic acquisition of innovative, fast-growing firms through dominant digital firms, and the facilitation of the access to data for application of artificial intelligence (AI) and in “Internet of Things” constellations (as access to data in connected cars). The study was handed over to the Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier on September 4, 2018.

The study (in German language) can be downloaded here (BMWi)