Europe is staking its claim to be the world’s digital cop, with a series of new laws aimed at regulating the world’s biggest tech companies. Following last year’s Digital Services Act, which targeted abuse on social media, comes the Digital Markets Act (Dma), which went into effect on March 7 and has the much broader goal of combating unfair competition and preventing market dominance by so-called digital “gatekeepers,” a who’s who of Internet behemoths, from Alphabet and Apple to Meta, Microsoft and TikTok. [This week, the European Parliament also passed the AI Act, the world’s first broad legislation regulating artificial intelligence, but those laws won’t fully take effect until mid-2026.]
The Dma is already transforming how big tech does business in Europe, and given that EU digital laws tend to become global standards — what Anu Bradford of Columbia Law School has called the “Brussels effect” — Europe has become...
The Dma is already transforming how big tech does business in Europe, and given that EU digital laws tend to become global standards — what Anu Bradford of Columbia Law School has called the “Brussels effect” — Europe has become...
- 3/15/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Europe’s Margrethe Vestager, one of the world’s most powerful and proactive regulators, has made Europe a first mover in checking big tech for the public good and in the interest of competition.
The head of the EU’s Competition Commission has developed key digital privacy laws, rules on hate speech and most recently a framework for AI (one area where she’s heartened by a global push to face its existential risk). Last week, her Committee fined Apple an unexpectedly high $2 billion for stifling competition for streaming music on its app store.
“We’ve had Apple cases, Facebook cases, Amazon cases. It all started before me with the Microsoft cases, and we have open Microsoft cases now,” she said Sunday during a Q&a at SXSW where she is receiving an award. “What is fundamental in an economy like ours is, can you make it to the marketplace?...
The head of the EU’s Competition Commission has developed key digital privacy laws, rules on hate speech and most recently a framework for AI (one area where she’s heartened by a global push to face its existential risk). Last week, her Committee fined Apple an unexpectedly high $2 billion for stifling competition for streaming music on its app store.
“We’ve had Apple cases, Facebook cases, Amazon cases. It all started before me with the Microsoft cases, and we have open Microsoft cases now,” she said Sunday during a Q&a at SXSW where she is receiving an award. “What is fundamental in an economy like ours is, can you make it to the marketplace?...
- 3/10/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Meghan Markle, Brooke Shields and Katie Couric are set to appear as part of an opening day panel at the South by Southwest Festival.
The Duchess of Sussex will join Shields and Couric for the discussion Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen set for March 8 at SXSW.
“Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there’s still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers. Social media’s omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular,” the SXSW festival said in a release around its latest talent lineup.
Also this year, the March 8 to 16 festival also plans panel appearances by Selena Gomez, Kirsten Dunst, Fifty-Fifty Films founder Sydney Sweeney, 2024 SXSW Hall of Fame inductee Margrethe Vestager, and Colman Domingo.
Ilana Glazer,...
The Duchess of Sussex will join Shields and Couric for the discussion Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen set for March 8 at SXSW.
“Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there’s still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers. Social media’s omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular,” the SXSW festival said in a release around its latest talent lineup.
Also this year, the March 8 to 16 festival also plans panel appearances by Selena Gomez, Kirsten Dunst, Fifty-Fifty Films founder Sydney Sweeney, 2024 SXSW Hall of Fame inductee Margrethe Vestager, and Colman Domingo.
Ilana Glazer,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, otherwise known as Meghan Markle, will headline a keynote panel alongside Katie Couric and Brooke Shields at South By Southwest’s 38th edition kicking off later this week.
Sociologist and Dei author Nancy Wang Yuen also joins Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen at 1 pm Ct on March 8 in honor of International Women’s Day.
SXSW unspools March 8-16 in Austin, Texas.
Markle is co-founder of The Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions with her husband Prince Harry. She recently signed a deal with Lemonada Media to launch a new podcast and distribute Archetypes, her podcast that explores labels that attempt to hold women back.
Couric is the Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author; Shields a two-time Golden Globe Award-nominated actress, model, entrepreneur, and author. Yuen is a sociologist, pop culture expert, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant at Peoplism.
Sociologist and Dei author Nancy Wang Yuen also joins Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen at 1 pm Ct on March 8 in honor of International Women’s Day.
SXSW unspools March 8-16 in Austin, Texas.
Markle is co-founder of The Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions with her husband Prince Harry. She recently signed a deal with Lemonada Media to launch a new podcast and distribute Archetypes, her podcast that explores labels that attempt to hold women back.
Couric is the Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author; Shields a two-time Golden Globe Award-nominated actress, model, entrepreneur, and author. Yuen is a sociologist, pop culture expert, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant at Peoplism.
- 3/4/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with Spotify reaction: Spotify said the EU’s move to fine Apple €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for breaking antitrust rules in Europe over music streaming “sends a powerful message—no company, not even a monopoly like Apple, can wield power abusively to control how other companies interact with their customers.”
“Today’s decision marks an important moment in the fight for a more open internet for consumers. The European Commission (EC) has made its conclusion clear: Apple’s behaviour limiting communications to consumers is unlawful,” Spotify said in a statement following the expectedly heavy penalty levied on the Cupertino, California tech giant.
Apple said it will challenge the decision, claiming there was no evidence consumers had been harmed.
But the EU’s competition watchdog said an investigation found that Apple had broken antitrust rules in Europe as it “bans music streaming app developers from fully informing iOS users about alternative and...
“Today’s decision marks an important moment in the fight for a more open internet for consumers. The European Commission (EC) has made its conclusion clear: Apple’s behaviour limiting communications to consumers is unlawful,” Spotify said in a statement following the expectedly heavy penalty levied on the Cupertino, California tech giant.
Apple said it will challenge the decision, claiming there was no evidence consumers had been harmed.
But the EU’s competition watchdog said an investigation found that Apple had broken antitrust rules in Europe as it “bans music streaming app developers from fully informing iOS users about alternative and...
- 3/4/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
London, Aug 8 (Ians) The European Union has opened an in-depth antitrust investigation into software major Adobe’s bid to acquire product design platform Figma for $20 billion, saying that the transaction may reduce competition in the global markets for the supply of interactive product design software and for digital asset creation tools.
The Commission’s preliminary investigation indicates that the transaction may allow Adobe to restrict competition in the global markets for the supply of interactive product design tools.
“Adobe and Figma are close competitors and that the transaction would remove an important competitive force, and the unlikely timely and credible entry of other players in the market,” the commission said in a statement.
Furthermore, the Commission will further investigate whether the transaction may foreclose rival providers of interactive product design tools by bundling Figma with Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite.
“Adobe and Figma are two leading providers of software for...
The Commission’s preliminary investigation indicates that the transaction may allow Adobe to restrict competition in the global markets for the supply of interactive product design tools.
“Adobe and Figma are close competitors and that the transaction would remove an important competitive force, and the unlikely timely and credible entry of other players in the market,” the commission said in a statement.
Furthermore, the Commission will further investigate whether the transaction may foreclose rival providers of interactive product design tools by bundling Figma with Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite.
“Adobe and Figma are two leading providers of software for...
- 8/8/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation for possibly jumping the gun in Vivendi’s pending acquisition of Lagardère, the French media, publishing and travel retail conglomerate.
Vivendi, which is owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré and is the parent company of pay TV giant Canal+ Group, has a 57.35% stake in Lagardere. The Paris-headquartered company launched an Opa to acquire the remaining stake in Lagardere in 2022. After raising anti-trust concerns, the European Commission eventually gave its support for the acquisition of Lagardere on June 9 on the condition that Vivendi sells its publishing group Editis, as well as its stake in Gala magazine. Vivendi said both deals will be completed by October.
The launch of the E.C. investigation follows the shocking appointment of a new editor-in-chief Geoffroy Lejeune, well known for his far-right views, at Le Journal du Dimanche, a popular mainstream weekly newspaper owned by Lagardere Group. Although...
Vivendi, which is owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré and is the parent company of pay TV giant Canal+ Group, has a 57.35% stake in Lagardere. The Paris-headquartered company launched an Opa to acquire the remaining stake in Lagardere in 2022. After raising anti-trust concerns, the European Commission eventually gave its support for the acquisition of Lagardere on June 9 on the condition that Vivendi sells its publishing group Editis, as well as its stake in Gala magazine. Vivendi said both deals will be completed by October.
The launch of the E.C. investigation follows the shocking appointment of a new editor-in-chief Geoffroy Lejeune, well known for his far-right views, at Le Journal du Dimanche, a popular mainstream weekly newspaper owned by Lagardere Group. Although...
- 7/25/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
London, July 12 (Ians) The European Commission (EC) on Wednesday formally approved US-based hardware company Broadcom’s $61 billion acquisition of desktop virtualisation software major VMware, with certain conditions.
The Commission found that the proposed acquisition, as modified by the commitments, would no longer raise competition concerns and would maintain competition on the market for Fc HBAs (Fibre Channel Host-Bus Adapters).
The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by Broadcom.
Broadcom holds a very strong position in the market for the supply of certain hardware components. VMware is a key server virtualisation software provider.
“By acquiring VMware, Broadcom could restrict or degrade interoperability between VMware’s leading server virtualization software and some competing hardware components. But the commitments offered by Broadcom will enable its only rival Marvell, to continue competing on equal footing and ensure a similar protection for any future entrants,” said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy.
The Commission found that the proposed acquisition, as modified by the commitments, would no longer raise competition concerns and would maintain competition on the market for Fc HBAs (Fibre Channel Host-Bus Adapters).
The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by Broadcom.
Broadcom holds a very strong position in the market for the supply of certain hardware components. VMware is a key server virtualisation software provider.
“By acquiring VMware, Broadcom could restrict or degrade interoperability between VMware’s leading server virtualization software and some competing hardware components. But the commitments offered by Broadcom will enable its only rival Marvell, to continue competing on equal footing and ensure a similar protection for any future entrants,” said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy.
- 7/12/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
London, Nov 17 (Ians) Europe’s competition chief has said that Elon Musk’s idea for a subscription model to pay for Twitter’s sought-after blue with verification is “completely flawed”.
aceIf you have imposter accounts, of course, I think your business model is fundamentally flawed,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president of the European Commission, told CNBC on Wednesday.
“If you are to pay to be vetted and to be certified as being who you are and everyone can be you. I think that business model simply is completely flawed,” she added.
Twitter introduced its 8/month Blue subscription service, which allows users to access the platform’s coveted blue check, a tool formerly used to confirm the identities of journalists, lawmakers, and other public people.
Musk on Wednesday announced that the service would relaunch on November 29.
The feature was paused after a wave of users impersonated verified accounts.
Moreover, Musk has...
aceIf you have imposter accounts, of course, I think your business model is fundamentally flawed,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president of the European Commission, told CNBC on Wednesday.
“If you are to pay to be vetted and to be certified as being who you are and everyone can be you. I think that business model simply is completely flawed,” she added.
Twitter introduced its 8/month Blue subscription service, which allows users to access the platform’s coveted blue check, a tool formerly used to confirm the identities of journalists, lawmakers, and other public people.
Musk on Wednesday announced that the service would relaunch on November 29.
The feature was paused after a wave of users impersonated verified accounts.
Moreover, Musk has...
- 11/17/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
A recommended fine of €4.1B (4.1B) has been imposed by the European Court of Justice on Google, upholding almost all of the European Commission’s recent ruling.
In the past few minutes, the Court said it has confirmed the decision that Google imposed “unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices and mobile network operators in order to consolidate the dominant position of its search engine.”
The fine is a slightly lower recommendation than that of the Commission and the European Court of Justice said this “reflects the gravity and duration of the infringement.”
Google owner Alphabet had already lost a challenge against a €2.4B fine last year but can still appeal this latest decision.
In its initial 2018 decision, the Commission accused Google of illegally forcing handset makers to install the Google Search app and the Chrome browser as a condition for licensing its Play Store, making payments to some...
In the past few minutes, the Court said it has confirmed the decision that Google imposed “unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices and mobile network operators in order to consolidate the dominant position of its search engine.”
The fine is a slightly lower recommendation than that of the Commission and the European Court of Justice said this “reflects the gravity and duration of the infringement.”
Google owner Alphabet had already lost a challenge against a €2.4B fine last year but can still appeal this latest decision.
In its initial 2018 decision, the Commission accused Google of illegally forcing handset makers to install the Google Search app and the Chrome browser as a condition for licensing its Play Store, making payments to some...
- 9/14/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
London, May 9 (Ians) The European Union (EU) is planning to enforce the new Digital Markets Act (Dma) to tame the Big Tech companies in the spring next year. Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s executive vice president, earlier said the antitrust legislation could be implemented as early as October of this year. According to TechCrunch, […]...
- 5/9/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Speakers Unveiled For Mip TV & Series Mania
HBO Max International Boss Johannes Larcher is to deliver a keynote address at this year’s Mip TV, while Series Mania has confirmed its lineup for later this month as the TV world gears up for the big markets. Larcher, who is responsible for driving the international rollout of the streamer, will discuss strategy and wider trends. Speaking on the second day of the market, he joins the likes of Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter, Sony’s Wayne Garvie and Kevin Mayer in the exclusive keynote list for the Cannes event. Meanwhile, Series Mania, which takes place in Lille next week, has confirmed the likes of WarnerMedia international boss Priya Dogra, Paramount President and CEO International Networks Raffaele Annecchino and Amazon Studios Europe Head Georgia Brown. Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition and Executive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the Digital Age,...
HBO Max International Boss Johannes Larcher is to deliver a keynote address at this year’s Mip TV, while Series Mania has confirmed its lineup for later this month as the TV world gears up for the big markets. Larcher, who is responsible for driving the international rollout of the streamer, will discuss strategy and wider trends. Speaking on the second day of the market, he joins the likes of Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter, Sony’s Wayne Garvie and Kevin Mayer in the exclusive keynote list for the Cannes event. Meanwhile, Series Mania, which takes place in Lille next week, has confirmed the likes of WarnerMedia international boss Priya Dogra, Paramount President and CEO International Networks Raffaele Annecchino and Amazon Studios Europe Head Georgia Brown. Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition and Executive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the Digital Age,...
- 3/14/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals has announced its third round of featured speakers for its upcoming conference. The 36th annual edition of SXSW is planning a hybrid event, combining in-person settings in Austin, Texas with online viewing options in accordance with health and safety protocols for Covid-19.
“We’re excited to announce an incredible group of experts and innovators across the technology, healthcare and entertainment industries, who are actively shaping the world we live in,” said chief programming officer Hugh Forrest. “Entrepreneurial luminaries such as Michael Dell and industry disruptors like Margrethe Vestager only add to our already robust lineup of creative visionaries working to build a better future.”
SXSW also announced the finalists for its 14th Swsw Pitch event, which will occur on March 12 and March 13 at the Hilton Austin Downtown. SXSW PItch invites innovators to present new technology to panels of industry experts, media outlets and investors.
“We’re excited to announce an incredible group of experts and innovators across the technology, healthcare and entertainment industries, who are actively shaping the world we live in,” said chief programming officer Hugh Forrest. “Entrepreneurial luminaries such as Michael Dell and industry disruptors like Margrethe Vestager only add to our already robust lineup of creative visionaries working to build a better future.”
SXSW also announced the finalists for its 14th Swsw Pitch event, which will occur on March 12 and March 13 at the Hilton Austin Downtown. SXSW PItch invites innovators to present new technology to panels of industry experts, media outlets and investors.
- 1/18/2022
- by Jackson Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Tokyo, June 13 (Ians) Apple is set to face more scrutiny of its business practices as the Japanese government is said to be preparing another antitrust probe into both tech giants Apple and Google, the media reported.
According to AppleInsider, Apple has been the subject of multiple antitrust probes alongside other tech giants, including Google.
It seems that Japan will be adding its own investigation to the pile soon, one that will affect both the iPhone maker and the search giant.
A government panel will apparently launch this month to look into tightening antitrust regulations, according to sources of Nikkei in a report seen by the Mercury News.
The panel will discuss the dealings of Apple and Google with Japanese smartphone producers, including whether they handle domestic companies fairly compared to overseas vendors.
It is believed that iOS and Android make up more than 90 per cent of the Japanese smartphone market,...
According to AppleInsider, Apple has been the subject of multiple antitrust probes alongside other tech giants, including Google.
It seems that Japan will be adding its own investigation to the pile soon, one that will affect both the iPhone maker and the search giant.
A government panel will apparently launch this month to look into tightening antitrust regulations, according to sources of Nikkei in a report seen by the Mercury News.
The panel will discuss the dealings of Apple and Google with Japanese smartphone producers, including whether they handle domestic companies fairly compared to overseas vendors.
It is believed that iOS and Android make up more than 90 per cent of the Japanese smartphone market,...
- 6/13/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
London, June 5 (Ians) The European Commission and the UK regulators have opened formal anti-trust investigations into Facebook for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the social media/digital advertising markets through the collection and use of advertising data.
The European Commission opened a formal probe to assess whether Facebook violated EU competition rules by using advertising data gathered in particular from advertisers in order to compete with them in markets where Facebook is active such as classified ads.
The formal investigation will also assess whether Facebook ties its online classified ads service "Facebook Marketplace" to its social network, in breach of EU competition rules, the commission said in a statement.
"We will look in detail at whether this data gives Facebook an undue competitive advantage in particular on the online classified ads sector, where people buy and sell goods every day, and where Facebook also competes with companies from which it collects data.
The European Commission opened a formal probe to assess whether Facebook violated EU competition rules by using advertising data gathered in particular from advertisers in order to compete with them in markets where Facebook is active such as classified ads.
The formal investigation will also assess whether Facebook ties its online classified ads service "Facebook Marketplace" to its social network, in breach of EU competition rules, the commission said in a statement.
"We will look in detail at whether this data gives Facebook an undue competitive advantage in particular on the online classified ads sector, where people buy and sell goods every day, and where Facebook also competes with companies from which it collects data.
- 6/5/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Apple has clinched a landmark victory in its battle with the Europan Commission over a $13B ($15B) unpaid tax bill in Ireland.
The European General Court today annulled a European Commission ruling in August 2016 that the Irish government granted Apple illegal tax benefits that amounted to state aid.
In its ruling, the General Court said: “The General Court annuls the contested decision because the Commission did not succeed in showing to the requisite legal standard that there was an advantage.”
#EUGeneralCourt annuls the decision taken by the @EU_Commission regarding the Irish #TaxRulings in favour of @Apple #Apple #EUCommission #StateAid pic.twitter.com/KoF6r1n82S
— EU Court of Justice (@EUCourtPress) July 15, 2020
The decision is being described as a big blow to the European Commission’s efforts to extract more tax from big tech giants — a mission that has been spearheaded by Margrethe Vestager, the Commission’s EVP.
Apple...
The European General Court today annulled a European Commission ruling in August 2016 that the Irish government granted Apple illegal tax benefits that amounted to state aid.
In its ruling, the General Court said: “The General Court annuls the contested decision because the Commission did not succeed in showing to the requisite legal standard that there was an advantage.”
#EUGeneralCourt annuls the decision taken by the @EU_Commission regarding the Irish #TaxRulings in favour of @Apple #Apple #EUCommission #StateAid pic.twitter.com/KoF6r1n82S
— EU Court of Justice (@EUCourtPress) July 15, 2020
The decision is being described as a big blow to the European Commission’s efforts to extract more tax from big tech giants — a mission that has been spearheaded by Margrethe Vestager, the Commission’s EVP.
Apple...
- 7/15/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
An entirely virtual audience isn’t the only thing different about WWDC20, the 31st iteration of Apple’s annual developer’s conference that kicks off Monday.
In addition to the looming presence of Covid-19, the weeklong conference will play out under the shadow of controversy, as Apple fends off fresh developer rage and an antitrust probe. Both speak to the company’s role as a gatekeeper to the massive iOS user base.
As always, Wwdc will be dedicated to offering engineers guidance on building apps and implementing new features. But on Monday Apple should give consumers more than enough to chew on with its “Platforms State of the Union,” where we’ll get the latest updates coming to Apple’s services.
Big changes may be coming for the next iOS (14), which rumors suggest could allow users to set third-party apps like Spotify or Google Maps as defaults over Apple Music and Apple Maps,...
In addition to the looming presence of Covid-19, the weeklong conference will play out under the shadow of controversy, as Apple fends off fresh developer rage and an antitrust probe. Both speak to the company’s role as a gatekeeper to the massive iOS user base.
As always, Wwdc will be dedicated to offering engineers guidance on building apps and implementing new features. But on Monday Apple should give consumers more than enough to chew on with its “Platforms State of the Union,” where we’ll get the latest updates coming to Apple’s services.
Big changes may be coming for the next iOS (14), which rumors suggest could allow users to set third-party apps like Spotify or Google Maps as defaults over Apple Music and Apple Maps,...
- 6/21/2020
- by Kevin Tran
- Variety Film + TV
The European Union has ratcheted up its scrutiny of Apple’s business practices.
The EU announced Tuesday that it has formally launched investigations into whether Apple’s rules for app developers covering distribution of apps via the App Store violate EU competition rules. In addition, European regulators opened an antitrust investigation into the tech company’s Apple Pay service.
If the EU determines Apple violated antitrust laws, the tech giant could be fined up to 10% of annual revenue and also be required to modify its business practices, the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the EU, the investigations into the App Store are focused on Apple’s requirement that developers use its proprietary in-app purchase system and the company’s restrictions on developers to let iPhone and iPad users know about cheaper purchasing options outside of the App Store. The investigations follow a complaint last year by Spotify into the...
The EU announced Tuesday that it has formally launched investigations into whether Apple’s rules for app developers covering distribution of apps via the App Store violate EU competition rules. In addition, European regulators opened an antitrust investigation into the tech company’s Apple Pay service.
If the EU determines Apple violated antitrust laws, the tech giant could be fined up to 10% of annual revenue and also be required to modify its business practices, the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the EU, the investigations into the App Store are focused on Apple’s requirement that developers use its proprietary in-app purchase system and the company’s restrictions on developers to let iPhone and iPad users know about cheaper purchasing options outside of the App Store. The investigations follow a complaint last year by Spotify into the...
- 6/16/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The initiative is attempting to provide an urgent response to the economic damage caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. The Paris-based European Producers Club (Epc) has published a ten-point rescue plan aimed at guaranteeing the survival of Europe’s film and TV industries following the tragic effects of the coronavirus outbreak. The initiative, primarily addressing the continent’s national governments, was also submitted to Margrethe Vestager, Vice-president of the European Commission, the European Union’s administration and the European Digital Competence Framework. In its official communiqué, the Epc highlights that Europe’s audiovisual industry is one of the continent’s largest cultural sectors by revenue as well as “the main guarantor of cultural diversity and creativity in Europe”. In general terms, the spread of the virus has resulted in the closing of cinemas, postponed releases, and shoots that have been cancelled or interrupted across the whole of Europe. This is expected to cause obvious disruption to.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Evp for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, will open Series Mania’s Lille Dialogues, a one-day summit which this year debates regulation and commercial practice in a streaming platform age.
Keynotes on the need – or not – for regulatory change will be delivered by Fremantle COO Andrea Scrosati and Giorgio Stock, president, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, distribution and advertising sales, Emea and Apac.
Grabbing another industry bull by the horns, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, CEO, France Télévisions, and Gilles Pélisson, CEO, France’s TF1 Group, will discuss TV channels’ entering the streaming era and how best to remain competitive and attract high-end projects.
They will be joined on a panel by Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board and CEO at France’s M6 Group; Ulrich Wilhelm, CEO of German public broadcaster Ard; and Christoph Mainusch, co-ceo of the Czech Republic’s Cme.
The risks and opportunities...
Keynotes on the need – or not – for regulatory change will be delivered by Fremantle COO Andrea Scrosati and Giorgio Stock, president, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, distribution and advertising sales, Emea and Apac.
Grabbing another industry bull by the horns, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, CEO, France Télévisions, and Gilles Pélisson, CEO, France’s TF1 Group, will discuss TV channels’ entering the streaming era and how best to remain competitive and attract high-end projects.
They will be joined on a panel by Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board and CEO at France’s M6 Group; Ulrich Wilhelm, CEO of German public broadcaster Ard; and Christoph Mainusch, co-ceo of the Czech Republic’s Cme.
The risks and opportunities...
- 3/2/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The European Commission has approved Vodafone’s $21.5 billion deal for a raft of Liberty Global assets in Europe, with conditions attached.
The commission had investigated the deal on the grounds that it could reduce competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. It concluded, however, that the deal could go ahead with conditions. These include allowing broadcasters with services on the cable platforms to distribute content via their own Ott services and refraining from hiking fees paid by broadcasters in Germany for transmission of their channels on the cable network.
“We have today approved Vodafone’s purchase of Liberty Global’s business in [the Czech Republic], Germany, Hungary and Romania subject to remedies designed to ensure that customers will continue enjoying fair prices, high-quality services and innovative products,” Margrethe Vestager, the European antitrust commissioner, said in a statement issued Thursday.
In an agreement originally announced in May 2018, Liberty Global and Vodafone agreed to...
The commission had investigated the deal on the grounds that it could reduce competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. It concluded, however, that the deal could go ahead with conditions. These include allowing broadcasters with services on the cable platforms to distribute content via their own Ott services and refraining from hiking fees paid by broadcasters in Germany for transmission of their channels on the cable network.
“We have today approved Vodafone’s purchase of Liberty Global’s business in [the Czech Republic], Germany, Hungary and Romania subject to remedies designed to ensure that customers will continue enjoying fair prices, high-quality services and innovative products,” Margrethe Vestager, the European antitrust commissioner, said in a statement issued Thursday.
In an agreement originally announced in May 2018, Liberty Global and Vodafone agreed to...
- 7/18/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Sky U.K. E.U. Deal: A Pandora’S Box?
Has outgoing European Competition Commissioner – and maybe next Commission president – Margrethe Vestager opened a Pandora’s Box?
On Thursday evening, the E.U. competition authorities announced they had accepted commitments from Sky U.K. and Disney, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. regarding their film licensing deals in the U.K. The settlement affects a decades-long backbone of the studio business around the world: Territory-by-territory exclusive sales. Sky U.K. and its studio partners, while not marketing the offer in other territories, promise not to bar E.U. consumers outside the U.K. who want to subscribe to its U.K. film services. So a Brit ex-pat in Madrid can now watch Sky U.K. movies without setting up a U.K. account.
But that may not be the rights Armageddon some people imagine. “What the Hollywood studios will want...
Has outgoing European Competition Commissioner – and maybe next Commission president – Margrethe Vestager opened a Pandora’s Box?
On Thursday evening, the E.U. competition authorities announced they had accepted commitments from Sky U.K. and Disney, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. regarding their film licensing deals in the U.K. The settlement affects a decades-long backbone of the studio business around the world: Territory-by-territory exclusive sales. Sky U.K. and its studio partners, while not marketing the offer in other territories, promise not to bar E.U. consumers outside the U.K. who want to subscribe to its U.K. film services. So a Brit ex-pat in Madrid can now watch Sky U.K. movies without setting up a U.K. account.
But that may not be the rights Armageddon some people imagine. “What the Hollywood studios will want...
- 3/8/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The European Union has accepted commitments from Sky and several Hollywood studios over the geo-blocking of movie content.
Exclusivity and territory-specific clauses in deals between Sky U.K. and the studios prevented the pay-tv giant from making content available to consumers in other countries in Europe, and required the studios not to sell their films to other pay-tv services in the U.K. and Ireland.
Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Sky have now agreed to eliminate those clauses in their content deals. E.U. competition authorities said late Thursday that they accepted those concessions, which specifically relate to deals between the studios and Sky in the U.K. but could also apply in the future to other pay-tv operations across Europe.
Theoretically, the decision opens up the European pay-tv market, but Sky insiders said Sky U.K. would not start actively offering its services outside the British Isles. A...
Exclusivity and territory-specific clauses in deals between Sky U.K. and the studios prevented the pay-tv giant from making content available to consumers in other countries in Europe, and required the studios not to sell their films to other pay-tv services in the U.K. and Ireland.
Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Sky have now agreed to eliminate those clauses in their content deals. E.U. competition authorities said late Thursday that they accepted those concessions, which specifically relate to deals between the studios and Sky in the U.K. but could also apply in the future to other pay-tv operations across Europe.
Theoretically, the decision opens up the European pay-tv market, but Sky insiders said Sky U.K. would not start actively offering its services outside the British Isles. A...
- 3/8/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
From actors to execs to CEOs to politicos, a lengthy roster of culturally relevant movers and shakers has been added to the lineup for next year’s South by Southwest Conference which runs March 8-17, 2019 in Austin, Tex.
Joseph Lubin, the Founder of ConsenSys and co-founder of blockchain platform Ethereum, has been named as Keynote while newly added Featured Speakers include CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker, award-winning journalist and author Maria Shriver as well as Guardians of the Galaxy actress and entrepreneur Zoe Saldana.
Lubin joins previously-announced Keynotes Shirley Manson and Lauren Mayberry (Music), Marti Noxon (Film), and Kevin Systrom with Josh Constine (Interactive).
The list of Featured Speakers also includes The Oath actor-director Ike Barinholtz; Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson; Saturday Night Live alum and actress-comedian Sasheer Zamata; Senior Advisor to the Obama Foundation and author Valerie Jarrett; VP of Amazon Web Services Sandy Carter; award-winning chef Dominique Crenn...
Joseph Lubin, the Founder of ConsenSys and co-founder of blockchain platform Ethereum, has been named as Keynote while newly added Featured Speakers include CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker, award-winning journalist and author Maria Shriver as well as Guardians of the Galaxy actress and entrepreneur Zoe Saldana.
Lubin joins previously-announced Keynotes Shirley Manson and Lauren Mayberry (Music), Marti Noxon (Film), and Kevin Systrom with Josh Constine (Interactive).
The list of Featured Speakers also includes The Oath actor-director Ike Barinholtz; Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson; Saturday Night Live alum and actress-comedian Sasheer Zamata; Senior Advisor to the Obama Foundation and author Valerie Jarrett; VP of Amazon Web Services Sandy Carter; award-winning chef Dominique Crenn...
- 10/9/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
It was nearly a year ago that Apple announced its plans to buy the popular music-identification company Shazam — plans that have largely been stalled because of an European Union investigation. After several months of inquiry, however, the EU cleared the move, and the tech giant is now set to finalize its $400 million acquisition.
Almost right after Apple’s December 2017 announcement, several European countries, including Austria, France and Spain, requested a review of the purchase under EU merger law, concerned about how other music-streaming services — Spotify and Deezer for instance, both...
Almost right after Apple’s December 2017 announcement, several European countries, including Austria, France and Spain, requested a review of the purchase under EU merger law, concerned about how other music-streaming services — Spotify and Deezer for instance, both...
- 9/10/2018
- by Amy X. Wang
- Rollingstone.com
The European Union is not pulling any punches. The bloc has just slapped Google with a record antitrust fine of €4.34B ($5.06B) and ordered changes to its business due to alleged competition abuses within the EU.
The EU Commission maintains that Google imposes illegal restrictions on other Android device manufacturers and network operators to solidify its dominant position when it comes to mobile apps and services, particularly the company’s search engine.
The bloc said today that “Google must now bring the conduct effectively to an end within 90 days or face penalty payments of up to 5% of the average daily worldwide turnover of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.”
EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said, “Today, mobile internet makes up more than half of global internet traffic. It has changed the lives of millions of Europeans. Our case is about three types of restrictions that Google has...
The EU Commission maintains that Google imposes illegal restrictions on other Android device manufacturers and network operators to solidify its dominant position when it comes to mobile apps and services, particularly the company’s search engine.
The bloc said today that “Google must now bring the conduct effectively to an end within 90 days or face penalty payments of up to 5% of the average daily worldwide turnover of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.”
EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said, “Today, mobile internet makes up more than half of global internet traffic. It has changed the lives of millions of Europeans. Our case is about three types of restrictions that Google has...
- 7/18/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The European Commission has fined Google a record $5 billion (€4.34 billion) for breaching EU antitrust rules, a decision the internet search giant immediately said it would appeal.
The fine stems from Google practices that the commission said were used “to cement its dominant position in general internet search,” according to a commission statement. The statement said Google required handset manufacturers to pre-install the Google Search app and its Chrome browser, limiting rival search engines, and also “made payments to certain large manufacturers and mobile network operators on condition that they exclusively pre-installed the Google Search app on their devices.”
The statement added that Google “prevented manufacturers wishing to pre-install Google apps from selling even a single smart mobile device running on alternative versions of Android.”
Google denied engaging in anti-competitive practices. “Android has created more choice for everyone, not less,” said Google spokesman Al Verney. “A vibrant ecosystem, rapid innovation and...
The fine stems from Google practices that the commission said were used “to cement its dominant position in general internet search,” according to a commission statement. The statement said Google required handset manufacturers to pre-install the Google Search app and its Chrome browser, limiting rival search engines, and also “made payments to certain large manufacturers and mobile network operators on condition that they exclusively pre-installed the Google Search app on their devices.”
The statement added that Google “prevented manufacturers wishing to pre-install Google apps from selling even a single smart mobile device running on alternative versions of Android.”
Google denied engaging in anti-competitive practices. “Android has created more choice for everyone, not less,” said Google spokesman Al Verney. “A vibrant ecosystem, rapid innovation and...
- 7/18/2018
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Michael Bloomberg today announced the second Bloomberg Global Business Forum will be held in New York City on September 26th at the Plaza Hotel during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the daylong forum is the sole convening dedicated to encouraging presidents, prime ministers and CEOs to collaborate on trade issues by reaching a better understanding of one another’s challenges and mutual opportunities, thereby strengthening global economic prosperity. With protectionism on the rise – as well as worldwide population growth, economic inequality and climate change threats – it has never been more important for the world’s public and private sector leaders to uncover common goals and engage in economic diplomacy to promote continued globalization, innovation and competition. This one-of-a-kind forum will move beyond analysis and provide participants with the chance to shape the next stage of the global economy.
“The Forum comes at...
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the daylong forum is the sole convening dedicated to encouraging presidents, prime ministers and CEOs to collaborate on trade issues by reaching a better understanding of one another’s challenges and mutual opportunities, thereby strengthening global economic prosperity. With protectionism on the rise – as well as worldwide population growth, economic inequality and climate change threats – it has never been more important for the world’s public and private sector leaders to uncover common goals and engage in economic diplomacy to promote continued globalization, innovation and competition. This one-of-a-kind forum will move beyond analysis and provide participants with the chance to shape the next stage of the global economy.
“The Forum comes at...
- 7/11/2018
- Look to the Stars
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark — or in Amazon’s case, in the country of Luxembourg. The European Commission has ordered the tech juggernaut to pay €250 million — the equivalent of $294 million — in back taxes following an investigation into an illegal tax break the company received in Luxembourg. “Luxembourg gave illegal tax benefits to Amazon. As a result, almost three quarters of Amazon’s profits were not taxed,” said Margrethe Vestager, the European official in charge of competition policy. Also Read: Virtual Reality Leaders on What It'll Take to Bring Vr to the Mainstream The commission found Luxembourg...
- 10/4/2017
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark — or in Amazon’s case, in the country of Luxembourg. The European Commission has ordered the tech juggernaut to pay €250 million — the equivalent of $294 million — in back taxes following an investigation into an illegal tax break the company received in Luxembourg. “Luxembourg gave illegal tax benefits to Amazon. As a result, almost three quarters of Amazon’s profits were not taxed,” said Margrethe Vestager, the European official in charge of competition policy. Also Read: Virtual Reality Leaders on What It'll Take to Bring Vr to the Mainstream The commission found Luxembourg...
- 10/4/2017
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
Alphabet Inc. — the parent company of multifaceted tech giant Google — has been hit with a massive €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) fine by the European Union’s antitrust regulator for favoring its own shopping service over competitors in search results. The penalty was more than double the previous record for an EU fine, when Intel was slapped with a €1.06 billion fine in 2009. “Google abused its market dominance as a search engine by promoting its own comparison shopping service in its search results, and demoting those of competitors,” said Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s antitrust chief. “What Google has done is illegal under EU antitrust.
- 6/27/2017
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
Owing taxes isn’t a rare thing for regular people or giant corporations, but Apple’s new tax bill from the European Union is a whopper: $14.5 billion (€13 billion). The bill is a result of the findings of a two-year investigation into whether Ireland’s tax breaks for the Cupertino tech giant were legal under EU rules about state aid. The verdict? Nope. Said EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager: “Member States cannot give tax benefits to selected companies — this is illegal under EU state aid rules. The Commission’s investigation concluded that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay.
- 8/30/2016
- by Oriana Schwindt
- The Wrap
Apple faces a multi-billion dollar tax bill after a ruling Tuesday by the European Commission that the tech company's tax dealings with the Irish government violated European law. In a press conference Tuesday, Margrethe Vestager, the European commissioner for competition, said the Commission has ruled after its antitrust investigation that the iPhone maker got undue tax benefits in Ireland, in breach of EU state aid laws. The Commission said Apple should pay back taxes amounting to up to $14.5 billion (€13 billion), the highest fine ever issued by the EU. The ruling follows similar rulings against other big
read more...
read more...
- 8/30/2016
- by Scott Roxborough, Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Paramount Pictures and the European Union have finalized a deal as part of the EU’s anti-trust investigation into the six studios’ geoblocking of pay TV rights with Sky TV. The European Commission first launched its case in July last year against pay TV platform Sky and the six major Hollywood studios, arguing that customers across Europe should have access to Sky's services in the UK and Ireland. At the time, E.U. competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager had argued…...
- 7/26/2016
- Deadline
A day after the European Union announced it was charging Google with anti-trust violations, Paramount Pictures has offered a number of concessions in its own anti-trust case with the EU. The European Commission first launched its case last July against pay TV platform Sky and the six major Hollywood studios, arguing that customers across Europe should have access to Sky's services in the UK and Ireland. At the time, E.U. competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager had…...
- 4/22/2016
- Deadline
European Commission launches case against broadcaster and studios for potentially “serious violation of EU rules.”
The European Union has launched an anti-trust case against pay TV giant Sky and the six major Hollywood studios, accusing them of illegally curbing cross-border access to Sky’s pay-tv content.
The six studios comprise Disney, Comcast-owned NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros.
The EU says the studios and Sky unfairly prevent consumers located elsewhere in Europe from accessing pay-tv services available in the UK and Ireland.
According to regulators, contracts between Sky and the studios require that Sky block access to films through its online or satellite services to consumers outside of the UK.
In turn, the studios are required to prevent other broadcasters from making their pay TV services available in the UK and Ireland, giving Sky “territorial exclusivity.”
An EC communique stated: “The EC is taking ‘the preliminary view’ that each of the companies...
The European Union has launched an anti-trust case against pay TV giant Sky and the six major Hollywood studios, accusing them of illegally curbing cross-border access to Sky’s pay-tv content.
The six studios comprise Disney, Comcast-owned NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros.
The EU says the studios and Sky unfairly prevent consumers located elsewhere in Europe from accessing pay-tv services available in the UK and Ireland.
According to regulators, contracts between Sky and the studios require that Sky block access to films through its online or satellite services to consumers outside of the UK.
In turn, the studios are required to prevent other broadcasters from making their pay TV services available in the UK and Ireland, giving Sky “territorial exclusivity.”
An EC communique stated: “The EC is taking ‘the preliminary view’ that each of the companies...
- 7/23/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The European Commission on Wednesday accused Google of antitrust violations, saying in a so-called statement of objections that the online giant has been using its position in Internet search to favor its own services. The Commission also unveiled a probe into Google's Android mobile software. The decision comes after a nearly five-year investigation and more than two dozen antitrust complaints in Europe against the company and was announced by EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager in Brussels. Read More European Parliament Votes to Break Up Google "The European Commission has sent a statement of objections to Google alleging the
read more...
read more...
- 4/15/2015
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.