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Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation

Top News

Antitrust, DealRisk®, Mergers and Acquisitions

December 26, 2024 | Alex Wilts

North America

Kroger decisions could weaken Amazon's US market-definition arguments

Artificial Intelligence

December 26, 2024 | Nick Robertson

North America

Last-second US House legislation targets AI digital replicas
Concept of futuristic modular house powered with green hydrogen energy

Energy, State Aid

December 26, 2024 | Stefano Porciello

Europe

EU hydrogen bank’s state aid tool is here to stay

Antitrust View More

DBS, OCBC, UOB joint retirement-scheme application for Singapore antitrust clearance withdrawn

December 26, 2024

Asia

MLex Summary: Singaporean banks DBS, OCBC and UOB have withdrawn their application for antitrust clearance to jointly provide operator services for a voluntary retirement savings scheme. The Competition and Co... (more story)

Growing dominance of Coupang, Naver raises competition concerns: KFTC report

December 26, 2024 | Wooyoung Lee

Asia

The South Korean e-commerce market is increasingly concentrated on the country’s two-largest platforms, Coupang and Naver, with both consumers and sellers showing growing preference for these two online retail... (more story)

Japanese talent agencies' antitrust concerns prompt new guidelines

December 26, 2024 | Hiroki Yajima

Asia

Performing artists in Japan can find themselves at the mercy of unscrupulous talent agencies that often employ anticompetitive tactics, including restricting performers from switching to other managers or beco... (more story)

Artificial Intelligence View More

South Korea unveils strategies to boost AI use in distribution industry

December 26, 2024

Asia

MLex Summary: South Korea announced strategies to help the local distribution industry improve efficiency through the increased adoption of artificial intelligence in key business processes. Under these strate... (more story)

South Korea AI law passes parliament, seen taking effect by early 2026

December 26, 2024 | Choonsik Yoo

Asia

South Korea’s parliament overwhelmingly approved the framework act on artificial intelligence today, making the country the first major player after the EU to enact an overarching law as a strategy to address ... (more story)

Japanese government panel calls for new legal framework to regulate AI

December 26, 2024

Asia

MLex Summary: A Japanese panel of experts has called for a new legal framework to regulate artificial intelligence, citing rising risks associated with the technology. In its interim report released today, the... (more story)

Mergers and Acquisitions View More

Brazil’s CADE approves Amil-Dasa joint venture after three-month review

December 26, 2024 | Henrique Santiago

Latin America

The Brazilian competition authority’s investigative arm has approved a joint venture between healthcare companies Amil and Dasa, which will form a new company called Ímpar Serviços Hospitalares, to be equally ... (more story)

Brazil CADE following in footsteps of US, EU on merger theories of harm

December 26, 2024 | Flavia Fortes

Latin America

The Brazilian competition authority this year has advanced merger investigations based on less common theories of harm, much like its antitrust authority counterparts in the US and Europe. Probes into Big Tech... (more story)

Nippon Steel postpones closing date for US Steel acquisition until March 2025

December 26, 2024

North America

MLex Summary: Nippon Steel announced today that it has postponed its target date to finalize the acquisition of US Steel from December this year to March 2025, due to ongoing regulatory reviews. Following a re... (more story)

Data Privacy and Security View More

California social media suit to see more Section 230 arguments, discovery fights in 2025

December 26, 2024 | Xu Yuan

North America

The sprawling California litigation against some of the biggest social media companies over their alleged role in the deterioration of young people’s mental health will in the upcoming year continue to be domi... (more story)

China's National Data Administration unveils organizational structure

December 26, 2024 | MLex Staff

Asia

China's National Data Administration has recently revealed its organizational structure and expert advisory committee, signaling its readiness to play a pivotal role in advancing data development, utilization and governance.

Bermuda's new data-protection law offers no quick-fix for data transfers to US

December 26, 2024 | James Panichi

Europe

As Bermuda prepares itself for the implementation of its new data-protection law on Jan. 1, 2025, the British Atlantic territory’s top privacy official says his office will continue to grapple with helping loc... (more story)

Intellectual Property View More

Avanci's SEP pricing model inflates cellular-tech value in cars: Chinese industry report

December 26, 2024 | MLex Staff

Asia

Avanci’s vehicle-level pricing model for standard essential patents overlooks the actual value contribution of different technologies and significantly overvalues the role of cellular communications technology... (more story)

Medical practice exception in Japan patent law to be decided by IP grand panel

December 25, 2024

Asia

MLex Summary: Japan's Intellectual Property High Court announced on Dec. 25 the court's grand panel will be deciding a patent-infringement case which centers on whether a medical procedure involving a patented... (more story)

IKEA granted interim relief in trademark suit in India

December 24, 2024 | Freny Patel

Asia

IKEA, the Swedish multinational retail giant, has won its trademark battle against the Indian company IKEY Home Studio. The Delhi High Court has granted IKEA interim relief, requiring IKEY to stop using names ... (more story)

Financial Crime View More

Bank of America hit with US cease-and-desist order for Bank Secrecy Act deficiencies

December 23, 2024

North America

MLex summary: The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a cease-and-desist order against Bank of America, the second largest US bank by assets, for deficiencies related to its Bank of Secrecy Act... (more story)

US appeals court grants stay allowing Corporate Transparency Act enforcement

December 23, 2024

North America

MLex Summary: The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has granted a government request to stay a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act, mandating corpor... (more story)

Botched Unaoil probe cost UK prosecutor GBP16 million, figures reveal

December 23, 2024

Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, Oceania

MLex Summary: A botched investigation into Monaco-based oil consultancy Unaoil cost the UK's Serious Fraud Office more than 16 million pounds, new figures show. A Freedom of Information request by the Financia... (more story)

Financial Services View More

US banking groups sue Fed over `lack of transparency' in stress testing

December 24, 2024

North America

MLex Summary: US banking groups representing large banks such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America sued the Federal Reserve over what they called the "lack of transparency" in the agency's stress-testing proc... (more story)

US states’ allegations of coal cartel by Wall Street money managers face steep hill

December 24, 2024 | Clayton Vickers and Chris May

North America

A coalition of 11 state attorneys general has a steep hill to climb to succeed in their case alleging that the Big Three investment firms Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street colluded to suppress coal producti... (more story)

US Fed to propose changes in bank stress tests to improve transparency, reduce volatility of capital requirements

December 23, 2024

North America

MLex summary: The US Federal Reserve will soon seek public comment on significant changes aimed at improving the transparency of bank stress tests & reduce volatility of resulting capital requirements. The cen... (more story)

Trade View More

Germany’s KAV not a countervailable subsidy program, US CIT says

December 26, 2024 | Laina S. Miller

Europe, North America

The US Court of International Trade has affirmed the Department of Commerce’s determination that Germany’s Konzessionsabgabenverordung (KAV) Program doesn't qualify as a countervailable subsidy program in anti... (more story)

US trade court affirms Commerce's remand for German fluid end blocks

December 26, 2024

Europe, North America

MLex Summary: The US Court of International Trade has affirmed the Department of Commerce's fourth remand redetermination of an antisubsidy investigation for forged steel fluid end blocks from Germany, which d... (more story)

Soaring e-commerce shipments pressure EU customs revamp, but divisions block progress

December 26, 2024 | Oscar Pandiello

Europe

The EU’s landmark customs reform risks falling behind as e-commerce shipments in 2024 surged past 4 billion — more than five times than the total three years ago. Growing concerns over non-compliant imports, a... (more story)

State Aid View More

Ericsson hit with $3.64 million fine over importation monopoly in New Caledonia

December 25, 2024

Oceania

MLex Summary: Global telecommunications giant Ericsson and its local partner Intelia have been hit by multi-million-dollar fines in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia for having agreed to establish ... (more story)

Germany's aid for operation of floating LNG terminals wins EU approval

December 20, 2024

Europe

MLex Summary: Germany’s plans to grant Deutsche Energy Terminal 4.06 billion euros of state support to operate four floating Liquefied Natural Gas terminals have been approved by the European Commission. The a... (more story)

EU Ombdusman closes probe into former DG Competition official

December 20, 2024

Europe

MLex Summary: The European Ombudsman has closed an inquiry into transparency around the application of a former member of DG Competition to take up a job at a lawfirm. The ombudsman "regrets" the commission's ... (more story)

Energy View More

Qatar warns EU gas supply at risk over due-diligence rules

December 23, 2024 | Oscar Pandiello

Europe, Middle East

QatarEnergy may halt EU gas exports if the bloc’s due-diligence rules result in fines, Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi said. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, effective from 2027... (more story)

Court order for Teva to delist junk asthma-inhaler patents lauded by US FTC

December 20, 2024

North America

MLex Summary: The Federal Trade Commission welcomed an order by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which affirmed a lower district court order against pharmaceutical maker Teva requiring it to del... (more story)

FTC says US court order against Teva to delist Orange Book patents vindicates its enforcement

December 20, 2024 | Khushita Vasant

North America

The Federal Trade Commission said a US court ordering Teva Pharmaceuticals today to delist improperly listed drug patents sets the stage for removal of similar junk listings for other critical medications and ... (more story)

Technology View More

Ericsson's illegal distribution deal in New Caledonia harmed consumers: regulator

December 25, 2024 | James Panichi

Oceania

A 10-year import monopoly on Ericsson’s telecommunications equipment in New Caledonia was of a “significant seriousness” to warrant the multi-million-dollar penalty imposed on the Swedish multinational by the ... (more story)

Meta asks US court to sanction states over noncompliance in discovery

December 24, 2024 | Xu Yuan

North America

Meta Platforms has asked a California federal court to sanction a group of states for failing to produce documents for discovery on time in multidistrict litigation alleging that its social media apps are harm... (more story)

Meta seeks sanctions against states over discovery in social media litigation

December 24, 2024

North America

MLex Summary: Meta Platforms asked a federal court in California to impose sanctions on 14 states that have failed to comply with discovery deadlines imposed by court. Meta is asking for the court to order the... (more story)