FairSquare Bulletin

Your daily dose of competition law news from trusted sources

Apple enters early settlement talks with U.S. DOJ in antitrust case

17 July 2026

Apple is reportedly in the early stages of settlement discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over the government's landmark antitrust lawsuit alleging that the company unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the smartphone market. The talks, reported by Bloomberg News, come as the case continues through the U.S. federal courts and could potentially avoid a lengthy trial if an agreement is reached. While no settlement terms have been finalised, the discussions signal a possible shift towards resolving one of the most significant antitrust actions against a major technology company.

Read more on The Economic Times.

CCI dismisses separate antitrust complaints against Reliance Jio and DIAL

16 July 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed separate complaints against Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), finding no prima facie evidence of abuse of dominant position or anti-competitive conduct. In the case against Jio, the Commission rejected allegations of cartelisation and abuse involving the telecom operator and thousands of other entities, while the complaint against DIAL was also closed for lack of sufficient evidence to warrant a detailed investigation. The decisions reaffirm the CCI’s requirement that complaints must disclose a prima facie case before a formal investigation is initiated.

Read more on The Economic Times.

Google urges EU’s top court to uphold ruling overturning €1.49 billion AdSense antitrust fine

15 July 2026

Google has urged the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to dismiss the European Commission’s appeal against a 2024 General Court ruling that annulled a €1.49 billion antitrust fine imposed over its AdSense advertising practices. The Commission argues that Google abused its dominant position by including restrictive clauses in publisher contracts that limited rivals’ ability to place search advertisements between 2006 and 2016. Google contended that the Commission’s appeal is legally flawed and that the lower court correctly found errors in the Commission’s assessment. A non-binding opinion from the Court’s Advocate General is expected in November 2026, with the final judgment to follow.

Read more on Reuters and The Economic Times.

California-led U.S. states sue to block Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros

13 July 2026

California and 11 other states sued to block Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging the deal would create a media behemoth with the power to raise prices in film and television. They also filed a preliminary injunction in the Oakland federal court to immediately block the merger while they pursue the antitrust lawsuit. States, including New York, Arizona and Minnesota, argued the deal would harm theatres and television distributors, raising prices for consumers and making wages less competitive for workers.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI imposes penalty on HP India and its resellers for indulging in anti-competitive practices

13 July 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty on HP India and certain of its resellers for indulging in anti-competitive practices in the supply of personal system products. The order, issued under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, has imposed a penalty of 126.87 crores on HP India and a combined penalty of 1.22 crores on its five resellers, for indulging in cartelisation in the sale and supply of personal system products. The CCI found HP India dictated bid prices to its resellers and selectively withheld authorisation documents to control which of them could compete for government contracts.

Nigeria to investigate tech firms over anti-competitive practices

7 July 2026

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition ‌and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Nigeria’s competition regulator, to investigate major technology companies over alleged anti-competitive practices and unauthorised use of news content. The FCCPC said the inquiry would examine complaints by Nigerian media groups against companies including Meta, Alphabet, X, and generative AI platforms operating in the country. The allegations include those of market dominance, anti-competitive conduct, the unauthorised extraction or commercial use of copyrighted news and broadcast consent, and the use of journalistic material to train generative AI models.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI approves merger of 51 Malabar Group’s companies with and into Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd

7 July 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of 51 Malabar Group’s companies (transferor) with and into Malabar Gold and Diamonds Limited (transferee). The transferor company is the flagship company of the Malabar Group engaged in the business of gold, gold ornaments, diamonds, silver, and other jewellery ornaments. It also acts as dealers, agents, consignors, and consignees of all kinds of lifestyle products made from jewellery and other allied items.

Read from PIB.

CCI approves acquisition of shareholding in Sorting Hat Technologies and its merger into upGrad Education Private Ltd

7 July 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain shareholding in Sorting Hat Technologies Private Ltd (Target) and its merger with and into upGrad Education Private Ltd (Acquirer). The acquirer is a private limited company incorporated in India with direct and indirect presence across the formal and non-formal education sectors, while the target operates solely in the non-formal education sector.

Read more on PIB.

Adani Group to retain control of Vizhinjam port: APSEZ CEO

4 July 2026

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) CEO Ashwani Gupta said that Adani Ports will continue to control the Vizhinjam port after the share transfer involving MSC Group is completed. Adani Group will retain the majority stake, he added. MSC Group’s subsidiary, Terminal Investment (TiL), has entered into a definitive agreement with APSEZ to acquire a 49% stake in Adani Vizhinjam Ports Private Ltd (AVPPL) for Rs 13,000 crore. The transaction will be completed after obtaining approvals from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), state government and the Union government.

EU’s top court upholds €4.1 billion antitrust fine against Google

2 July 2026

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed Google’s appeal against a €4.1 billion antitrust fine imposed by the European Commission for abusing the dominant position of its Android operating system. The Court upheld the Commission’s finding that Google used pre-installation agreements with smartphone manufacturers to favour its own search engine and apps, thereby restricting competition. The ruling, which is final and not subject to further appeal, marks the conclusion of one of the European Union’s most significant antitrust cases against Big Tech and reinforces the Commission’s long-standing enforcement of EU competition law.

Swedish court orders Google to pay $1.5 billion to Klarna in antitrust damages

1 July 2026

A Swedish court ordered Alphabet’s Google to pay about $1.5 billion (14.3 billion Swedish crowns) in damages to PriceRunner, the price comparison business owned by payments platform Klarna, for favouring its own shopping services in search results. It is the largest award by a Swedish court in a competition case, though well below the 78 billion crowns PriceRunner had sought. PriceRunner sued Google in 2022, alleging it manipulated search results.

Read more on Reuters.

UK housebuilders face class action suit over alleged collusion to inflate prices

30 June 2026

Barratt Redrow, Taylor Wimpey and Britain’s other biggest housebuilders are to face a class action lawsuit over claims worth 4.5 billion pounds, which claim that they colluded over higher prices for homebuyers. The lawsuit is being led by Mark McLaren, a former legal affairs manager at the consumer group, on behalf of more than 700,000 consumers who bought a new-build between 2015 and 2016. The lawsuit comes after a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation. Court documents allege the housebuilders shared sensitive information on prices, buyer incentives and sales activity, weakening competition and driving up new-build prices.

CCI approves acquisition of Rajpura thermal plant by Torrent Power for Rs 3,632 crore

29 June 2026

Torrent Power Limited has completed the acquisition of the 1,400 MW Rajpura Thermal Power Plant from L&T Power Development Limited for Rs 3,632 crore. The acquisition became effective on 25 June 2026 after receiving approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Under the deal, Torrent Power acquired 100% equity shares and convertible instruments of Nabha Power Limited (NPL), which owns and operates the Rajpura Plant.

Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO before the DOJ reached an antitrust settlement

25 June 2026

President Donald Trump spoke with Live Nation President and CEO Michael Rapino shortly before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a proposed settlement in its antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Court filings revealed that the discussions included the status of the government’s lawsuit, while the White House Counsel’s Office also participated in settlement negotiations. Although the DOJ settlement proposed structural and behavioural remedies, including venue divestitures and caps on ticketing fees, several state attorneys general rejected the agreement and continued litigation. A jury subsequently found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had unlawfully maintained monopoly power in the live entertainment industry, with the proposed settlement now awaiting judicial approval.

CCI approves acquisition of 21% voting interest in Astemo Ltd. by Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

23 June 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of a 21% voting interest in Astemo Ltd. by Honda Motor Co. Ltd. from Hitachi Ltd. The proposed transaction will increase Honda’s stake in Astemo, a Japanese automotive components manufacturer jointly controlled by Honda, Hitachi, and JICC-01 Investment Business Limited Partnership. In India, both Honda and Astemo are engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobiles, two-wheelers, automotive components, and related research and development activities.

CCI approves acquisition of 29.06% shareholding in PUMA SE by Ancat Holding GmbH

10 June 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain shareholding in PUMA SE by Ancat Holding GmbHm. The proposed combination involves the acquisition by Ancat of 29.06% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the PUMA SE by way of a secondary share purchase. Ancat is the acquisition vehicle of ANTA, which is engaged in the research and development, design, and manufacturing of sports products. Meanwhile, PUMA is a global sportswear and athletic footwear company.

Read more on PIB.

CCI targets Mrs India Inc for abuse of dominant position

3 June 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is investigating Mrs India Inc, an organiser of a beauty pageant for married women that sends winners to global events, accusing it of abusing its position and setting burdensome contract terms for participants. The investigation focuses on the market for “services of beauty pageants for married women in India”. The CCI’s analysis of agreements submitted by contestant showed they contained onerous terms which included a five-year bar on many contestants and winners from participating in any other beauty pageant, whether as judges or mentors.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI approves the merger of Indovida India with and into EPL Limited

26 May 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of Indovida India Private Limited with and into EPL Limited by way of absorption. Indovida India is a newly incorporated Indian entity and wholly owned subsidiary of Indorama Netherlands BV. IVL Group is a global conglomerate with business interests in fibres, packaging, recycling and speciality chemicals.

Read more on PIB.

EU plans to fine Google high triple-digit million-euro sum

25 May 2026

The European Union is planning to fine Alphabet’s Google a high triple-digit million-euro amount as part of an antitrust investigation. The decision is nearing completion and is expected to award the largest penalty the EU has imposed for a breach of its Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb the power of big tech companies. The investigation, which was launched in March 2025, relates to concerns that Google favours its own services in search results and seeks to ensure the world’s most popular internet search engine complies with local regulations.

Read more on Reuters.

Takeda engaged in antitrust scheme to delay generic constipation drug, a US jury finds

19 May 2026

A U.S. jury in Boston found Takeda Pharmaceutical liable for causing about $885 million in damages by delaying a generic version of its constipation drug Amitiza through an anticompetitive scheme. The jurors, following a five-week trial, sided with wholesalers, insurers, health funds, and retailers, including CVS and Walgreens, who said the delay forced them to overpay for the drug.

Read more on Reuters.

Delhi High Court tells Apple to cooperate in antitrust case

18 May 2026

Delhi High Court told Apple to cooperate with investigators in the antitrust case related to the iPhone apps market, not agreeing with the U.S. company’s request to put the case on hold while it challenges the provision governing penalties in the Competition Act, 2002. It also asked the Competition Commission of India (CCI) not to pass a final order in the matter. Apple wanted the case to be put on hold and had accused the CCI of exceeding its powers by pushing the company to submit its financials.

Read more on Reuters.

Arm Holdings to face US antitrust probe over chip tech

16 May 2026

Arm Holdings faces an antitrust probe by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the British chip designer’s licensing of its semiconductor technology, part of global scrutiny of the business. The FTC is investigating whether Arm is trying to illegally monopolise parts of the semiconductor market, the report said. It is looking to assess whether Arm will reject or downgrade the licensing agreements for its chip blueprints used to design central processing units.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI approves acquisition by CPPIB India Pvt Holdings Inc. of certain shareholding in Ctrl S Datacenters Ltd.

12 May 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition by CPPIB India Private Holdings Inc. of certain shareholding in Ctrl S Datacenters Limited. The acquirer is a Canadian professional investment management organisation that manages the Canada Pension Plan Fund. Meanwhile, Ctrl S is engaged in the provision of data centre and colocation services and managed services like cloud optimisation services, GPU private cloud, remote IT infrastructure services, backup services, etc. in India.

Read more on PIB.

Ace Hardware sued in US court over alleged retail price coordination

9 May 2026

Retail giant Ace Hardware has been accused in a lawsuit in U.S. federal court in Chicago of running an illegal nationwide scheme with thousands of its affiliated member stores to fix prices, driving up costs for consumers. The lawsuit alleges Ace and its members have for years violated U.S. antitrust law by coordinating on retail prices and limiting where stores can operate. It also said shared pricing moved in lockstep with nearby stores, eliminating competition.

Read more on Reuters.

UpGrad, Unacademy file application with CCI for merger

8 May 2026

Higher learning firm UpGrad and test-prep startup Unacademy have sought antitrust approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for their proposed merger. Under the deal, UpGrad will acquire Unacademy in an all-stock transaction valuing the SoftBan and Peak XV Partners-backed startup at Rs 2,055 crore (around $218 million), which is a 90% markdown from its peak valuation of $3.4 billion in 2021. As per the transaction summary published by the CCI, “the proposed combination will enable the acquirer (UpGrad) to enter the online test preparation segment”.

Read more on The Economic Times.

CCI orders probe into liquor giant Pernod Ricard’s dealings with retailers

8 May 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered an investigation into French liquor group Pernod Ricard and seven other entities over alleged exclusive deals with retailers to promote its brands at the expense of rivals. The CCI has been reviewing allegations since 2024 that Pernord, whose brands include Chivas Regal and Absolut vodka, colluded with retailers in New Delhi to boost its market share. The complaint alleges that Pernod provided $24 million in corporate guarantees to its bankers in 2021 to help city retailers secure loans, with retailers in turn ensuring 35% of the stock in their shops comprised Pernod brands.

PayPal, Mastercard, Visa face UK competition probe over digital wallet deals

6 May 2026

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), in a rare move, investigates PayPal, Mastercard, and Visa for alleged anti-competitive conduct linked to the funding and usage of PayPal’s digital wallet. The regulator said that it had reached no conclusions about whether UK competition law had been broken. The investigation follows last year’s report by the FCA and Payment Systems Regulator on digital wallets, which raised competition concerns that were shared with the Competition and Markets Authority, Britain’s antitrust regulator, to avoid duplication.

Read more on Reuters.

Google offers changes to spam policy to avert EU antitrust fine

6 May 2026

Alphabet’s Google has offered to change its spam policy criticised by publishers, in a move that may help it stave off an EU antitrust fine. The U.S. tech giant found itself in EU regulators’ crosshairs after publishers complained about its site reputation abuse policy. It targets the practice of publishing third-party pages on a site in an attempt to abuse search rankings by taking advantage of the host site’s ranking signals, commonly referred to as parasite SEO. This prompted the European Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, to open an investigation in November 2025 under the Digital Markets Act.

Read more on Reuters.

NCLAT sets aside CCI’s 301 crore penalty on Grasim Industries, directs fresh hearing

5 May 2026

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) set aside a Rs 301.6-crore penalty imposed on the Grasim Industries by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), directing the fair trade regulator to hear the Aditya Birla Group firm again over its alleged dominance in the viscose staple fibre (VSF) market. The tribunal observed that the CCI did not provide a chance to Grasim Industries to present its arguments, after it differed from the findings of the DG, its probe Unit.

Read more on The Economic Times.

CCI rejects AGI Greenpac plea on INSCO channel nod for HNG deal

2 May 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), for the second time, rejected a plea filed by AGI Greenpac Ltd challenging the green channel approval granted to the Independent Sugar Corporation Ltd (INSCO) for the acquisition of Hindusthan National Glass & Industries. The order noted that AGI Greenpac had filed an application seeking revocation of the deemed approval granted to INSCO under the green channel route. Later, it contended that previously undisclosed equity participants had been brought into the deal structure and that the controlling stake had effectively been transferred to such parties.

Read more on The Economic Times.

Apple accuses CCI of overstepping judicial authority as spat intensifies

30 April 2026

Apple has accused the Competition Commission of India (CCI) of exceeding its powers by pushing the U.S. tech company to submit its financials in an antitrust case related to the iPhone apps market, while Apple challenges the law governing penalties. The CCI has sought Apple’s financial information needed to calculate penalties after an investigation found it abused its dominant position. Apple has resisted, arguing it has challenged India’s antitrust penalty calculation law in the Delhi High Court. After the CCI gave Apple an ultimatum in April 2026 to submit its financials and scheduled a final hearing on 21 May, the company has urged the High Court to urgently intervene to put the matter on hold.

Read more on Reuters.

EU to seek feedback on merger rules overhaul

29 April 2026

European Union (EU) regulators seek feedback from interested parties on the first proposal to overhaul merger rules in more than two decades, which has raised expectations among companies for looser rules. The European Commission’s revamp follows calls by some countries and some companies for regulators to take a more flexible line towards acquisitions. One of the aims of the revised rules is to make it easier for companies in Europe to build scale through cross-border acquisitions instead of through national deals.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI approves acquisition by MAIF 4 Investments India 2 Pte. Ltd. of Maple IM, Maple PM and Maple Trust

28 April 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition by MAIF 4 Investments India 2 Pte. Ltd. of 42.5% of the equity share capital of Maple IM, 40.0% of the equity share capital of Maple PM and up to 37.5% of the units of Maple Trust. MAIF4 India 2 is a newly incorporated investment vehicle wholly owned by the Macquarie Asia-Pacific Infrastructure Fund 4, whose ultimate controlling person is Macquarie Group Limited. Maple IM is the investment manager, while Maple PM is the project manager of Maple Trust. Maple Trust is a private trust settled under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, and was registered as an infrastructure investment trust under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.

Read more on PIB.

Microsoft faces UK antitrust lawsuit over Teams ‘bundling’

27 April 2026

Salesforce and its workspace messaging app Slack are suing Microsoft at London’s High Court over alleged anticompetitive practices relating to its Teams app. Slack Technologies LLC and related companies filed the lawsuit, which a Slack spokesperson said was “because Microsoft’s practices harmed competition, using tying and bundling of Teams to limit customer choice”. Earlier in 2020, Slack had complained to the European Commission, accusing Microsoft of bundling Teams with its Office product to gain an unfair advantage over rivals. The tech giant has disputed the allegations made in that case.

Read more on Reuters.

SAIL wins court block on steel investigation by CCI

24 April 2026

The Madras High Court has put an antitrust investigation into the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) on hold after the company challenged the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for procedural lapses, according to court records and the company’s legal filings. In the most high-profile antitrust case involving India’s steel sector, an investigation by the CCI found 28 firms colluded on steel prices, including Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and state-run SAIL and RINL.

Read more on Reuters.

U.S. FTC reaches preliminary settlement with Anesthesia Partners over Texas Market Competition

23 April 2026

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced an agreement in principle with U.S. Anesthesia Partners Inc. (USAP) to resolve ongoing litigation arising from alleged anticompetitive practices in Texas. The case, originally filed in 2023, accused the company of violating federal antitrust laws through a long-running effort to dominate the state’s anaesthesia services market. The FTC alleged that USAP engaged in a decade-long strategy to acquire nearly every large anaesthesia practice in Texas. The complaint further claimed that USAP’s actions resulted in significantly higher costs for patients.

Read more on CPI.

India flips AB InBev from witness to target in CCI probe

21 April 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has made Anheuser-Busch InBev the target of a cartel investigation after the world’s leading brewer cooperated for four years as a witness, leading to a court battle in which AB InBev has obtained a temporary injunction. Since 2022, the CCI has been investigating 42 alcohol retailers in Telangana for allegedly forming a cartel to exclude AB InBev’s rivals, leading to a surge in market share for the Belgium-based maker of beers, including Budweiser and Corona.

Read more on Reuters.

U.S. Department of Justice criminally investigating beef companies

20 April 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust division is investigating the conduct of large meatpackers, as per the Wall Street Journal. In 2025, President Donald Trump accused meatpacking companies of driving up U.S. beef prices through manipulation and collusion and ordered the DOJ to investigate. The DOJ disclosed an investigation of beef companies, but officials have not revealed that it is a criminal probe.

Read more on Reuters.

Apple withholds data in India antitrust case; CCI sets final hearing

20 April 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has said in order that Apple has not submitted the data sought by them after an investigation found the company to have abused its dominant position in the iPhone apps market, prompting CCI to fast-track a decision on penalties to a final hearing next month. It said that Apple has not submitted details of its financials and its views on the investigation since October 2024, and instead cited a separate case pending in the Delhi High Court, where the company has challenged the Competition Act, 2002.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI gives clean chit to Adani Enterprises, Adani Green in solar tender probe

16 April 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) closed the case against AdEnterprises Ltd and Adani Green Energy Limited under Section 26(2) of the Competition Act, 2002, related to a Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) tender, finding no prima facie evidence of anti-competitive conduct or abuse of dominance. The case pertained to allegations that the SECI tender for setting up solar manufacturing-linked power projects was designed to favour certain large players, including Adani Group entities, and that subsequent developments in the allocation of capacities distorted competition. However, CCI, in its analysis, held that such allegations were not substantiated with evidence.

Read more on The Economic Times.

EU Commission raids chocolate confectionery company on suspected antitrust breach

13 April 2026

The European Commission said that it has raided the premises of an unnamed chocolate confectionery company on suspicion of violating antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and anti-competitive practices. The inspections were carried out on the company’s facilities in two European Union countries, the commission said. The statement said that the Commission is investigating possible market segmentation in the form of restrictions on the trade of goods between the Member States in the Single Market and obstacles to multi-country purchases.

Read more on Reuters.

U.S. jury rules Live Nation a monopoly in a victory for states

15 April 2026

A U.S. federal jury found that Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, has operated as a monopoly in violation of federal and antitrust laws in the live-events marketplace. The jury determined that Ticketmaster had overcharged consumers by $1.72 million for each ticket. The judge overseeing the case, Arun Subramanian, will determine remedies in a separate proceeding. That could include significant divestments by Live Nation, or a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Live Nation will also face monetary damages as a result of the jury’s verdict in the case, which was brought by 34 states.

Intel gets interim relief as NCLAT stays 27.38 crore penalty

16 April 2026

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) directed Intel Corp. to disclose the withdrawal of its India-specific warranty policy for boxed microprocessors to consumers, while staying the recovery of the 27.38 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The Delhi bench of the Tribunal, hearing Intel’s appeal against the CCI’s February 2026 order, asked the company to submit a plan outlining how it will communicate the change. It granted interim relief by staying the recovery of the penalty and any coercive action until the next hearing, noting that Intel has already deposited 25% of the amount. The matter will be heard next on 23 April.

U.S. Department of Justice probes into NFL over anticompetitive practices

9 April 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into whether the National Football League (NFL) has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour that harms consumers, according to sources. Major broadcast station owners, U.S. regulators, and senators have raised concerns in the past over the difficulties consumers face in watching sports games and the growing trend of selling broadcast rights to streamers. The NFL, however, said that more than 87% of its games are aired on free broadcast TV and that all games that are aired on free broadcast television are in markets of participating teams.

Read more on Reuters.

California lawmakers clash over controversial antitrust bill

13 April 2026

The Assembly Bill 1776, proposed to expand California’s antitrust laws, is drawing opposition from industry groups who argue that the bill is an overreach and could lead to unfair claims of anticompetitive behaviour against companies that aren’t close to controlling a market. The legislation, if passed, would significantly widen the scope of the state’s Cartwright Act. Traditionally, the law has focused on anticompetitive behaviour involving multiple companies. Under the proposed changes, however, individual firms could also face liability. The bill would further move away from long-standing federal legal standards that courts have relied on for decades when evaluating antitrust claims.

Read more on Bloomberg and CPI.

CCI approves acquisition of Felur Hotels Limited by Coastal Cedar Investments BV

8 April 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain equity shares of Fleur Hotels Limited by Coastal Cedar Investments BV and internal restructuring of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited (LTH) group through amalgamation and demerger. The proposed reorganisation is set to create two clearly differentiated and complementary platforms: Firstly, Lemon Tree Hotels Limited, as a pure-play, asset-light hotel management and brand platform; and secondly, Fleure Hotels Limited, a current subsidiary of Lemon Tree, as a large-scale growth-oriented hotel ownership platform with development capabilities and an attractive pipeline.

Read more on The Economic Times.

OpenAI urges California, Delaware to investigate Musk’s ‘anti-competitive behaviour’

7 April 2026

OpenAI urged the California and Delaware attorneys general to consider investigating Elon Musk and his associates’ “improper and anti-competitive behaviour”, ahead of a trial between the two sides set to begin in April. Musk sued Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and others in 2024, accusing them of violating OpenAI in 2015, but left in 2018 and launched rival xAI with its competitor chatbot Grok. In a court filing in August 2025, OpenAI had said Musk tried to enlist rival Mark Zuckerberg for the bid that his consortium made for OpenAI early last year, but the CEO of Meta Platforms did not come on board.

Read more on Reuters.

Supreme Court declines to stay Adani resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates

6 April 2026

The Supreme Court declined to stay the implementation of Adani Enterprises’ resolution plan for debt-ridden Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the insolvency proceedings are already listed for final hearing before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on April 10, and therefore found no reason to intervene at this stage. The court further directed that any major policy decision by the monitoring committee in the interim will be taken only after seeking leave of the NCLAT, given the nature and implications of the case. Vedanta Group had approached the court seeking a stay on the Rs 14,500-crore resolution plan, contending that the insolvency proceedings lacked transparency and failed to maximise value for creditors.

Read more on The Economic Times.

CCI orders probe into Venkateshwara Hatcheries on alleged anti-competitive practices

1 April 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered an investigation into Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group and its affiliated entities on a complaint filed by Maneka Gandhi’s NGO People for Animals, alleging anti-competitive practices in India’s poultry sector. The CCI has asked the Director General to examine whether the group’s business arrangements with poultry farmers impose restrictions that limit competition in the market. The complaint alleged that the group, through its vertically integrated operations and standard form agreements with poultry breeders, imposed restrictions that limit competition.

Meta must face antitrust suit from shuttered app Phhhoto, US district judge rules

31 March 2026

A US federal district judge ruled that Meta Platforms must face an antitrust lawsuit from photo-sharing app Phhhoto that claims that the company used its monopoly power to put it out of business. As per the judge, Phhhoto plausibly alleged that Meta suppressed the visibility of the app’s animated photographs on Facebook and Instagram. Phhhoto also alleges that Meta launched the rival app Boomerang in 2015 on the same day that Phhhoto was planning to announce its availability on Android devices, which caused it to lose users, investor funding, and ultimately its business.

Read more on Reuters.

Report alleges anti-competitive practices by MakeMyTrip despite CCI order

31 March 2026

Morpheus Research, an activist short-seller, released a report accusing travel booking platform MakeMyTrip of indulging in anti-competitive practices despite a significant penalty order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2022, directing the company to stop such practices. According to the report, Morpheus Research, which disclosed a short position in the company, alleged that MakeMyTrip continues to enforce price parity arrangements with hotel partners. It also alleged accounting irregularities and flagged an exposure to a receivable from the insolvent airline GoAir, stating that only part of the amount has been provisioned by MakeMyTrip.

Read more on The Economic Times.

CCI clears merger of Udemy with Coursera’s arm

25 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of Chess Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coursera Inc., with and into Udemy Inc. US-based Coursera is a global education technology company that operates a leading online learning platform. Its operations in India are primarily through cross-border digital delivery. After the completion of the merger, Udemy will survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of Coursera. Upon closing, existing Coursera stockholders are expected to own approximately 59%, while Udemy stockholders are expected to own 41% of the combined company, on a fully diluted basis.

Read more on PIB and The Economic Times.

Svatantra Microfin acquires Chaitanya India Fin; becomes 2nd largest NBFC-MFI

25 March 2026

Svatantra Microfin Pvt Ltd on Monday announced that it has completed its merger with Chaitanya India Fin Credit Pvt Ltd (CIFCPL) and Svatantra Holding Pvt Ltd, following approval by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The amalgamation solidifies Svantantra’s position as the second-largest NBFC-MFI in India. The transaction marks the end of a mult-stage integration process that began with Svatantra’s acquisition of CIFCPL from the Navi Group in November 2023. With this amalgamation, it said, the company now manages a consolidated Assets Under Management (AUM) of about Rs 22,000 crore.

Read more on The Economic Times.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise completes acquisition of AHLL stake

24 March 2026

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (AHEL) has completed the acquisition of stake in Apollo Health and Lifestyle (AHLL). In a regulatory filing, the company said, its board of directors had approved the acquisition of more than 4.1 crore equity shares aggregating to a 30.6% equity stake held jointly by the International Finance Corporation, Washington (IFC) and IFC EAF Apollo Investment Company in its subsidiary, AHLL. In view of the completion of the transaction, the effective shareholding of the company in AHLL has increased to 99.4%

Nvidia faces scrutiny over $20 billion Groq licensing deal

22 March 2026

Nvidia is facing renewed attention from U.S. lawmakers after a $20 billion licensing agreement with AI startup Groq raised concerns about whether the deal’s structure may have allowed the company to expand its reach without undergoing antitrust review. They said that the deal could reduce competition and further strengthen Nvidia’s position in AI computing, where its chips are already widely used to train large language models. The agreement gives Nvidia a non-exclusive license to Groq’s technology and also brings several key personnel into Nvidia, while Groq will continue to operate independently. The structure of the structure has drawn notice because it was not submitted for antitrust review.

Read more on CPI.

Acquihires, often used by Big Tech, are a ‘red flag’: DOJ antitrust head

19 March 2026

The antitrust head of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) calls companies’ efforts to bypass U.S. antitrust scrutiny through tactics such as “acquihires”- a strategy some Big Tech firms use to snap up talent at AI startups a “red flag”. Acquihires, where the world’s biggest technology firms pay large sums in deals with promising startups to take their technology and talent, but stop short of formally acquiring the target, are increasingly being viewed as an attempt to evade the formal merger review process. A recent example of this was Nvidia, which agreed to license chip technology from startup Groq and hire its CEO, without buying the company.

Read more on Reuters.

Australia’s antitrust regulator probes major fuel suppliers over anti-competitive conduct

19 March 2026

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said that it has launched an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive conduct by major fuel suppliers, including Ampol, BP’s Australian unit, Mobil Oil Australia and Viva Energy’s unit. The regulator said it received reports regarding diesel availability to independent wholesalers and distributors serving regional and rural areas, and would assess the alleged conduct.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI approves additional shareholding acquisition in Baby Memorial Hospital by Bentley Asia and BMH’s subsequent acquisition of certain shareholding in Unimed

18 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain additional shareholding in Baby Memorial Hospital Limited (BMH) by Bentley Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd. The CCI has also approved the acquisition by BMH of certain shareholding in Unimed Health Care Private Limited by way of a secondary purchase. Bentley is a private company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Singapore. BMH is a multi-speciality healthcare network operating across various cities in India, while Unimed operates two multispecialty hospitals in Hyderabad.

Read more on PIB.

CCI probes global fragrance makers over deals not to poach workers

17 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is investigating global fragrance makers Givaudan, Firmenich, and International Flavors & Fragrances over accusations of striking anti-poaching deals that can harm workers. According to lawyers, the case is India’s first touching on labour practices, though authorities have often investigated price-fixing. Regulators say deals with rivals not to hire away workers restrict job opportunities and wages. The investigation was launched in August 2025 after one company approached it under a “leniency programme” that offers confidentiality and sets lower penalties in return for proof of wrongdoing. The companies can be fined up to three times their profit, or 10% of the Indian entity’s global turnover, whichever is higher, for each year of wrongdoing.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI prepares against potential anti-competitive conduct in the AI sector

16 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is preparing to intensify oversight of the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) industry, with officials warning that emerging technologies could create new avenues for anti-competitive behaviour. Speaking at the 11th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi, the CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur said the regulator is examining developments in the AI ecosystem and is ready to address practices such as algorithmic collusion. She also outlined a range of industries currently under CCI’s watch, including sports, civil aviation, and the liquor industry.

Read more on CPI.

States press ahead with Live Nation trial after federal settlement

16 March 2026

A coalition of more than 20 states and Washington, D.C., will continue to pursue the antitrust case against Live Nation after the U.S. government reached a settlement with the company earlier this week. The case will move forward before the same jury that had already begun hearing testimony. Jay Marcano, the chief executive of Live Nation competitor AEG, is expected to continue the testimony, which began last week. The lawsuit originally brought together nearly 40 states when the U.S. government accused Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster in 2024 of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the live-events marketplace.

Read more on CPI.

Selecta’s majority bondholders ask New York judge to dismiss antitrust lawsuit over creditor pact

15 March 2026

A group of bondholders to Selecta Group BV are urging the federal court in the Southern District of New York to throw out a lawsuit accusing them of violating the U.S. antitrust laws through an agreement among creditors to coordinate negotiations with the Swiss vending machine operator that favoured them among others. The motion is a response to the first-ever lawsuit challenging the legality of cooperation agreements used by creditors during corporate restructurings. It argued that the arrangement among a majority of bondholders was lawful and that it did not amount to antitrust violations or price-fixing.

Read more on Bloomberg and CPI.

Parliament tells CCI to intensify scrutiny of sectors displaying duopolistic market structures

15 March 2026

A Parliamentary panel has said that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) should intensify proactive monitoring of duopolistic or high-concentration sectors through regular market studies, competition risk assessments, and targeted interventions, as they are showing disproportionate market power. The CCI has the mandate to curb anti-competitive practices and promote fair competition across sectors. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has urged the Corporate Affairs Ministry to expedite the introduction of the Digital Competition Bill, with a time-bound roadmap to ensure effective regulation of large digital platforms.

Read more on The Economic Times.

BookMyShow a dominant player but did not abuse its dominant position: CCI

12 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) held that Big Tree Entertainment, which operates the online movie ticketing platform BookMyShow, is a dominant player in the online movie ticket booking market but has not abused its dominant position. The ruling followed a complaint filed by Vijay Gopal, who runs an online ticket booking platform called Showtyme. He alleged that BookMyShow entered into exclusive agreements with cinemas and multiplex chains, preventing rival ticketing platforms from accessing the market. He also accused BookMyShow of sharing a part of the convenience fee charged from consumers to cinemas. This, he alleged, discouraged theatres from partnering with competing platforms

CCI approves the proposed acquisition by Cube V of the road asset business of DYIPL, DVIPL, DGIPL and DTEHPL

11 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition by Cube Highways and Infrastructure V Pte. Ltd. (Cube V) of the road asset businesses of Dinesh Chandra Yamuna Infra Pvt. Ltd. (DYIPL), Dinesh Chandra Vaishnodevi Infra Pvt. Ltd (DVIPL) Business, Dinesh Chandra Giriraj Infra Pvt. Ltd (DGIPL) Business and Dineshchandra Trans-Eastern Highways Pvt. Ltd. (DTEHPL) Business. Cube V is registered as a foreign portfolio investor, while the Target Businesses are engaged in the business of operating roads and highways in India.

Read more on PIB.

CCI dismisses complaint against IndiGo, Air India over alleged market dominance

11 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) dismissed a complaint which alleged that InterGlobe Aviation and Air India were abusing their dominant position in the aviation market. The complainant alleged that the carriers were maintaining unconscionable and illegal rates of cancellation charges and imposing arbitrary conditions and prices for the sale of services. According to the complaint, InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, held more than 65 per cent share in the domestic aviation sector, while Air India accounted for around 27 per cent. CCI, however, opined that there was no prima facie case of contravention of Sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act, 2000.

Read more on The Economic Times.

German publishers reject Apple’s revised app tracking rules, urge antitrust fine

10 March 2026

German publishers and advertisers have called for the country’s competition regulator to fine Apple over proposed changes to its app tracking rules, saying they do not go far enough to resolve antitrust issues. The authority had sought feedback from the groups, which include media agencies and the German Association of the Branded Goods Industry, on the changes to its App Tracking Transparency tool. Apple had proposed to introduce neutral consent prompts for both its services and third-party apps and to align the wording, content and visual design of those messages.

Read more on Reuters.

Live Nation close to settling US antitrust suit without Ticketmaster sale

9 March 2026

Live Nation Entertainment is close to settling a federal antitrust lawsuit in a deal that would involve the sale of its Ticketmaster unit. This comes after the U.S. Justice Department and more than 24 states sued to break up Live Nation in May 2024, calling for a sale of Ticketmaster and alleging the companies illegally inflated concert ticket prices and harmed artists. The call for an examination of Live Nation’s acquisition of Ticketmaster in 2010 intensified after the company subjected Taylor Swift fans to buy tickets at high prices and hours-long online queues for her Eras Tour in 2022.

Read more on Reuters.

U.S. Senate Democrats aim bill at breakup of meatpacking companies

5 March 2026

The American meatpacking industry is facing renewed scrutiny from Democrats in the U.S. Senate who are pushing legislation aimed at limiting the market power of large processors and tightening rules in the beef sector. A bill was introduced on 4th March by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York that would require companies to focus on processing only one type of meat and to curb consolidation in the market. This is coming after long-faced bipartisan scrutiny on the meatpacking industry due to high levels of concentration.

Read more on Bloomberg and CPI.

CCI approves Central Bank’s additional stake buy in Generali Central

3 March 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) announced that it has approved the acquisition of additional shareholding in Generali Central Insurance Company and Generali Central Life Insurance Company by the Central Bank of India. The clearance comes months after the bank consolidated its position in the joint ventures with Italy’s Assicurazioni Generali, which operate under the unified ‘Generali Central’ brand. In June 2025, the lender had acquired a 25.18% equity stake in Generali Central Life Insurance and a 24.91% stake in Generali Central Insurance.

Read more on The Economic Times.

Apple board, executives sued over anticompetitive conduct

3 March 2026

A shareholder on behalf of Apple Inc. has alleged that the company’s board and top executives are responsible for billions of dollars in penalties, settlements and other costs stemming from anticompetitive conduct. The retirement fund that brought the case to the court for the Northern District of California also claimed that directors and executives, including CEO Tim Cook, breached their fiduciary duties to Apple by allowing or furthering monopolistic conduct stretching back more than a decade.

UK’s competition regulator investigates anti-competitive conduct among hotel providers

2 March 2026

The UK’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, is investigating the suspected sharing of competitively sensitive information among competing hotel providers via a hotel data services provider. The businesses, which include CoStar, Hilton, IHG and Marriott, are being investigated for possible infringement of Chapter I of the Competition Act, 1998.

Live Nation to appear before US jury over monopoly claims

2 March 2026

The U.S.’s largest concert promoter, Live Nation Entertainment Inc., heads to a jury trial over claims by the U.S. Justice Department and more than 36 states that the company is illegally monopolising the live music industry and should be forced to shed its Ticketmaster unit. Live Nation has denied that it operates an illegal monopoly even as it has endured nearly two decades of antitrust scrutiny. Antitrust enforcers allege that Live Nation operated “mutually reinforcing” monopolies to force venues and artists to use its services. The U.S. government, meanwhile, claims that the company controls 65% of the concert promotion market.

Belgium opens antitrust probe into Google’s online advertising practices

27 February 2026

Belgium’s competition regulator said that it had opened an investigation into the sale of online ads by Google and whether it constituted an abuse of the company’s dominant market position. While the investigation is in a preliminary phase, Google is already being the subject of several European Union antitrust investigations and has been fined billions of euros in Europe for antitrust violations in recent years. Earlier in February, Google said it also risked another antitrust investigation by the European Commission over concerns it may be unfairly driving advertising prices higher.

Microsoft’s Japan chief stresses compliance with antitrust probe into Azure services

26 February 2026

The head of Microsoft Corporation’s Japanese unit said that the company is complying with Japan’s competition authorities as they examine possible anti-competitive practices involving the Azure cloud services. The country’s Fair Trade Commission is probing whether Microsoft restricted customers’ use of non-Azure platforms. This investigation comes as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ratchets up a probe into Microsoft’s licensing and other business practices to see whether the company illegally monopolises the enterprise computing market with its cloud software and AI offerings.

Read more on Bloomberg and CPI.

Vanguard settles antitrust suit for $29.5 million in Texas

26 February 2026

Vanguard Group will pay $29.5 million and bolster its passive investing approach in order to settle a suit by 13 Republican state attorneys general claiming the fund manager and rivals violated antitrust law through their climate activism. The states sued three firms, namely, Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street, in 2024 over actions like their membership in industry trade groups focused on climate change, which the Republicans said served to reduce coal production and boost energy prices. All three remain major fossil-fuel industry shareholders, rejecting calls to boycott coal and oil stocks over climate concerns.

Read on Reuters.

Apple and Amazon took too long to remove anti-competitive clauses, Spanish regulator says

25 February 2026

Spain’s regulator ruled that Apple and Amazon took too long to take out anti-competitive clauses outlining Amazon’s conditions as an Apple distributor that the companies had been told to remove immediately. The CNMC regulator had filed a claim against the two companies for 194 million euros ($228 million) in total in July 2023 over those clauses and ordered their immediate removal from distribution contracts. It said that they unfairly restricted the number of Apple resellers on Amazon’s website in Spain. The regulator had also alleged at the time that the clauses limited the amount of space on Amazon’s Spanish website where Apple competitors’ products could be advertised and prevented Amazon from running marketing campaigns.

Read more on Reuters.

House Democrats open inquiry into ouster of U.S. antitrust chief Gail Slater

25 February 2026

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demanded a briefing from the U.S Justice Department on the removal of Gail Slater, who was forced to resign as head of the antitrust division among tensions with the Trump administration. In a letter to the attorney general, Jamie Raskin sought a briefing on the role of Trump-connected lobbyists in Slater’s removal, after she tried to block a $14 billion merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks. This request for a briefing has the potential to become a much larger investigation should the Democratic Party reclaim the House majority in the upcoming midterm elections.

Eleven US states urge DOJ to thoroughly probe Netflix-Warner Bros. deal

25 February 2026

Attorney Generals of the Republican Party from 11 U.S. states have urged the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough review of Netflix’s bid to acquire studio and streaming assets from Warner Bros., claiming the deal threatens U.S. dominance in movies. They also cited opposition from movie theatre industry groups concerned that the deal would decrease the number of theatrical releases. The pressure is mounting on Netflix after Warner Bros Discovery opened the door to consider Paramount Skydance’s increased bid of $31 per share.

Read more on Reuters.

US antitrust enforcers to revamp guidelines on competitors collaborating

24 February 2026

The US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission will open a public inquiry to inform new guidelines for businesses on the bounds of the law when it comes to collaborating with competitors. The agencies are calling for public input on what types of new practices and technologies they should address in the guidance. The previous guidelines were issued in 2000, and these were withdrawn by the President Joe Biden administration in 2024 after claims that they were outdated.

Read more on Reuters.

WhatsApp agrees to comply with CCI’s data sharing policy by March 16

23 February 2026

WhatsApp told the Supreme Court that it will comply with the directions issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in connection with the case of user content for data sharing with its parent, Meta, under the controversial 2021 privacy policy update. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had earlier directed Meta to implement CCI’s safeguards within three months. The batch of pleas filed by WhatsApp and Meta, along with a separate appeal of the CCI challenging one of the NCLAT findings, arose from the CCI’s order imposing a 213 crore penalty on Meta for WhatsApp’s 2021 “take it or leave it” privacy policy.

U.S. Justice Department sues OhioHealth for anticompetitive healthcare contracts

20 February 2026

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with the Attorney General of Ohio, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today challenging OhioHealth Corporation’s anticompetitive contract restrictions that force Ohio patients to pay higher healthcare prices. The complaint seeks to enjoin OhioHealth, the largest healthcare system in central Ohio, from enforcing its anticompetitive contractual terms and continuing to suppress healthcare competition. It is alleged that the company used its market power to impose contractual restrictions that impede or prevent insurers from offering innovative, money-saving health-insurance plans or plan features.

UK raises antitrust concerns in Getty-Shutterstock merger

19 February 2026

Britain’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said it had provisionally found concerns about the UK editorial content supply in the proposed merger between U.S.-based Getty Images and rival Shutterstock, but cleared the deal in the global stock content market. Both companies said they disagreed with the regulator’s finding and plan to file responses by the March 12 deadline, while continuing to work with the U.S Department of Justice on its ongoing review of the deal. The $3.7 billion deal would combine two of the largest global providers of visual content. The CMA had previously announced in November 2025 that it would move the transaction into a more in-depth Phase 2 investigation after determining that the remedies proposed by the companies did not sufficiently address its competition concerns.

CCI approves the acquisition of portfolio management services business of Axis Securities by Axis Asset Management Company

18 February 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of the portfolio management services business of Axis Securities Limited (Transferor) by Axis Asset Management Company Limited (Acquirer) in India (Target Business). The Acquirer manages a mutual fund business and is also engaged in the business of providing portfolio management services.

Read more on PIB.

CCI approves merger of Hinduja Leyland Finance with and into NDL Ventures

18 February 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed merger of Hinduja Leyland Finance with and into NDL Ventures. The proposed combination seeks to merge and consolidate Hinduja Leyland Finance's businesses into NDL Ventures, which currently has no active operations. Hinduja Leyland Finance operates as a non-banking financial company (NBFC)- Asset Finance company that focuses on providing small size ticket loans for urban and semi-urban retail customers.

Read more on PIB.

European Commission closes antitrust investigation on Edwards Lifesciences

16 February 2026

The European Commission has decided to close its antitrust investigation into allegedly anticompetitive behaviour by Edwards Lifesciences, a producer of medical devices for cardiovascular applications. The move follows the company’s withdrawal of its so-called Global Unilateral Pro-Innovation Policy (UPIP), which is no longer applicable and has been removed from the company’s website. The inspections, which started in September 2023 was to investigate whether conduct by Edwards Lifesciences could breach EU antitrust rules that prohibit abuses of dominant market position. In particular, the Commission has been looking into whether the company may have limited physicians’ freedom to participate in clinical trials and other scientific activities sponsored or supported by a competing manufacturer of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) devices.

China issues new anti-monopoly rules for internet platforms

13 February 2026

China’s market regulator has released anti-monopoly guidelines for internet platforms to help prevent collusion and unfairly high prices. The new framework focuses particularly on the use of algorithms and other sophisticated tools that could enable platforms to coordinate prices or manage traffic distribution in ways that undermine fair competition. Authorities also labelled “all-network lowest price” requirements as a risk, prohibiting dominant platforms from forcing merchants to lower prices on their platforms whenever they drop prices elsewhere. The regulator also clarified that even companies with less market share could still face monopoly investigations if they impose conditions requiring merchants to offer them prices or terms that are equal to or better than those offered to rival platforms.

U.S. antitrust chief Gail Slater ousted from Trump justice department

12 February 2026

The head of the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division, Gail Slater, stepped down less than a year after being appointed by President Donald Trump, marking the highest profile casualty in a battle within the administration over policing anti-competitive conduct. Slater, a veteran antitrust attorney, was confirmed in March 2025 to head the division which enforces laws against illegal monopolies. Her defenestration followed a strained relationship with the attorney general, Pam Bondi, and her isolation outside the department. The decision marks a victory for Bondi and Donald Trump lobbyists, who had grown increasingly frustrated with Slater when she sought to block a $14 billion merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks over its potential to create a duopoly in the market.

CCI imposes penalty on Intel Corp. for discriminatory India-specific warranty policy

12 February 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 27.38 crores on Intel Corporation for its India-specific warranty policy in respect of boxed microprocessors. An order has been passed under the provisions of Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, imposing the penalty for contravention of provisions of Section 4 of the Act. The case originated from the information filed by Matrix Info Systems Private Limited under Section 19(1)(a) of the Act, which alleged that the policy only entertained warranty requests for Intel boxed microprocessors in India when the same are purchased from an authorised Indian distributor of Intel. The CCI held Intel to be dominant in the market for boxed microprocessors in India and found the policy to be discriminatory in comparison with the company’s policies in other countries.

Read more on PIB.

BlackRock executives hit with investor lawsuit over alleged climate collusion

10 February 2026

American financial services company BlackRock and some of its corporate leaders are facing an investor lawsuit that accuses them of mounting an illegal campaign to curb coal production across the United States. The lawsuit, filed by a shareholder in the Texas federal court, claims BlackRock leaders used the asset management firm’s sizable holdings in major coal companies to pressure them into cutting production. BlackRock allegedly misled investors by marketing some of its funds as unrelated to environmental or social objectives while still using the shares held in those funds to support a climate-related agenda. The lawsuit said BlackRock’s directors approved and oversaw the alleged scheme despite the antitrust risks and in breach of their fiduciary duties to shareholders.

Read more on Reuters.

Google secures EU antitrust approval for $32 billion Wiz acquisition

10 February 2026

Google gained unconditional European Union’S (EU) antitrust approval for its $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity company Wiz, its biggest ever deal, after regulators said the deal would not raise any competition concerns. The deal, announced in March 2026, is said to boost Google’s presence in cybersecurity and in the cloud computing sector, where it competes with bigger rivals Amazon and Microsoft. EU’s competition authority, the European Commission, said any data acquired by Google via the deal is not commercially sensitive and can also be assessed by other security software companies.

Read more on Reuters.

Google hit by European Publishers Council against AI Overviews

10 February 2026

The European Publishers Council (EPC) has hit Google with an antitrust complaint over its AI-generated summaries known as AI Overview, a move that could add weight to an ongoing EU investigation into the issue. Rivals have voiced concerns that Big Tech’s dominance in new technologies could shut them out, while publishers have been critical of tech giants using their content without paying them. The EPC said that Google relies on its control of online search to secure access to content without payment, echoing similar EU antitrust concerns. The Commission has said Google may be abusing its market power as a search engine to impose unfair trading conditions on publishers.

Read more on The Economic Times.

Israel’s antitrust body to fine airline $39 million for price gouging during war

8 February 2026

Israel’s Competition Authority said on Sunday it planned to levy a fine of 121 million shekels, which is approximately $39 million, on flag carrier El Al Israel Airlines for setting excessive and unfair airfares during Israel’s Gaza war. The fine is the maximum allowed by law. The antitrust body said it reviewed the period from October 7, 2023, through May 2024 and found that El Al operated as a monopoly on 38 of the 53 routes it operated. It found that ticket prices rose by an average of 61%- and as much as 31%- noting that since most foreign carriers had halted flights, the airline “held market power”. The authority noted that findings of “excessive price gouging” are used rarely and cautiously by competition authorities worldwide.

Read more on Reuters.

U.S. antitrust body scrutinise Netflix’s $83 billion Warner Bros Discovery bid

8 February 2026

Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery for $83 billion has come under review by U.S. antitrust authorities. Officials at the U.S. Department of Justice are examining whether Netflix’s proposed $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery could raise competition concerns. Regulators have contacted industry participants to assess whether Netflix could gain excessive market power through the transaction. The review is said to involve both Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which addresses illegal monopolisation, and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which prohibits deals that could substantially reduce competition.

Read more on CPI.

CCI to probe into IndiGo mass flight cancellations

6 February 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered an investigation into InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which operates IndiGo, to probe allegations that the airline abused its dominant position following the mass cancellation of flights in December 2025 unleasing travel chaos. The Director General for Investigation has been asked to submit a report within 90 days, after which the CCI will decide on any further action. This is the latest blow for IndiGo after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation imposed a penalty last month.

NCLAT upholds CCI decision to close abuse of dominance case against NSE

6 February 2026

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) dismissed an appeal challenging a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order closing allegations of abuse of dominant position against the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) in relation to its co-location services in Manoj K Sheth v. Secretary. Competition Commission of India. A coram of Judicial Member Justice (Retd.) Faizal Alam Khan and Technical Member Naresh Salecha dismissed the appeal. The appeal arose from a complaint alleging that NSE had granted preferential and discriminatory access to select brokers through its co-location facility, thereby distorting the competition in the securities market. In its 2021 order, the CCI ruled that dominance by itself is not prohibited under competition law.

FTC crackdown on law firm DEI efforts tests antitrust limits

5 February 2026

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission took a fresh tack last week in the federal government’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, warning 42 major law firms that their hiring practices may violate U.S. antitrust law. By invoking alleged threats to competition, the strategy could bolster broader, ongoing efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to combat DEI using anti-discrimination law. However, according to legal experts, bringing an antitrust case would face a high bar. The FTC issued letters to prominent firms like Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison; Latham & Witkins; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and focused on their participation in a certification program aimed at expanding lawyers’ access to leadership positions. The letters that such agreements can distort competition for labour in the legal professions.

Read more on Reuters.

U.S. files appeal in Google antitrust case over search monopoly

4 February 2026

The U.S government and a majority of U.S. states will appeal the outcome of the landmark antitrust case against Alphabet’s Google, according to court papers. A Washington federal judge in 2024 ruled that Google has a monopoly in online search, but rejected the most stringent remedies. Their challenge will likely focus on the judge’s decision not to require Google to sell off its Chrome browser or end its lucrative arrangement with Apple to serve as the default search engine on new devices. Meanwhile, Google is already appealing U.S District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling that it broke the law to starve off competition in online search and related advertising.

Read more on Reuters.

CCI approves subscription to 15.01% equity shareholding of Ambit Wealth Private Limited by Daiwa International Holdings Inc.

3 February 2026

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the subscription to 15.01% equity shareholding of Ambit Wealth Private Limited (Target) by Daiwa International Holdings Inc. (Acquirer). The proposed combination envisaged as a subscription to equity shares amounting to 15.01% shareholding, on a fully diluted basis, of the Target by the Acquirer.

Read more on PIB.

Supreme Court sets aside NCLAT order of CCI probe against Flipkart, sends back case for fresh adjudication

3 February 2026

The Supreme Court, after six years, has set aside an order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) which directed the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to probe alleged violations of competition law by e-commerce giant Flipkart in Flipkart v. Competition Commission of India. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi remanded the matter back to the appellate tribunal for fresh adjudication. It held that the NCLAT must reconsider the case after taking into account Flipkart’s contention that the tribunal had relied on observations that were not legally relevant under the Competition Act, 2002.

Read more on The Economic Times and Bar and Bench.