In a press release, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) says a new bill will promote growth in the UK economy by ensuring free and vigorous competition among businesses – both online and on the high street. And the bill could affect Apple. The DMCC will also strengthen the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) powers to crack down on unfair practices.
The bill reinforces the key principles that underpin the CMA’s work, which are about helping people, businesses and the economy. The press released says the bill has three areas of focus:
- Consumer protection: People need to be able to shop without fear of being ripped off and fair-dealing businesses should be able to compete without being disadvantaged by those who break the rules. The CMA has taken enforcement action against those who use unfair practices to dupe people into handing over their money – taking action on fake reviews, subscription traps and pressure selling. The new rules in this bill will allow the CMA to be even more effective. They will empower the CMA to decide when consumer law has been broken, rather than having to take each case to court. This will help ensure people are protected more quickly, and fair-dealing firms are not disadvantaged. The bill will also allow the CMA to fine businesses which do break the law up to 10% of their global turnover.
- Digital markets: People and businesses benefit from vibrant, competitive digital markets which offer the latest products and services. The bill establishes a new, targeted regime built for the digital age, overseen by the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) in the CMA – that will use a proportionate approach to hold digital firms accountable for their actions – enabling all innovating businesses to compete fairly. It will set rules that will prevent firms with Strategic Market Status from using their size and power to limit digital innovation or market access – ensuring the UK remains a highly attractive place to invest and do business for all.
- Competition: Bolstered investigative and enforcement powers will mean the CMA can conduct faster and more flexible competition investigations, which identify and stop unlawful anticompetitive conduct more quickly. Changes to the competition framework – including updated merger and fine thresholds – will make it easier for the CMA to take action against mergers which harm UK consumers and businesses. Such changes will allow the CMA to continue to protect and promote open and free markets, spurring companies to innovate and bring more products to market, providing more choice for customers and creating a strong foundation for economic growth.
Article provided with permission from AppleWorld.Today