New Zealand: New discussion paper on criminal cartels

On 27 January the NZ Minister of Commerce, Simon Power, released a discussion document on the introduction of criminal penalties for cartels.

• View Simon Power Press Release
• View  summary of the discussion paper by DLA Phillips Fox.
• View NZ Herald Editorial: Why Corporate Cheats Need Threat of Jail

See also article by Caron Beaton-Wells and Brent Fisse (Uni of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No 413, June 2009), ‘The Australian Criminal Cartel Regime: A Model for New Zealand’.

Submissions close on 31 March 2010.

Some international news; Intel, Google etc

The Intel Decision

The European Commission has now released a non-confidential version of its decision in the Intel case (all 518 pages), in which it fined Intel €1.06 billion for abusing its dominant position:

• Press Release announcing €1.06 billion fine against Intel (13 May 2009)
• EC Press release announcing release of its non-confidential reasons in the Intel case (21 September)
• The Intel decision (provisional non-confidential version) released 21 September 2009

US Antitrust Division and the Google Book Search case

The US Department of Justice (Antitrust Division) has weighed into the pending Google Book Search case, recently filing a statement opposing a proposed class settlement:

• The Antitrust Division Filing of 18 September
• Blog discussion by Randy Picker, University of Chicago
• Useful Commentary by Danny Sullivan
• New York Times article – ‘US Urges Changes to Google Book Deal

EU Consults on Vertical Agreements

On 28 July 2009 the EC launched a formal consultation on EU Rules applicable to vertical agreements.  See discussion by Sheppard Mulin.

Changes to Canadian law

Bill C-10, which received Royal Assent on 12 March 12, introduced significant changes to the Canadian Competition Act.  McCarthy Tetrault has provided a couple of useful overviews of the changes:

• Government Enacts Significant Changes to Canada’s Merger Review Laws (29 May 2009)
• Governmeng Enacts Significant Changes to Canada’s Competition Laws (17 September 2009)

Politics and the Pursuit of Efficiency in New Zealand

Bronwyn E Howell has written a paper on ‘Politics and the Pursuit of Efficiency in New Zealand’