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Abuse of platform power: Leveraging conduct in digital markets under EU competition law and beyond

Boek - Dissertatie

Online platforms play an increasingly important role in today's economy by serving as intermediaries between consumers and suppliers. App stores, for example, connect consumers with app developers. As platforms integrate vertically, e.g. by producing and distributing their own apps, they may have an incentive to exclude the competing products of independent suppliers. Given their crucial intermediary, they often have the ability to do so. In the end, consumers could suffer the consequences. EU competition law prohibits certain conduct by vertically integrated undertakings as an abuse of dominance, in particular through the figure of 'leveraging'. However, its traditional assessment methods are not adapted to these new business models and practices. While economists have studied platforms quite extensively, comprehensive legal scholarship—especially regarding the position of suppliers—is lacking. Given the perceived inadequacy of competition law, policymakers are increasingly adopting platform-specific regulation. The research addresses these persisting theoretical and societal questions by undertaking a comprehensive study of the legal framework surrounding the platform-supplier relation. It does so by examining (i) how competition law assessments should be adapted to the unique features of platforms; (ii) which alternative legal instruments may be applicable in their relation with suppliers; and (iii) whether this framework, taken as a whole, is adequate.
Jaar van publicatie:2021
Toegankelijkheid:Closed