We possess many years of experience in undertaking legislative initiatives to regulate the digital economy in the areas of copyright, media and competition law; advising leading companies and associations on strategic issues of the platform economy and enforcing claims against dominant internet platforms. 

This multi-disciplinary approach allows our team to provide comprehensive advice on all competition issues in the digital economy.

We possess many years of experience in undertaking legislative initiatives to regulate the digital economy in the areas of copyright, media and competition law; advising leading companies and associations on strategic issues of the platform economy and enforcing claims against dominant internet platforms. This multi-disciplinary approach allows our team to provide comprehensive advice on all competition issues in the digital economy.

We regularly:

  • represent companies and associations in connection with restrictive practices of dominant digital companies before German and European authorities and courts,
  • enforce damages for such practices, and
  • advise clients on legal issues relating to the digital economy, including platform regulation, copyright and fair trading issues and the State Media Treaty.

We are acting for our clients, among others, in the following landmark proceedings:

  • Representation of a complainant and several intervening parties in the competition proceedings "Google Android" on the bundling of various Google services - record EC fine of € 4.3 billion.
  • Representation of complainants and intervenors in the competition case "Google Search (Shopping)" on the preferential treatment of Google-owned services in search results pages – record EC fine of € 2.42 billion; and aggrieved companies in subsequent damages proceedings
  • Advising numerous product, travel, job and flight brokerage services on non-discriminatory display in search engine, app store and social network results
  • Advising retailers/app developers on terms and conditions of Amazon and Apple
  • Enforcing a European ancillary copyright for press publishers to secure the balance of power between market-dominant aggregators and press publishers

For our additional Technology & Data Breach expertise in:

Belgium
France
Sweden
The Netherlands
United Kingdom
United States

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Technology companies face complex market access and market power issues in the digital economy. From the beginning, Hausfeld has focused on the law of the digital economy in Germany, in addition to antitrust law. Thanks to its deep understanding of digital business models, "the firm is at the forefront of mandates related to digital markets and platforms."

Legal 500, 2020

Thomas Höppner has many years of experience in proceedings at the EU Commission, is thus very well connected and extremely proactive." Hausfeld, and Thomas Höppner in particular, has deep expertise in digital business models in addition to knowledge in antitrust law.  

Legal 500, 2020

Thomas Höppner has outstanding understanding of very complex technical and economic systems, in particular digital platform markets, outstanding knowledge of competition law, outstanding written and oral argumentation.

Who's Who Legal, 2020
KEY CONTACTS

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