Inside Tech Media

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The European Court of Justice’s Judgment in Intel

September 6, 2017

Today the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) issued its long-awaited judgment in Intel Corporation Inc. v European Commission. It sets aside the judgment of the General Court (GC) on the basis that the judges failed to assess the effects of the loyalty rebate schemes implemented by Intel on competition in the EEA. The CJEU refers the case back to the GC. Background The Intel case concerns the supply of central processing units (CPUs)…

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FCC Issues Public Notice Concerning Closed Captioning Reporting Procedures

By Inside Tech Media

May 7, 2015

In a Public Notice released this week, the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau provided details regarding the procedures by which video programming distributors (including broadcasters and MVPDs) must report video programmers who refuse to provide widely available closed captioning quality certifications. The procedures described in the Public Notice are an outgrowth of the closed captioning quality rules, which require distributors to exercise best efforts to obtain certifications from each programmer stating that the programmer either (a) complies…

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Less Than One Month Until May 29, 2015 Pre-Auction Licensing Deadline

By Inside Tech Media

April 30, 2015

The FCC Media Bureau’s designated May 29, 2015 “Pre-Auction Licensing Deadline” is rapidly approaching. Full power and Class A facilities must be licensed by this deadline in order to be eligible for protection in the repacking process that will be part of the television incentive auction. For these purposes, facilities subject to a pending application for a license to cover the pertinent construction permit will be deemed to be “licensed.” While Class A licensees may…

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Dutch Competition Authority Updates Guidance on Distribution Agreements

By Miranda Cole & Inside Tech Media

April 27, 2015

On 20 April 2015 the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (“ACM”) published new guidance regarding its enforcement priorities in relation to distribution agreements, noting that its enforcement efforts will be focused on agreements having the most significant impact on consumer welfare. The 28-page document explains that before opening an investigation, the ACM will first conduct an “initial substantive investigation”, seeking to pre-assess the impact on consumers and the economic effects of any agreement. The…

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FCO sends statement of objections to Booking.com

By Miranda Cole & Inside Tech Media

April 6, 2015

On 2 April 2015, the German Competition Authority (FCO) sent a statement of objections (SO) to Booking.com Deutschland GmbH in relation to its use of “best price” clauses in contracts with hotels in Germany. The FCO takes the view that, following the decision of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court confirming the FCO’s decision in proceedings against HRS, Booking.com should cease to use “best price clauses” (i.e., clauses that require hotels to offer hotel booking platforms…

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EU Announces E-Commerce Sector Inquiry

By Miranda Cole & Inside Tech Media

March 26, 2015

Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced today during a speech at the Bundeskartellamt (German Competition Authority) International Conference on Competition her intention to launch a sector inquiry in the e-commerce sector. The sector inquiry will be formally proposed to the Commission in May. Preliminary findings on the sector inquiry could be ready in mid-2016. Commissioner Vestager stressed: “It is high time to remove remaining barriers to e-commerce, which is a vital part of a true Digital…

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FCC Plans Maximum Fine for Television Broadcast of Indecent Material

By Inside Tech Media

March 23, 2015

The Federal Communications Commission today announced its intent to fine a television station $325,000 — the maximum penalty available — for airing less than three seconds of a pornographic video on a small portion of the screen during an evening newscast. The Notice of Apparent Liability is a reminder of the FCC’s continued vigorous enforcement of its obscenity and indecency rules.…

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FCC Extends Deadline for Compliance with Television Closed Captioning Quality Rules

By Inside Tech Media

December 30, 2014

The FCC announced in a recent Public Notice that it will extend the deadline for compliance with its new television closed captioning quality rules until March 16, 2015. Previously scheduled to go into effect on January 15, 2015, the quality rules establish standards for television closed captioning concerning (1) accuracy, (2) synchronicity, (3) completeness, and (4) placement. The rules also require video programming distributors (e.g., broadcast stations and cable systems) to seek certain certifications from video programmers concerning closed…

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FCC Seeks Comment on Requiring Video Programmers to File Contact Information, Closed Captioning Certifications

By Inside Tech Media

December 23, 2014

In a recent Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), the FCC announced that it is seeking comment on proposals that would require video programmers to file contact information and closed captioning certifications with the FCC. Specific topics on which the FCC is seeking comment include the following: Whether video programmers should be required to file contact information for the resolution of closed captioning complaints with the FCC. The FNPRM also seeks comment on whether programmers…

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STELAR (STELA Reauthorization) Enacted

By Inside Tech Media

December 11, 2014

The STELA Reauthorization Act (“STELAR”) has been signed into law by the President. STELAR extends the statutory copyright license for satellite carriage of distant signals for another five years (through December 31, 2019). It also extends through January 1, 2020 the statutory good faith negotiation requirement imposed on broadcasters and MVPDs for retransmission consent negotiations. As discussed below, it makes several other changes to the Communications Act and to the Copyright Act.…

Inside Tech Media

The European Court of Justice’s Judgment in Intel

FCC Issues Public Notice Concerning Closed Captioning Reporting Procedures

Less Than One Month Until May 29, 2015 Pre-Auction Licensing Deadline

Dutch Competition Authority Updates Guidance on Distribution Agreements

FCO sends statement of objections to Booking.com

EU Announces E-Commerce Sector Inquiry

FCC Plans Maximum Fine for Television Broadcast of Indecent Material

FCC Extends Deadline for Compliance with Television Closed Captioning Quality Rules

FCC Seeks Comment on Requiring Video Programmers to File Contact Information, Closed Captioning Certifications

STELAR (STELA Reauthorization) Enacted

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