European Commission opens three competition investigations into e-commerce

The European Commission has launched three separate cases concerning suspected breaches of Article 101(1) TFEU relating to e-commerce.  These investigations follow the Commission’s e-commerce sector inquiry. 

Two investigations have been launched on the Commission’s own initiative.  One investigation concerns four consumer electronics manufacturers (Asus, Denon & Marantz, Philips and Pioneer) and whether they have infringed competition law by limiting the ability of retailers to set their own prices for consumer electronics products.

A second investigation concerns whether agreements between Valve Corporation (the owner of the Steam game distribution platform) and five PC video game publishers impose so-called geo-blocking which prevents customers from purchasing products based on their location.

A third investigation has been prompted by complaints, rather than on the Commission’s own initiative.  This concerns the hotel accommodation sector where the Commission is examining whether some of the biggest European tour operators (Kuoni, REWE, Thomas Cook and TUI) and Meliá Hotels are using agreements that may discriminate between customers based on their nationality or country of residence.

Commission press release IP/17/201