Auction Services Case Study: Breaching Competition Law in the UK

This case study analyzes the anti-competitive practices employed by Auction Services, specifically focusing on their online bidding services in the UK market. The Competitive and Market Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into ATG Media, the largest provider of online bidding platforms, for potentially breaching competition law and discouraging competition. The CMA identified practices that restricted customer choice and secured commitments from ATG to cease these activities. The case references the Prohibition of Competition Act 1988 and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, leading to the CMA accepting commitments from the parties involved and terminating the investigation. The analysis draws upon sources related to competition law and international trade regulation to provide context and understanding of the legal framework.

CASE OF AUCTION
SERVICES
Anti Competitive Practices

Introduction
 This case is between the Auction services
and Competitive and market Authority.
 It concerns with the supply of online
services in UK.
 It adopts the different practices and
prevents the customers from
competition.
 It advice for auction houses on online
bidding services.

Facts of the case
 ATG Media is the largest provider of
online bidding platform.
 It facilitates the online bidding without
bidders.
 CMA launched the Act of competition in
to practices used by ATG media.
 Breach the competition law and
discourage the customer from
competition.

CONTD..
 CMA recognised the practices that
prevented by ATG .
 It promises to CMA to stop the practices.
 ATG has abused the dominant position or
entered in to agreements.
 CMA is accountable for the investigations
in to mergers and industries.

Statement of the Authority
 Prohibition of Competition Act 1988.
 Abuse the dominant position by one or
more companies that affects the trade.
 Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union is applicable.

Decision of the Authority
 Application was filed by the parties
in relation to the services.
 It gives the directions in relations to
interim measures.
 CMA begins the investigations under
section 25 of Act.
 CMA accepts the commitments and
does not offer the findings.
 CMA results in to termination of
investigation.

Reference
 Slot, P.J. and Farley, M., 2017. An
Introduction to Competition Law.
Bloomsbury Publishing.
 McGovern, E., 2018. International trade
regulation (Vol. 2). Globefield Press.
 Ball, R., 2018. Competition law and LIBOR
in three jurisdictions: US, UK and EU.