The 2019 Amendments to the Anti-Monopoly Act ("Amendments") including revisions to surcharge system (i.e., administrative fine system) will be fully in force within 2020. Accordingly, so-called attorney-client privilege will...more
1/24/2020
/ Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position (ASBP) ,
Administrative Hearings ,
Amended Rules ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Bid Rigging ,
Cartels ,
Data Collection ,
Digital Marketplace ,
Digital Platforms ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Restraint of Trade ,
Secretary Generals ,
Transparency
On October 25, 2019, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) announced that it approved a commitment plan proposed by Rakuten, Inc. (“Rakuten”). As a result, the JFTC closed its investigation without finding violation or...more
Big Tech as well as other global companies will likely have to modify their business models -
Japan’s growing e-Commerce market continues to benefit both businesses, which are able to reach more customers and reduce...more
9/16/2019
/ Abuse of Dominance ,
Acquisitions ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
Antitrust Violations ,
B2C ,
Competition ,
Digital Platforms ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
Public Comment
On August 29, 2019, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") published a draft of new "Guidelines Concerning Abuse of a Superior Bargaining Position in Transactions between Digital Platform Operators and Consumers that...more
9/3/2019
/ Abuse of Dominance ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Violations ,
B2C ,
Bargaining Power ,
Data Collection ,
Digital Platforms ,
Failure to Notify ,
Guidance Update ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Personal Information ,
Public Comment ,
Targeted Digital Advertising
The bill to amend the Anti-Monopoly Act (the "AMA"), that includes the enhancement of a surcharge (i.e., administrative fine), has passed on June 19, 2019.1 It will be effective no later than from December 25, 2020. The...more
7/11/2019
/ Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Cartels ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Closely Held Businesses ,
Enhanced Penalties ,
Fines ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Monopolization ,
New Rules ,
Parent Corporation ,
Retailers ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
Surcharges ,
Unfair Competition ,
Wholesale
The bill to amend the Anti-Monopoly Act (the "AMA"), that includes reform of leniency system, has passed on June 19, 2019. New leniency system will be effective no later than from December 25, 2020....more
The Cabinet of Japan submitted a bill (the "Bill") to amend the Anti-Monopoly Act (the "AMA") to the Diet on March 12, 2019. The Bill includes amendments to (i) the method for surcharge calculations, (ii) the leniency system...more
4/22/2019
/ Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Criminal Investigations ,
Criminal Penalties ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Legal Professional Privilege ,
Leniency Programs ,
Obstruction of Justice ,
Proposed Amendments