The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its provisional decision in the market investigation into mobile browsers and cloud gaming. The CMA has provisionally identified competition concerns in the mobile browsers market. This development follows a series of working papers and updates throughout 2024, including the recommencement of the investigation in January after a Court of Appeal judgment. The CMA has set a deadline of 5pm on 13 December 2024 for interested parties to submit responses to the provisional findings.

The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has published its final report providing advice to Office for Life Sciences concerning its proposed Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund subsidy scheme for 2025-2030, and its report prepared in response to a request from Office for Life Sciences concerning the proposed Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund scheme. The report includes the SAU’s evaluation of OLS’s Assessment of Compliance of its proposed scheme with the requirements set out in the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a report from the Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) providing advice to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on its proposed Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS) scheme. The report includes the SAU’s evaluation of DESNZ’s assessment of compliance of its proposed subsidy with the requirements set out in the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The CMA expressed support for the government’s intent to reform the planning system in England, as these reforms align with the options identified in its Housebuilding Market Study. Additionally, the response highlights areas for further reform, particularly concerning statutory consultees, increasing the variety of houses being built, and implementing measures to support small and medium-sized housebuilders. The CMA also urges the government to respond to its Market Study recommendations, addressing issues related to the private management of public amenities and consumer protection for buyers of new build homes.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its response to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)'s call for evidence on the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, SI 2018/634. The CMA investigated suspected breaches of consumer protection law in the package holiday sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. This enforcement action secured more than £200m in refunds for consumers. The response includes the CMA’s recommendations and advice to the DBT on how changes to the Regulations may impact consumers and competition.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published revised guidance on unfair contract terms, covering the unfair contract terms provisions in part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, following a public consultation. The CMA states that the guidance has been updated to improve accessibility for businesses and to reflect the CMA's direct consumer enforcement powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer (DMCC) Act 2024. A summary of responses to the consultation has also been published.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published summary guidance to its Price Transparency Guidance, aimed at helping traders comply with the price transparency provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA 2024). The summary guidance reinforces that prices presented to consumers must be clear, complete and accurate from the outset. It emphasises that traders are required to provide the total price upfront in any invitation to purchase, including all unavoidable or mandatory charges such as fees, taxes and delivery costs, and warns that failure to comply may result in fines of up to 10% of turnover or £300,000.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its issues statement and three working papers (Technical barriers, Licensing practices and Potential remedies) for its cloud services market investigation.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published Working Paper 6 (WP6) in the context of its market investigation into the supply of mobile browsers and browser engines, and the distribution of cloud gaming services through app stores on mobile devices in the United Kingdom, after the recommencement of its investigation on 24 January 2024. WP6 focuses on the nature of competition in cloud gaming services and the requirements for native apps on mobile devices. The paper discusses the relevant market definition for the investigations. The analysis also includes an examination of Apple's App Review Guidelines and Google's Play Store rules for cloud gaming native apps. It discusses how Apple's previous guidelines effectively banned cloud gaming native apps on iOS, and the impact of its revised guidelines and in-app purchase requirement. It also covers Google's Play billing requirement for in-app transactions.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed that it has written to several trader recommendation platforms (TRPs) after identifying concerns with their practices. The CMA highlighted its concerns and reminded the platforms to review their practices and implement any necessary changes to ensure compliance with their obligations under consumer protection law, specifically the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The CMA also published a joint LinkedIn article with National Trading Standards setting out its principal areas of concern and reiterating the steps TRPs are expected to implement to remain compliant with applicable consumer protection legislation.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and each of four banks (Citi, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Canada) have agreed to settle cases related to UK government bonds, known as gilts. The CMA provisionally found that the four banks and Deutsche Bank, each unlawfully shared competitively sensitive information by participating in one or more series of one-to-one conversations in chatrooms at varying times between 2009 and 2013. Citi, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Canada will pay fines totalling over £100 million. Deutsche Bank has immunity for reporting its conduct during that period.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published an open letter addressed to businesses in the fashion retail sector, informing them about ASOS’, Boohoo’s and George at Asda’s undertakings to use clear and accurate green claims following its investigation into their environmental claims. The three businesses have committed to putting out clear and specific environmental targets and statements on their fabrics, introducing clear criteria for green ranges and refraining from using misleading imagery which suggests a product is more environmentally friendly than it actually is. The CMA is also urging other fashion retail businesses to review their claims and practices and to adhere to the CMA’s Green Claims Code.