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ARTICLE · 14 JANUARY 2025

CMA Trails Initial Plans For Digital Markets Regime

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

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The CMA has outlined initial plans for the new digital markets competition regime, launched in January 2025. It will designate firms with "Strategic Market Status" (SMS) and implement pro-competition measures to benefit UK consumers and businesses, with investigations starting soon.

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Geraint Lloyd-Taylor
Geraint Lloyd-Taylor
Helen Hart
Helen Hart
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The Competition and Markets Authority has (kind of) set out its initial plans for the new digital markets competition regime.

As our readers know, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 received Royal Assent in May 2024 and the digital markets competition regime came into force on 1 January 2025.

The CMA published guidance on the digital markets regime on 19 December 2024.

Under the digital markets competition regime, the CMA may designate firms with "Strategic Market Status" (SMS) in relation to a particular digital activity. Once designated, the CMA can impose conduct requirements or introduce pro-competition interventions to achieve positive outcomes for UK consumers and businesses.

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