Webinar on Digital Platforms and Competition Laws at KIIT Law School
Centre for Studies in Business and Corporate Law (KCBCL), under the aegis of the Department of Business Law and Corporate Governance of KIIT Law School, conducted a webinar on the topic “Digital Platforms and Competition Laws” through zoom platform on 22nd October 2021. It was graced by Dr. Shiju M.V., Professor, Sai University, Chennai.
Delivering the webinar talk, Dr. Shiju M.V. introduced technological developments that have provided consumers with new products and services. He emphasized how digital platforms are essential elements of the digital economy, particularly since the outbreak of the pandemic. The speaker presented the statistics of the top 10 companies in the world as per market capitalization and provided us with the data of the last two decades wherein the competition law in digital platforms have outgrown.
He touched upon the basics of ccompetition law and how it is beneficial as it increases efficiency in case of productivity and its dynamic nature in the field of digital platforms. The speaker explained the zestful structure of digital markets, zero-price services, network effects, market tipping, lock-in effects and multi-homing and stated them to be factors that require careful consideration while defining markets and establishing the market power in digital markets. He then emphasized upon the legal and policy intervention and the need of it in the markets and discussed various approaches to competition law in the context of Harvard and Chicago Law School with regard to various structure, conduct, performance and favored interventionist policies.
Further, the Speaker quoted landmark cases which evolved the Law on Competition and the non-pricing parameters regarding abuse of dominance by stressing upon the case of Harshita Chawla v. Whatsapp Inc., and discussed another judgment which held that WhatsApp is a dominant player in the market for over-the-top messaging apps. Relying on its decision, CCI in the instant case too held WhatsApp to be the dominant entity in the market for OTT messaging apps. The questions put by the students and faculties were taken by the speaker in the Question and Answer round, which was moderated by Ms. Pratiti Nayak.
Earlier, Prof. (Dr.) Bhavani Prasad Panda, Director, School of Law, KIIT Deemed to be University and Chairperson of KCBCL welcomed the speaker and explained the importance of the topic.
Mandavi Banerjee, Student Member, KCBCL; and Ms. Pratiti Nayak, Faculty Member, KCBCL also spoke on the occasion. The vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Mrs. Ipsita Das, Assistant Professor and Centre Coordinator, KCBCL. Ms. Ahona Mukherjee and Ms. Bhumika Panigrahi, Student Members, KCBCL were the Rapporteurs. As many as 95 participants attended the webinar.