European Commission launches three antitrust investigations

The European Union’s competition watchdog opened formal investigations into the licensing and distribution practices of Nike, Sanrio and Universal Studios as they relate to cross-border e-commerce within the EU single market.    The European Commission has launched three separate antitrust investigations into the licensing and distribution practices of Nike, Sanrio and Universal Studios, the European Union competition watchdog said in a statement.
   The commission said it is investigating whether the companies’ practices illegally restrict traders from selling licensed merchandise cross-border and online within the EU single market.
  The investigations concern the licensing and distribution of merchandising products, such as clothes, shoes, phone accessories, bag and toys, on which an image or text is applied during the manufacturing process. The manufacturer (licensee) is only authorized to use such images or text if it has signed a licensing agreement with the owner of the relevant intellectual property rights (licensor), the European Commission explained.
   “The commission will now carry out its in-depth investigation as a matter of priority,” it said. “An opening of a formal investigation does not prejudge its outcome.”