ACCC

Magnamail has defeated an ACCC suit alleging it misled customers by representing they were eligible for major prizes if they ordered from its catalogues, with a judge finding the mail order company's representation that customers 'could' win major prizes was true.

A judge is not too thrilled about the ACCC's bid for details of Microsoft's defence in a suit alleging the software giant duped millions of customers into upgrading to more expensive product plans, saying "it pains me the court has to take time" to hear the application.

The competition regulator has given its draft approval to Fortnite maker Epic Games and Google for their global settlement of allegations of misuse of market power by the digital giant.

Coles has argued that the competition regulator’s decision rejecting the supermarket giant's bid to lease a new site in Kalgoorlie, WA was based on a theory of harm that is novel under Australian law. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has opened a phase 2 review into animal drug company Zoetis' proposed acquisition of Neogen's global animal genomic testing business, saying it would substantially lessen competition in the market for animal gene testing services.

Origin Energy has agreed to refund over $270,000 to 4,500 customers on its 'Ongoing Saver' residential electricity plan who were charged more than they would have been on the company's 'Basic' plan.  

A new ban on unfair trading practices could significantly broaden the scope of consumer class actions, with experts predicting plaintiff firms will use the reforms to pursue claims over conduct that has until now fallen outside the reach of misleading or deceptive conduct laws.

Though previously acknowledging it "could have been clearer" Microsoft has hit back at claims it duped millions of customers into upgrading to more expensive product plans, saying its cheaper, 'legacy' plan was only available to subscribers who sought to cancel.

Competition lawyers are watching with interest to see if Coles appeals the ACCC's decision to block its proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest in a site in Kalgoorlie, with a tribunal review to provide a valuable early test of the new merger regime.

A court has found that defunct printing cartridges supplier Beacon used deceptive sales tactics to dupe customers into paying for goods they did not order, in conduct described as "fundamentally dishonest”.