Latest news with #EuropeanCourt
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Google hits setback in bid to overturn multibillion EU antitrust fine in Android case
LONDON (AP) — Google faced a big setback Thursday in its attempt to overturn a multibillion-dollar European Union antitrust penalty involving Android after a top court's legal adviser sided with regulators. The European Court of Justice's advocate general, Juliane Kokott, recommended in a non-binding opinion that Google's appeal against the fine worth more than 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) should be dismissed. The case dates back to 2018, when the EU's executive Commission slapped Google with a 4.134 billion euro fine after finding that the U.S. tech company used the dominance of its mobile Android operating system to throttle competition and reduce consumer choice. After Google filed an initial appeal, a lower court trimmed the penalty to 4.125 billion euros in 2022, which the company also appealed to the Court of Justice. Kokott advised that the Court of Justice confirm the fine and uphold the lower court's judgment, according to a press release summarizing her opinion. Google said it was disappointed with the opinion, adding that if the court follows it, it "would discourage investment in open platforms and harm Android users, partners and app developers.' ″Android has created more choice for everyone and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world," the company said in a statement. Opinions from the advocate general aren't legally binding but are often followed by judges. The judges 'are now beginning their deliberations in this case. Judgment will be given at a later date,' the court said. The fine was one of three antitrust penalties totaling more than 8 billion euros that the European Commission slapped on Google in the last decade, as the 27-nation bloc launched its crackdown on Big Tech companies. Google still faces a decision from Brussels in an antitrust case targeting its digital ad business.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Google hits setback in bid to overturn multibillion EU antitrust fine in Android case
LONDON — Google faced a big setback Thursday in its attempt to overturn a multibillion-dollar European Union antitrust penalty involving Android after a top court's legal adviser sided with regulators. The European Court of Justice's advocate general, Juliane Kokott, recommended in a preliminary opinion that Google's appeal against the fine worth more than 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) should be dismissed.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Football could introduce new transfer rule to let players buy out their contracts in radical move that would slash fees
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. Scroll down to see how some stars' values will be impacted by the proposed change MON£Y BAWL Football could introduce new transfer rule to let players buy out their contracts in radical move that would slash fees Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MASSIVE transfer fees could soon become a thing of the past — with players' chiefs wanting stars to have freedom to break their contracts for a fixed compensation payment. The international players' union FifPro has accused Fifa of dragging its feet over new transfer rules after the European Court agreed that ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star Lassana Diarra was illegally "handcuffed" by Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow a decade ago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 A major case involving ex-Chelsea star Lassana Diarra could make massive transfer fees a thing of the past Credit: Getty 5 The ruling from the European Court means inflated transfer fees could be a thing of the past Credit: EPA 5 The likes of Alexander Isak would be able to buy out their contract rather than being marooned while clubs argue over a transfer fee Credit: Alamy Major agents claimed the October ruling was the first step towards a US-style 'free agency' for players, with fees becoming a thing of the past and stars only liable to pay the balance of their contracts when they switch clubs. Top clubs and Fifa are battling to resist such a move, while this summer Prem clubs already splashed out £375million before the full market officially opens tomorrow. But now FifPro has told stars and their lawyers to be ready to test Fifa's failure to react and use European law to push for freedom of movement. FifPro legal chief Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud said: 'Every worker should have the right to end a contractual relationship. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL PLAYING AWAY? Kieran Trippier parties with mystery blondes as star's wife consults lawyers 'Knowing how much you will have to pay as compensation is part of that right. 'Also, the fact you leave your job should not prevent you from being hired in another job, which is what was happening in football.' Even the giants of the game may be forced into a major rethink by the repercussions of a row sparked in Moscow a decade ago. Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Diarra may not have really impacted the Prem in his four seasons, which brought just 44 top-flight games. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Yet Diarra's win at the European Court of Justice looks increasingly likely to significantly change the way the transfer market works. If FifPro is right, the result will be for all players to have the right to break their contracts. Transfer fees could be SCRAPPED forever after Lassana Diarra wins landmark court case against Fifa It would see players worth £100m on the open market suddenly available for a fraction of that sum. Of course, any new regulations will not be introduced this summer. Fifa rushed through a series of temporary transfer regulations, with dire warnings of the 'collapse' of the transfer market unleashing 'chaos'. But FifPro remains unconvinced the latest moves from Zurich meet the demands of EU law. One insider explained: 'This could be the last few years of the inflated transfer fees we have all seen. 'The European Court has said that football must operate within EU law. 5 'Football is the outlier. There's no other industry — other than maybe thoroughbred horses — where you see employees change hands for millions of pounds and it is time for the game to be brought in step.' Gomez Bruinewoud added: 'The judges in the Diarra case explained why the system was against EU law. 'I'm not afraid to say the same Fifa rules are probably also against most national labour laws.' Top players will benefit from higher wages and longer deals, though with budgets finite, that would mean less cash and shorter deals for players further down the pecking order — and limited job security in the lower tiers. Prem club bosses also fear the consequences, arguing the effective abolition of fees would blow up the entire footballing pyramid as money would no longer 'trickle down'. It is likely that, as with the Jean-Marc Bosman courtroom saga that turned European football on its head 30 years ago, it will need another player to be the test case to break the current system. But it seems that challenge is a matter of time from being made. And with the players' union backing, the most fundamental change the game has ever seen. 5 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN
The Guardian
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Hungary's crackdown on LGBTQ+ content violates human rights, says EU's top court
A Hungarian law banning content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV has been found to violate basic human rights and freedom of expression by a senior legal scholar at the European court of justice. The non-binding opinion from the court's advocate-general, Tamara Ćapeta, issued on Thursday, represents a comprehensive demolition of the arguments made by the Hungarian government defending its so-called childprotection law, passed in 2021. The legislation, which has been likened to Russia's infamous 'gay propaganda law', means that gay and transgender people or themes cannot feature in school educational material or any TV show, film or advert shown before 10pm. In a resounding opinion, Ćapeta wrote that the law was not based on any scientific proof but a value judgment or – backing a position presented by the European parliament to the court – 'a prejudice that homosexual and non-cisgender [transgender] life is not of equal value or status as heterosexual and cisgender life'. Far from protecting children from harm, she concluded, the legislation 'expands such harm'. In her 69-page opinion she wrote: 'The stigmatising effects of the Hungarian legislation, which creates a climate of hostility towards LGBTI persons, may affect the feelings of identity, self-esteem and self-confidence of LGBTI persons. 'Minors who belong to the LGBTI community are especially affected, as the removal of information about LGBTI lives from the public sphere prevents them from realising that their life is not abnormal.' 'It also affects their acceptance by their peers, in school or other environments and thus affects their right to a 'private social life' as well. Therefore, rather than protecting minors from harm, the contested legislation expands such harm.' She concluded that Hungary had violated fundamental rights of human dignity, respect for family life and non-discrimination under the EU treaty and charter of fundamental rights. Ćapeta supported arguments that the law also breached EU commerce and audiovisual laws that prevent governments from imposing restrictions on media companies without a well-founded public interest. The opinion does not bind the court but ECJ judges follow the advocate general in most cases. The Hungarian government has been contacted for comment. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion The European Commission began legal proceedings against Hungary in 2021 after the law was passed. The provisions against LGBTQ+ content were seen as especially stigmatising because they were part of a child protection law targeting child abusers. The opinion comes as Hungary continues its crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. Lawmakers in April passed a constitutional amendment that codifies a ban on Pride events and allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to track attenders so they can be fined. Last month 17 EU member states, including France and Germany, signed a letter organised by the Dutch government condemning Hungary's anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation and urging Budapest to revise these measures. Many of those member states, 16, as well as the European parliament, joined the European Commission's case against Hungary on the law banning LGBTQ+ content.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
British expat WINS French court battle to restore pre-Brexit right that could open floodgates for Brits
A British woman living in France is overjoyed to have her voting rights restored in a move that could shake up post-Brexit rules. Alice Bouilliez said she was 'extremely surprised' that a court in Auch, south-west France, ruled she would be able to vote in local elections. Experts now believe the shock ruling could set a precedent for all Brits who had permanent resident status in the European country before the referendum. Ms Bouilliez, who has lived in France for nearly four decades, was able to vote before the Brexit deal went through in 2020 but it was not made clear what her rights would be afterwards. Despite having residency and being married to a Frenchman, Ms Bouillez never became a citizen - in part down to her oath she took to the British Crown while working as a civil servant in the Foreign Office. The retiree, alongside several other disgruntled Brits, eventually took the case to the European court of justice in 2022 after years of legal battles, although they ruled against her. Their argument, based on the advice of advocate general Anthony Collins, was that 'nationality of a member state' was an 'essential condition of a person to be able to acquire and retain the status of citizens of the union and to benefit fully from the rights attaching to that status'. Her being stripped of her voting rights was 'an automatic consequence of the sole sovereign decision taken by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union'. But Ms Bouillez's lawyer argued that the court could not disenfranchise those who already had the rights protected under the EU treaty before Brexit - an argument that proved true. 'The court ruled that Alice had not committed any crime and that to lose her voting rights was a fundamental and disproportionate infringement of her voting rights,' Julien Fouchet said after today's ruling. 'The right to vote is a common good, it is more than just a right,' he was reported saying in The Guardian. An 'extremely happy' Ms Bouillez said 'when I went to get the ruling from the court I was extremely surprised because I was expecting a knock on the knuckles'. The barrister added that this ruling could now restore the rights of Brits on the continent if they wanted their name on the electoral register for local elections. He said: 'The French and UK governments should have a bilateral treaty reciprocating the right to vote in municipal elections. 'I see this judgment as an opportunity, especially in light of the recent UK-EU summit, to get an agreement on this.' Before the Brexit referendum, Brits living in France could vote in municipal and European parliamentary elections but not in national, presidential or legislative elections. This was generally the same rules across most European countries. Europeans also had these same rights living in the UK but most countries - apart from Ireland, Cyprus and Malta - are now unable to vote here. The British government had tried to make reciprocal voting rights part of the Brexit deal but the EU insisted on having bilateral treaties instead. And in 2018, the House of Commons passed a motion which insisted British nationals who have an EU citizenship should have 'the range of rights and protections afforded to individuals as European Union citizens are integral to a person's European identity'.
