On 18 July 2024, Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission (“Commission”), was reconfirmed by the European Parliament for a second term. Ahead of her reconfirmation, President von der Leyen delivered a speech before the European Parliament, accompanied by a 30-page program (the “Guidelines”) that lays down the next five-year policy
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From Concept to Precedent: The 2024 Draft Guidelines on Article 102
The European Commission’s draft guidelines on exclusionary abusive conduct by dominant firms under Article 102 TFEU (the “Draft Guidelines”) were published on 1 August 2024. They show a marked change from the 2009 Article 82 [now Article 102] Enforcement Priorities Guidance (the “Priorities Guidance”): economic concept has largely been replaced with the Commission’s interpretation of
The Future of EU Defence Policy and a Renewed Focus on Technology Security
On July 18, 2024, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was reconfirmed by the European Parliament for a second five-year term. As part of the process, she delivered a speech before the Parliament, complemented by a 30-page program, which outlines the Commission’s political guidelines and priorities for the next five
FDA Issues Draft Guidance on New Voluntary Targets for Sodium Reduction in Foods
August 21, 2024, Covington Alert
On August 15, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Center for Food Safety and Nutrition (CFSAN) took another important step in its sodium reduction efforts by issuing a Draft Guidance that contains new voluntary targets for sodium reduction in foods. The Draft Guidance builds on FDA’s October 2021 Final Guidance
Quantum Computing: Developments in the UK and US
This update focuses on how growing quantum sector investment in the UK and US is leading to the development and commercialization of quantum computing technologies with the potential to revolutionize and disrupt key sectors. This is a fast-growing area that is seeing significant levels of public and private investment activity. We take a look at
The EU Net-Zero Industry Act enters into force
On 29 June 2024, the Net-Zero Industry Act (“NZIA”) entered into force. The primary aim of the NZIA is to ensure that the EU has access to secure and sustainable net-zero technologies by scaling up their manufacturing capacity within the EU.
Here are the key takeaways:
- The NZIA focuses on 19 Net-Zero Technologies (“NZTs”), including
U.S. Senate Passes SHIELD Act to Criminalize Distribution of Private Intimate Images Online
On July 10, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (“SHIELD”) Act, which would criminalize the distribution of private sexually explicit or nude images online.
Specifically, the legislation makes it unlawful to knowingly distribute a private intimate visual depiction of an individual that is obtained or created
Texas District Court Enjoins FTC’s Rule Banning Non-Compete Clauses
July 10, 2024, Covington Alert
On July 3, 2024, Judge Ada Brown of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted the motions for a preliminary injunction—filed by Ryan LLC (“Ryan”) and several trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”)—to prevent the FTC’s rule banning non-compete clauses from going into
CJEU Clarifies Online “Order Buttons” Must Indicate that the Consumer is Assuming an Obligation to Pay
On May 30, 2024, the European Court of Justice (“CJEU”) ruled that any button a consumer uses to order a service online must clearly indicate that the consumer commits to pay the price for the relevant service by affirmatively clicking on it. (Conny Case C-400/22) At issue was whether this requirement applies in cases
France drifts towards uncertainty after snap elections
The second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections delivered a surprising result on Sunday: with 182 seats, the coalition of left-wing parties—the Nouveau Front populaire (“NFP”) emerged as the unexpected victor. Centrist parties supporting President Emmanuel Macron finished second with 168 seats altogether, whereas the far-right Rassemblement National (“RN”) and its allies—which in the first