Kevin Coates
@kevincoates.bsky.social
Antitrust / competition law and tech regulation partner @ Covington, ex DG COMP.
Brussels and Brighton.
Brussels and Brighton.
“Are you speaking to Truong from the percentage?”
Really loving Apple Intelligence summaries on my new phone.
Really loving Apple Intelligence summaries on my new phone.
October 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
“Are you speaking to Truong from the percentage?”
Really loving Apple Intelligence summaries on my new phone.
Really loving Apple Intelligence summaries on my new phone.
Iain M Banks would have approved.
Reading Holy Warriors,Jonathan Phillips' excellent history of the crusades, I learn that catapults on the opposing sides at the siege of Acre at the end of the 12th century went by names such as "Bad Neighbour" and "Evil Cousin."
October 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Iain M Banks would have approved.
“When I use a word…” Humphrey Dumpty said…
Perry: DOJ's definition of rebellion would mean that
"literally all nonviolent protest” could be considered evidence of rebellion. Is that your argument?
Hamilton: The president has determined there is a danger of a rebellion, and you must defer to that finding
"literally all nonviolent protest” could be considered evidence of rebellion. Is that your argument?
Hamilton: The president has determined there is a danger of a rebellion, and you must defer to that finding
October 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
“When I use a word…” Humphrey Dumpty said…
Well it’s definitely a view.
He is not any closer to the EU than the Tory PMs before him.
October 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Well it’s definitely a view.
One of the “meta” rules about competition (and competition policy) is that it’s generally not a good idea to let control over one layer of a system allow control over other layers as well. 1/x
This is a pretty good argument in support of the EU’s DMA which requires alternative app stores.
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration reut.rs/4mIfztt
October 3, 2025 at 11:34 AM
One of the “meta” rules about competition (and competition policy) is that it’s generally not a good idea to let control over one layer of a system allow control over other layers as well. 1/x
Reposted by Kevin Coates
Six years ago, almost to the day, Apple removing a similar app from the Hong Kong App Store was seen as such a breach that Tim Cook wrote an all staff email to defend it www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
October 3, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Six years ago, almost to the day, Apple removing a similar app from the Hong Kong App Store was seen as such a breach that Tim Cook wrote an all staff email to defend it www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
This is a pretty good argument in support of the EU’s DMA which requires alternative app stores.
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration reut.rs/4mIfztt
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration
Apple said on Thursday that it had removed ICEBlock, the most popular ICE-tracking app, and other similar apps from its App Store after it was contacted by President Donald Trump's administration.
reut.rs
October 3, 2025 at 5:54 AM
This is a pretty good argument in support of the EU’s DMA which requires alternative app stores.
48/52. The cursèd ratio.
September 19, 2025 at 11:01 PM
48/52. The cursèd ratio.
What have the Normans ever done for us?
September 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
What have the Normans ever done for us?
How do you even engage with this level of madness?
On a panel with Larry Summers today, he argued that the "calamitous " election of Zohran Mamdani is (at least in part) a byproduct of abandoning the consumer welfare standard in antitrust.
June 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
How do you even engage with this level of madness?
Reposted by Kevin Coates
On a panel with Larry Summers today, he argued that the "calamitous " election of Zohran Mamdani is (at least in part) a byproduct of abandoning the consumer welfare standard in antitrust.
June 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
On a panel with Larry Summers today, he argued that the "calamitous " election of Zohran Mamdani is (at least in part) a byproduct of abandoning the consumer welfare standard in antitrust.
@thombrooks.bsky.social Thom, sounds fantastic but this doesn’t look right, unless you’re planning very long introductory remarks!
June 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
@thombrooks.bsky.social Thom, sounds fantastic but this doesn’t look right, unless you’re planning very long introductory remarks!
“Mish and Lucy made their way to the food store after breaking free - before consuming a "week's worth of honey".
Just the bear necessities.
Just the bear necessities.
Wildlife park near Exeter evacuated after bears escape
Wildlife park near Exeter evacuated after bears escape
Two brown bears escape from their enclosure and eat a "week's worth of honey" in the food store.
www.bbc.com
June 24, 2025 at 9:13 AM
“Mish and Lucy made their way to the food store after breaking free - before consuming a "week's worth of honey".
Just the bear necessities.
Just the bear necessities.
If nobody wants them then they aren’t worth 800m. They probably have decent scrap metal value though given they’re basically steel boxes.
www.vice.com/en/article/t...
www.vice.com/en/article/t...
Tesla Reportedly Has $800 Million Worth of Cybertrucks That Nobody Wants
Tesla is overstocked with Cybertrucks, the PS1 graphics-looking mobile monument to Elon’s deep lack of creativity.
www.vice.com
May 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM
If nobody wants them then they aren’t worth 800m. They probably have decent scrap metal value though given they’re basically steel boxes.
www.vice.com/en/article/t...
www.vice.com/en/article/t...
Reposted by Kevin Coates
It seems to me a principle of EU law is emerging, if not already there, that in any area in which Member States exercise competence and the exercise of that competence can undermine a core value/principle/concept of Union law, there is a “don’t-take-the-piss” doctrine that allows EU-law review.
April 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
It seems to me a principle of EU law is emerging, if not already there, that in any area in which Member States exercise competence and the exercise of that competence can undermine a core value/principle/concept of Union law, there is a “don’t-take-the-piss” doctrine that allows EU-law review.
Best summary of the Malta decision I’ve seen.
It seems to me a principle of EU law is emerging, if not already there, that in any area in which Member States exercise competence and the exercise of that competence can undermine a core value/principle/concept of Union law, there is a “don’t-take-the-piss” doctrine that allows EU-law review.
April 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Best summary of the Malta decision I’ve seen.
The children will be self-driving before Teslas will.
Children born when Musk first promised full self-driving will turn 10 this year.
April 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The children will be self-driving before Teslas will.
Reposted by Kevin Coates
Now in today's Observer.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Yet Oxford are still spending far more on legal fees fighting this than it would cost to honour their employment law obligations. You have to wonder, who really runs Oxford University, and in whose interests?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Yet Oxford are still spending far more on legal fees fighting this than it would cost to honour their employment law obligations. You have to wonder, who really runs Oxford University, and in whose interests?
‘I’ve lost my work and been ostracised’: Oxford University accused of failing to act after ruling on ‘sham’ contracts
Despite winning a landmark legal battle, academic Alice Jolly believes it won’t benefit others
www.theguardian.com
March 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Now in today's Observer.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Yet Oxford are still spending far more on legal fees fighting this than it would cost to honour their employment law obligations. You have to wonder, who really runs Oxford University, and in whose interests?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Yet Oxford are still spending far more on legal fees fighting this than it would cost to honour their employment law obligations. You have to wonder, who really runs Oxford University, and in whose interests?
A good reminder that competition authorities should never neglect the basics (as Richard Whish has argued for years).
The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning #Cartels on Market Competition. Sergio Pelaez (#GeorgiaTech) & @juandgut.bsky.social (#UnidelosAndes) examine the impact of cartel enforcement on market competition with focus on manufacturing firms in Colombia. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning Cartels on Market Competition - Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade
This paper examines the impact of cartel enforcement actions—particularly investigations resulting in fines—on market competition, with a focus on manufacturing firms in Colombia to draw broader impli...
link.springer.com
February 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A good reminder that competition authorities should never neglect the basics (as Richard Whish has argued for years).
Reposted by Kevin Coates
The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning #Cartels on Market Competition. Sergio Pelaez (#GeorgiaTech) & @juandgut.bsky.social (#UnidelosAndes) examine the impact of cartel enforcement on market competition with focus on manufacturing firms in Colombia. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning Cartels on Market Competition - Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade
This paper examines the impact of cartel enforcement actions—particularly investigations resulting in fines—on market competition, with a focus on manufacturing firms in Colombia to draw broader impli...
link.springer.com
February 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM
The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning #Cartels on Market Competition. Sergio Pelaez (#GeorgiaTech) & @juandgut.bsky.social (#UnidelosAndes) examine the impact of cartel enforcement on market competition with focus on manufacturing firms in Colombia. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Kevin Coates
OK. There will be a massive rearmament in Europe. And the simple choice is: as nation states, with the constant possibility of conflicts - or together. I hope that there are some politicians left who have understood the wisdom of a Jean Monnet.
February 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
OK. There will be a massive rearmament in Europe. And the simple choice is: as nation states, with the constant possibility of conflicts - or together. I hope that there are some politicians left who have understood the wisdom of a Jean Monnet.
And a useful follow up.
Let’s not forget the government’s legal risk guidance (recently revised by AG Hermer) - combination of standardised language and percentage ranges. You could have a version ranging from “bet the house” to “not a cat in hell’s chance”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672b71...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672b71...
February 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
And a useful follow up.
Excellent thread, though personally disappointed that the “red face test” doesn’t appear.
Picking up the discussion of lawyer’s estimates of prospects of success. First, a description of some different approaches, then a howl of pain /1
February 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Excellent thread, though personally disappointed that the “red face test” doesn’t appear.
👏
"And I will walk 500 miles¹
And I will walk 500 more² "
¹ May or may not actually walk this distance.
² See ¹
- The Disclaimers.
And I will walk 500 more² "
¹ May or may not actually walk this distance.
² See ¹
- The Disclaimers.
February 1, 2025 at 10:44 PM
👏
Private practice competition lawyers like me often get paid to oppose interventions by competition agencies. It’s interesting that the chatter is very much “well this will be good for our clients; bad for the economy though.”
Hm, I can see myself having to say pretty often that enforcing competition so markets work in the interests of customers means there is *less* need for regulation of other kinds.
Scoop by @pickardje.bsky.social:
January 22, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Private practice competition lawyers like me often get paid to oppose interventions by competition agencies. It’s interesting that the chatter is very much “well this will be good for our clients; bad for the economy though.”