Definition of the relevant market in internet industry : Comparative analysis between the EU and China

Abstract

As the core task of competition law is to protect the freedom of economic action of various market participants, definition of the relevant market plays an important role for the enforcement of competition law. This thesis mainly discuss existing laws and regulations regarding the definition of relevant market in the European Union and China. The most efficient test method to define the relevant market, that is the Small but Significant and Non-transitory Increase in Price test will be analysed. As one of the most innovative invention during the past decades, the Internet changes operating model of enterprises in many ways. And to define the relevant market in the Internet industry is different from which in the traditional market because of the properties of the Internet market. Such as the Internet is a bilateral market, asymmetry price structure and so on. This thesis provides answers for how the existing rules and principles of competition policy could be applicable under the Internet industry and whether the Internet forms a new relevant market, or whether the Internet industry shapes a new market, which competes with traditional market, and lies within the same market.