On 18.3.2016 the European Commission (DG COMP) published an issues paper presenting its initial findings on geo-blocking practices in the e-commerce sector. The sector inquiry conducted by Directorate-General for Competition is a part of a wider initiative on geo-blocking, which was already announced in the last year's communication on Digital Single Market.
The recently published document is based on responses of more than 1400 companies involved in online sales of consumer goods and in the supply of digital content. Nearly three quarters of replies come from online retailers. Questionnaires were also sent to operators of online marketplaces, price comparison tools and payment systems. Data obtained from digital content providers (broadcasters, electronic communications companies) were analysed separately.
For purposes of the study, geo-blocking is interpreted broadly and refers to "commercial practices whereby online providers prevent users from accessing and purchasing consumer goods/digital content services offered on their website based on the location of the user in a Member State different from that of the provider". It can take a variety of forms such as "(i) preventing the user from accessing the website, (ii) automatically re-routing the user to another website, (iii) refusing payment or (iv) refusing delivery". However, it does not include geo-filtering, which consists in "offering different terms and/or conditions depending on the location of the user".
Initial findings reveal significant differences with regard to consumer goods and online digital content. In online sales of tangible goods geo-blocking appears to be less widespread and usually stems from a unilateral business decision. According to respondents, geo-blocking in this field is mostly manifested by a refusal to deliver abroad. Conversely, complete denial of access to digital content based on IP verification is by no means unheard of, and is often required contractually. However, it is important to note that most restrictions in this field are imposed in licensing agreements with right holders and therefore cannot be regarded as illegitimate per se.
The discussed issues paper only gives a partial picture of the ongoing sector inquiry and we still have to wait at least a couple of months for a more detailed analysis in the preliminary (mid-2016) and final report (early 2017). It goes without saying that the current wording warrants further elaboration. The part on digital content only deals with audio-visual and music content, while computer games, software and books (including e-books) are analysed in the chapter on consumer goods. Reasons for such a differentiation are not explained, though. The interface between competition law and intellectual property also deserves a more in-depth evaluation. Judging by the cautious wording of the present document, spectacular antitrust interventions in the field of digital content do not seem very likely. At the same time, it is to be expected that the e-commerce inquiry will constitute a source of information for other Directorates-General, which are currently working on a legislative proposal on geo-blocking (scheduled for mid-2016). There seem to be a common understanding that the principle of non-discrimination laid down in Article 20 of the Services Directive does not offer consumers an effective tool of protection and is barely enforced in practice (see e.g. BEUC response to public consultations). Be it as it may, developing an adequate policy solution is a challenging task, which requires a careful examination of numerous subtle interconnections with existing and upcoming legislation. It remains to be seen if the broad approach, apparently favoured by the Commission, will allow to strike a fair balance between the competing interests involved. How the subject of copyrighted digital content will be addressed in the geo-blocking proposal is one of many interesting questions to follow.
