Doshisha-Oxford Lecture: Developments of Regulations In Digital Market In Japan - Comparison With The EU And The UK

In June 2024, the Japanese Diet passed a new law, the Act on Promoting Competition in Certain Smartphone Software (PCSSS Act). The Act is one of the comprehensive regulatory tools against the behaviour of major IT companies. This lecture will examine the benefits and problems for Japanese consumers and society from the perspective of both the introduction of the PCSSS Act and existing legislations, taking into account the characteristics of previous Japanese regulation of Big Tech IT companies and the digital market. The new Act is often described as a parallel to EU Digital Market Act and UK 2024 Digital Market Competition and Consumer Act. However, some of the substances differ significantly from EU and UK laws. In addition to these, there are differences in the competition law regimes and enforcement itself, which are closely related to them, and the relevant legal systems and socio-economic context also differ in each jurisdiction. The Japanese competition law(The Antimonopoly Act) enforcement on the digital markets has been assessed as relying largely on responsive and informal approach with Big Tech companies. With this background, this lecture will consider and point out whether the new Act will bring about any changes in the regulation of Big Tech companies in Japan and what role and effect it will have.

Professor Seryo teaches Competition Law and International Trade Law at the Faculty of Law and Graduate School of Law at Doshisha University. His current research focuses on the issues of digital economy and sustainability within competition policy and law. Professor Seryo has experience in advocacy activities to support emerging jurisdiction of competition law by Japan International Cooperation Agency. He is also the director member of Japan Association of Economic Law and of Asia Competition Association.