Metaverse and Antitrust Law/Competition Policy
Metaverse and Antitrust Law/Competition Policy
The 21st Competition Policy Research Center International Symposium
January 16, 2023
Competition Policy Research Center
Metaverse is a service that is expected to develop further in the future. Unified definition of metaverse has not yet been established. However, in many cases, metaverse has features that users own their avatars, can create and consume various contents in the virtual space, and interact with others just like in the real world.
While metaverse is expected to provide users with new experience, it has been pointed out that various legal issues need to be discussed as metaverse is an innovative service in the digital market.
Regarding metaverse and the Antimonopoly Act/competition policy, some argue that operators of metaverse may be able to harm competition through their services. In foreign jurisdictions, we have also seen enforcement by competition authorities against sectors relevant to metaverse.
As noted, metaverse is expected to develop in the future. However, metaverse has potential to have significant impact on our lives. Therefore, it is important to start discussion on relationship between metaverse and the Antimonopoly Act/competition policy following the experience of applying the Antimonopoly Act to digital platforms.
At this Symposium, experts are giving presentations and having panel discussions. It aims to learn the current state of metaverse, explore how metaverse is related to the Antimonopoly Act/competition policy, and provide an opportunity for the audience to understand potential competition problems.
1 Date and Venue
| Date | 16:30 - 18:30, February 17, 2023 (Fri) * Japan Standard Time (JST) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Online and Iino Hall (2-1-1, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) |
| Language | English - Japanese (with simultaneous interpretation) |
| Admission Charge | Free |
| Organizer | Competition Policy Research Center (CPRC), Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) |
| Co-organized by | Nihon Keizai Shimbun / Fair Trade Institute |
2 Agenda
16:30-16:35 Opening Remarks
| FURUYA Kazuyuki (Chair, Japan Fair Trade Commission) |
16:35-17:45 Presentation
| 16:35-17:05 | "On the Limitless Potential and Remaining Challenges of the Metaverse Business" Hyun Baro (LunaTone Inc. Founder/CEO) |
| 17:05-17:25 | "Issues under the Antimonopoly Act raised by the Development of the Meteverse" KORENAGA Daisuke (Professor, Graduate School of Law, Tohoku University) |
| 17:25-17:45 | "U.S. Antitrust and the Metaverse" Daniel Francis (Assistant Professor of Law, New York University School of Law) |
17:45-17:55 Break
17:55-18:25 Panel Discussion
| Moderator: | MASUDA Masafumi (Partner, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto) |
| Panelists: | Hyun Baro (LunaTone Inc. Founder/CEO) KORENAGA Daisuke (Professor, Graduate School of Law, Tohoku University) Daniel Francis (Assistant Professor of Law, New York University School of Law) |
18:25-18:30 Closing Remarks
| MATSUSHIMA Noriaki (Professor, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University / Director, CPRC) |
＜contact＞
Secretariat, Competition Policy Research Center, Japan Fair Trade Commission
E-mail: cprcsec_at_jftc.go.jp (Please replace “_at_” with “@”)
