Competition Appeal Tribunal

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) is a specialist judicial body in the United Kingdom that hears and decides cases involving competition law and regulatory disputes. It acts as an independent forum for resolving issues related to anti-competitive practices, mergers, and regulatory decisions made by bodies like Ofcom. The CAT's role is to ensure fair competition and protect consumer interests within the UK market. It is newsworthy right now due to a recent surge in large class action lawsuits being filed against major technology companies. These lawsuits allege anti-competitive behavior and overcharging of consumers. Recent developments include a £2 billion (US$2.68 billion) class action against Sony for allegedly overcharging PlayStation users and a £1.5 billion class action against Apple over its Apple Pay wallet fees. These cases highlight the CAT's increasing relevance as a venue for consumers to seek redress against powerful corporations accused of abusing their market dominance.