Law and Economics of Digital Platforms: Web 3.0

This course is designed to explore the multifaceted aspects of digital markets and their legal implications. It begins with an overview of digital markets' economic and legal foundations, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these markets function and their unique challenges. Key investigations and case studies will highlight the main competition concerns, illustrating the complexities of market dominance and antitrust issues in the digital age.

We will first analyse major market investigations in competition law. Then, we will delve into the emerging regulatory landscape, focusing on significant legislative frameworks such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Digital Markets Competition Commission (DMCC). These regulations represent a new era in overseeing digital markets, aiming to promote fair competition and protect consumer rights.

The course will also cover the burgeoning field of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, providing an introduction and technical overview tailored for legal professionals. Students will gain insights into the legal qualifications and regulatory frameworks governing digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets like NFTs.

Lastly, the course will examine asset tokenization and the role of NFTs in modern digital marketplaces. Students will explore the processes of tokenization, the legal implications of NFT transactions, and the functioning of various NFT marketplaces.

Overall, this course equips students with the knowledge to navigate the rapidly evolving digital economy understanding the economic and legal aspects crucial for professionals in this field.

Lecture 1: Digital Markets: Economic and Legal Aspects (October 10)

Lecture 2: Digital Markets: Main Competition Concerns (Key Investigations) (October 17)

Lecture 3: Digital Markets: New Era of Regulation (DMA, DSA, DMCC) (October 24)

Lecture 4: Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: Introduction and Technical Aspects for Legal Professionals (November 21)

Lecture 5: Legal Qualifications and Regulatory Frameworks for Digital Assets (November 28)

Lecture 6: Asset Tokenization, NFTs, and Marketplaces (December 05)