Public Law Studies Quarterly

The Essentials of Competition Law Vis-a-vis the Competition Concerns of Super Applications

Document Type : Article

Authors

Ebrahim Rahbari 1
Nasser Nikouray 2

1 Assistant Prof., Department of International Trade, Intellectual Property and Cyberspace Law, Law Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student in International Trade and Investment Law, Department of International Trade, Intellectual Property and Cyberspace Law, Law Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2025.379418.3568
Abstract
Super applications are a novel type of multi-sided online platforms whose developers have, in recent years, endeavored to expand market diversity, user base, and product popularity by offering a variety of services under a single platform. Despite the enhancement of user benefit through the use of super applications, neglecting the potential anti-competitive impacts of these enterprises—which have now obtained a considerable share of the digital economy in the countries where they operate—will have detrimental consequences. The present paper, adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, elucidates the concept of super applications and their characteristics, addresses questions such as the methods through which these enterprises threaten competition, and considers how competition authorities confront these enterprises. This paper demonstrates that attention to modern competitive assessment criteria, alongside a revision of definitions and policies, as well as the adoption of a proactive ex-ante approach by competition authorities against the potential abuse of dominant positions and the commission of competition-distorting concentrations by super applications, is necessary. In Iran, where the emergence of super apps is a recent phenomenon, competition law must prepare itself to address their anti-competitive practices, particularly the abuse of dominant positions and unjust market entries that restrict competition for rivals in various markets.

Keywords

Abuse of dominant position
competition law
digital market
intellectual property law
super applications
Subjects

  1. English

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    1. B) Laws
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    4. The Digital Markets Act 2023 (European Parliament).

     

    1. C) Websites & Documents
    2. Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) (2019). Digital Platforms Inquiry- Final Report. https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-%20final%20report.pdf
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    8. Reuters, Turkey's competition board to fine Meta $37.2 million in data sharing probe (2024). https://www.aol.com/turkeys-competition-board-fine-meta-141605991.html
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    References In Persian:

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    1. B) Laws & Regulations
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    1. C) Judicial Decisions
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    3. Iran Administrative Justice Court (A) (2020), Judicial Decision No. ۹۹۰۹۹۷۰۹۵۵۹۰۳۰۴۹, Dated: Feb 9th, Issued by: Appeals Court Division No. 26 (In Persian).

     

    1. D) Websites
    2. National Iranian Competition Center (2019), Competition Council Rules Against SnappFood, Available at: https://www.nicc.gov.ir/17-council-news/1093-2019-10-16-08-56-59.html (In Persian).
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Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 56, Issue 1 - Serial Number 45
Spring 2026
Spring 2026
Pages 59-84

  • Receive Date 08 August 2024
  • Revise Date 27 January 2025
  • Accept Date 04 August 2025

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