Imposing an interoperability obligation for the digital platform as an anti-monopoly remedy
The interoperability obligation for the digital platform,as an anti-monopoly remedy,is an important and useful means to address the current exclusionary practices of digital platforms.It preserves the market structure that aligns with market characteristics while externalizing the network effects within digital plat-forms,allowing market competitors to fairly share the efficiencies produced by network effects.By reducing market entry barriers,it restores effective competition and prevents the aggregation of users,data,and other valuable assets to few digital platforms.No matter whether it functions as an ex-ante regulation measure or ex-post remedy in the anti-monopoly enforcement,the interoperability obligation for the digital platform has the better foundation and space for application.In view of insufficient provisions on affirmative remedies in the current Chinese anti-monopoly law,the scenarios where the interoperability obligation for the digital plat-form may apply are relatively clear,mainly targeting the existing anti-competitive arrangements of interoper-ability among the digital platforms.Its implementation should clarify the baseline standard as the limit,and strictly adhere to the ideas of legality,prudence,proactiveness,and collaboration.Fairness and proportional-ity should be followed as the basic principles to design the obligation so as to scientifically set the scope,stan-dard,and supervision of interoperability obligation.
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