Interoperability as a regulatory tool

Digital markets are characterised by the dominance of Big Tech and their closed ecosystems, in which only a few major players control both the hardware and software layers of technological infrastructure. A key regulation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is the designation of Big Tech companies as so-called gatekeepers. This talk aims to clarify what the gatekeepers’ obligation to grant interoperability to third-party providers means. It will demonstrate how interoperability is no longer just a technical ideal but a legal requirement for gatekeepers operating in the European Single Market. No prior knowledge of legal topics is required.