Schedule 4 – Competition Law Guidelines

(1)   Information Sharing Restrictions

(a)    Members must avoid sharing competitively sensitive information during committee sessions or working groups. This includes:

(i)    Pricing strategies,

(ii)   Proprietary algorithms,

(iii)  Trade secrets.

(2)   Information exchanges must be limited to what is necessary for the development of AI standards and must not undermine fair competition.

(3)   Collaborative Projects and Partnerships

(a)    Any collaborative projects or partnerships between members that may have an impact on market competition must be disclosed to the Secretariat.

(b)   The Secretariat may review such collaborations to ensure they do not violate competition laws. If necessary, the Secretariat may consult with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) or other relevant authorities.

(4)   Merger Control and Dominant Positions

(a)    Members of the AI Standardisation Alliance must notify the Secretariat of any mergers, acquisitions, or significant partnerships that could potentially affect market dynamics within the Alliance.

(b)   Such notifications should be made in a timely manner, allowing the Secretariat to assess whether these changes could impact:

(i)    The ongoing standard adoption process,

(ii)   The development timeline of AI standards,

(iii)  The fair participation of all members in the standardisation process.

(5)   Members involved in mergers, acquisitions, or significant partnerships are encouraged to provide regular updates to the Secretariat on how these changes may affect their participation in standard-setting activities.

(6)   The Secretariat may request a review by relevant competition authorities if there is a concern about market dominance or reduced competition as a result of such mergers.