Stakeholder submissions to the European Commission (Commission) on the EU competition rules governing distribution practices reveal widespread concern that the current framework is inadequate to meet the growing e-commerce...more
Our original political update was going to be more general in nature covering the turbulent state of British politics and the UK Prime Minister's "Do or Die" determination to leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal....more
In an ever-growing online retail environment, brand owners are increasingly becoming concerned with tracking their brand’s online presence and ensuring consumers' experience of their brand continues to be positive....more
A recent decision by the Court of Milan found that a trade mark owner who had consented to products being sold in the European Economic Area (EEA), but only through authorised retailers, could make a claim for trade mark...more
The European Commission ("Commission") has invited manufacturers and other interested market participants to provide their input on the laws that govern how products are sold in Europe, in particular the sorts of restrictions...more
The EU’s highest court, the Court of Justice of the EU, has decided that suppliers operating a selective distribution system may be able to prevent their authorised resellers from selling on third party platforms. The Court’s...more
In a judgment rendered on 6 December 2017, the Court of Justice of the EU (“CJEU”) stressed that selective distribution systems for luxury goods which are designed to preserve the luxury image of those goods are generally...more
On 10 May 2017, the European Commission (the “Commission”) published its final report (“Final Report”) concluding its wide-ranging, two-year long inquiry into e-commerce (“Inquiry”). The Final Report offers key insights into...more
On 10 May 2017, the European Commission (the “Commission”) published its final report (“Final Report”) concluding its wide-ranging, two-year long inquiry into e-commerce including media rights distribution (“Inquiry”). The...more
The European competition authorities have become extremely proactive in investigating and punishing anti-competitive practices in the food sector in recent years. In the final week of June alone, substantial fines were...more
As part of its ongoing investigation into the UK audit services market, the Competition Commission ("CC") has provisionally decided on a package of remedies that will require FTSE 350 companies to put auditing contracts out...more
The European Commission (the "Commission") is considering revisions to the rules governing the assessment of technology transfer agreements such as patent licences in advance of the expiry of the existing rules on 30 April...more