There have been several recent interesting competition cases in the EU, and we asked a select group of contributors to opine on those they found intriguing. First, we have two diverse opinions on what appears to be a double standard in a CJEU decision on de minimus. Then we ask how the Commission can ask […]

Ruchit Patel, Paul Stuart, Jul 15, 2013 In February 2007, the European Commission (the “Commission”) adopted an infringement decision finding that a number of manufacturers of lifts and escalators had engaged in cartel behavior contrary to Article 101 TFEU (the “Decision”). The Commission imposed fines totaling more than EUR 990 million. In June 2008, the Commission, […]

Oana Stefan, Jul 15, 2013 Instruments deprived of legally binding force according to Article 288 TFEU—notices, guidelines, communications, etc.—have been issued in EU competition law since the 1960s. Bearing a vast variety of names and coming in different forms, all these instruments can be gathered under the umbrella notion of “soft law.” As experienced in […]

Cormac Little, Jul 15, 2013 A recent court decision has significantly narrowed the application of the de minimis principle under EU competition rules. In late 2012, the Court of Justice of the European Union considered whether national competition authorities of EU Member States are required to follow the European Commission’s de minimis rule. This principle […]

Daniela Ampollini, Jul 15, 2013 It is obvious to all that know even a little of patent law, that the validity (and, even before, the dignity) of a divisional patent is not based on the fact that it will purport the development or launch of a new product. Quite the contrary, a divisional patent by […]

Richard Blewett, Jul 15, 2013 Tempers frayed earlier this year when the U.K.’s Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”) referred A.G. Barr plc’s acquisition of Britvic plc to the Competition Commission (“CC”). Britvic’s Chairman, Gerald Corbett attacked the OFT decision, saying “We’ve got two British companies trying to strengthen themselves against a big American corporation. If […]